LoHud Wrestling Blog

As we always tend to do at this time of year, as soon as one season ends, we find ourselves immediately looking towards next season. Last year, I picked who I thought the top five teams would be for 2011-12 right after the season ended, and correctly named four of the teams that finished in the top five at sectionals. So, I’m going to give it another go this time around.

I’ll list each of the teams that I see in the top five next year, plus a few more that are on the fringe. I’ll give you the names of all of the returning wrestlers from each team who qualified for sectionals, and also those who qualified and will be graduating. One star (*) next to wrestler’s name indicates that he placed at sectionals this season, while two stars (**) signifies that he qualified for states.

I picked Fox Lane to repeat in Division 1 at this time last year, but I see the Foxes run of four out of the past five section titles coming to end. Here are my top five teams for 2012-13:

1. North Rockland
Key returners — Derek DiMarsico, Fr.*; Blaise Benderoth, Fr.*; Troy Feniger, Jr.*; Jake DiMarsico, Jr.**; Matt Caputo, Soph.**; Mike D’Agostino, Jr.; Nick Didio, Soph.; Conner Reigotti, Soph.*
Key losses — Jose Rodriguez, Mike Caputo**, Ryan Boyle*, Ekpenede Imasuen.
Thoughts — It’s difficult to view any team other than the Red Raiders as the favorite entering next season. After placing second to Fox Lane by just three points this year, North Rockland returns six wrestlers who placed (two of which qualified for states), and three who should enter the season as section title favorites in Benderoth, J. DiMarsico, and Caputo. The loss of Mike Caputo, who placed fourth in the state at 145 pounds, will hurt, but coach Andy Guccione has developed plenty of depth.

2. Yorktown
Key returners — Jimmy Kaishian, Jr.*; Kyle Santucci, Jr.; Joe Mastro, Jr.*; Steven Sabella, Jr.**; Thomas Murray, Jr.*; David Varian, Jr.**
Key losses — None.
Thoughts — Just as North Rockland looks like a pretty clear choice for a section title, the ‘Huskers look to be in strong position for second place. I mentioned several times this season that they have an incredible junior class, and those guys are just going to be one year better. All six wrestlers from Yorktown who qualified for sectional will be back, including five that placed, four that went to the finals, and two that won titles. If any team has a chance for more individual section titles than the Red Raiders, it’s the ‘Huskers with Mastro, Sabella, Murray and Varian.

3. Fox Lane
Key returners — Brandon Fay, Soph.*; Scott Rodrigues, 8th; Frank Surace, Soph.; Ben Ettlinger, Soph.*; Tom Grippi, Jr.**; Ari Faust, Jr.; Chris Manjuck, Jr.
Key losses — Matt Engert, Nick Engert, Warren Gabrillo, Sam Speno**, Danny Ventura**, Giancarlo Morreale*, Matt Pasqualini**, Dan Clune*, Andriy Lypchuk.
Thoughts — After winning four section titles in the past five years, I expect the Foxes to take a step back next season — but not completely fall off the map. Gone are three state place finishers, which I doubt that any team in the state outside of Section 11 could say. That’s a huge hit. Coach Joe Amuso does bring defending section champ Tom Grippi back, who will be the face of the program next season. The reason I still see Fox Lane in the top three is because of the young lightweights that they have coming up. They also seem to develop guys in the lower section of the lineup, and guys like Fay, Surace, and Ettlinger seemed to improve throughout the season. But a number of teams should be battling for this third spot.

4. John Jay-EF
Key returners — Jay Albis, Fr.; Manny Pragana, Soph.; Dominic Testa, Soph.; Luke Minasi, Jr.*; Dale White, Jr.**; Brett Perry, Jr.*
Key losses — Aaron Johnson*, Jonathan Leman, TJ Lyons.
Thoughts — The majority of the guys who did damage for the Patriots this season will be back, which I believe will catapult them into the top five. Other than state champ Dylan Realbuto, no returning D1 wrestler from Section 1 will have placed higher than White, who took fifth in the state at 145 pounds. JJEF brings back two others that placed, plus a strong group of underclassmen that are starting to make names for themselves.

5. Arlington
Key returners — Alfredo Olmedo, Soph.*; Nick Tolli, Soph.*; Travis Becker, Jr.*; Derrick Feliciano, Soph.; Brandon Badger, Soph.; Michael Peterson, Soph.; Robert Hanaburgh, Jr.