​RETURNING LONG ISLAND

NEW YORK STATE

CHAMPIONS

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DIVISION I

116 - Dunia Sibomana (2022)

Long Beach - 8​

​DIVISION II​

116 - Tommy Aiello (2023)

John Glenn -8

138 - Gavin Mangano (2024)

Shoreham Wading River-11

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190 - Greyson Meak (2024)

Cold Spring Harbor-8

190 - Devin Downes (2024)

Plainedge-8 (Div I last year)​

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Defending New York State champion Gavin Mangano from Shoreham Wading River is back this year at 138 pounds.

NYS bronze medalist Finnegan O'Brien of Chaminade at 124 pounds.

NYS bronze medalist Camryn Howard (46-2, 136 wins) of Bellport at 138 pounds.

NYS place finisher Anthony Lagala Ryan (39-1) of Longwood at 116 pounds.

2025 NEW YORK STATE ​

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW​​​

​2025
LONG ISLAND & NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING PREVIEW

by

 Jim & Tony Nordland
www.thematslap.com

​Friday Feb. 28 - Saturday Mar. 1

​MVP Arena

​Albany, NY

NYS place-winner Carlos Salazar (37-4) of Hewlett at 124 pounds.

Long Beach's 2022 New York State champion, Dunia Sibomana-Rodriquez is back at 116 pounds.

NYS place-winner Vincent Orandello (22-0) of MacArthur at 108 pounds.

     Now in its 22nd year of a two-division format, a total of 559 wrestlers, including five state champions from Long Island, will participate in the 62nd annual NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships at the MVP Arena in Albany on February 28th and March 1st, 2025.

   The only Long Island Division I state champion is junior Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez (45-2, 145-12 career) of Long Beach, who recently claimed his fourth Nassau County title and is a three-time state medalist with placings of (1-3-2), he will be in the loaded 116-pound class. His nemesis is defending state king junior Cooper Merli (Newburgh-9), others to watch are Luca Popolizio (39-4) of CBA-2, Kymah Gummow (36-3) of Baldwinsville-3, Bennett Palmeri (Fairport-5) and state finalist EJ Vass (Valley Central-9). 

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     Defending  Division I champions include; the sophomore William Soto (108) of Newburgh-9, the aforementioned Merli, Evin Gursoy (124) of Midwood-P, Luke Satriano (131) of Valley Central-9 and top-ranked Penn State bound PJ Duke of Minisink Valley-9 at 170 pounds. The unbeaten Duke was the MOW at the 2024 states meet and his lone career loss was an injury default. 

     Three other finalists that return and seek redemption are Samson McKissick-Staley (138) of Pittsford-5, Mason Ketcham (145) of Washingtonville-9 and Alexander Berisha (215) of Fox Lane-1.

     Four Division II state champions from LI return, include four-time county champion Tommy Aiello (37-3) of Suffolk team champion John Glenn at 116, nationally ranked sophomore Gavin Mangano (38-0, 155-3) of SWR at 138, junior Devin Downes (190) from Nassau team champion Plainedge and CSH’s Greyson Meak (39-3) at 215 pounds. Other reigning Division II titlists are: junior Andrew Juliano  (49-4) of Holland Patent-3 at108, sophomore Maverick Beckwith (39-1) of Norwich-4 at 124 and Troy Beeman (36-3) of Waverly at 285. 

   Section VIII will be led by four returning state place-winners, Vincent Orandello (22-0) of MacArthur and Ethan Andreula (337-3) of Long Beach, both are at 108, along with Carlos Salazar (37-4) of Hewlett at 124 and Jared Marine (36-4) of Oceanside at 190 pounds. Other standouts for the green-cladded group are 8th-grader Jon Tutku (43-1) of Massapequa, Zachary Gubba (34-7) of Calhoun, both at 101, Jake Strianese (37-5) of Oceanside at 124 and LB's Brody Franklin at 131. Also to watch are Jonathan Fox (30-3) of MacArthur at 145, unbeaten Justin Gonzales (40-0) of Clarke at 160, along with Farmingdale teammates, Eric Wolfe (35-6) and MOW Josh Kama (190). Rounding out the upper weights are Giorgio Valenzuela (34-4) of Glen Cove at 170, and a pair of 285-pound contenders; Andrew Perez (Wantagh) and James Mulhern (38-5) of Massapequa.

     The Division Two team will be led by the aforementioned Downes and Meak, along with state placer Colton Schmiesing (108) of Oyster Bay, Connor Murphy (124) of Seaford and three-time county champion Joseph Filocamo (138) of Island Trees. The tandem of Plainedge's KyleCarter (145) and D-1 finalist Luke Nieto (152) will bolster an improved squad and the Red Devils will challenge for the individual school crown.

   Section XI points to seven all-state performers, including finalist Lindenhurst junior Anthony Severino (41-2) at 131, bronze medalist freshman Camryn Howard (46-2, 136 wins) of Bellport at 138, along with sophomore Anthony Lagala Ryan (39-1) of Longwood at 116 and Connor Sheridan (24-2) of Hauppauge at 108. Other potential state titlists include F&M recruit Leo Mongiello (43-1, 185-33) of Sayville at 145, and a pair of unbeatens; Brentwood's Jason Kwaak (38-0, 155-8) an NC State commit at 160 and Aidan Berry (40-0) of Rocky Point at 170 pounds. The blue-cladded contingent also has a stable of standout lightweights, including MOW, super soph Trevor Patrovich (24-2) of Hauppauge, Xavier Seabury (North Babylon), both in the loaded 101-pound class, Austin Bronco Campsey (31-2) of East Hampton at 108, Dylan Reinard (33-4) of Smithtown East at 116 and Gino Manta (18-2) of Hauppauge at 124 pounds. Other Suffolk stalwarts are county champion Matthew McDermott (Smithtown East) at 131, John De LaRosa (35-1) of Brentwood at 152, Brady Curry (35-4) of Commack at 190, Josiah Lors (41-1) of Floyd and Most Pins winner Lindenhurst's ​Chase Frole (38-2, 114-16) at 285 pounds. 

     The Division Two team has the aforementioned Aiello and Mangano, along with the lightweight tandem of SWR's Thomas Matias (101) and Shane Cowan at 108. Other podium possibles are MOW winner CM's Justin D'Arce (37-5) at 131, Erik Desmond (27-7) of Babylon at 152 and two-time titlist, Mattituck's JamesFelakos at 190. John Glenn teammates, Carmine Gerbino won his second county crown and the Most Pins Award, and Elijah Porpora (31-3) are solid contenders. The Knights will vie for the individual team title.

 CHSAA has returning state bronze medalist freshman Finnegan O'Brien (124) of Chaminade and Kellenberg teammates, MOW winner Elijah Carrington (131) and Jonathan Hoffman (170). Other potential finalists are the Tanner Catrabone (101) and a pair of state runners-up, Griffin Laplante (152) and Zachary  Caldwell (215), both are from St. Francis, along with Vinny Tripaldi (138) of Iona Prep and rugged Josh Jorgge of St. Anthony's at 190 pounds.

MAT NOTES:
     The last time the New York State sectional team title was won by Long Island was in 2020 when Section Eight (Nassau) claimed the title, and before that, in 2018 when Section Eleven (Suffolk) won the team title. At the 2025 state meet, in Division One, the top section appears to be reigning champions, Section IX (Catskills), followed by perennial power SectionXI, winners of a state leading 26 sectional titles and a strong Section VIII squad, runners-up in 2024.

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     The Division Two edition looks like defending champion Section IV (Binghamton), followed by Section III (Syracuse), Section VI (Buffalo), Section XI and Section VIII. Both Long Island contingents have formidable teams.

   To all the competitors, Best of Luck, and enjoy the state championships, win or lose.

2023 New York State champion, Tommy Aiello from John Glenn is back at 116 pounds.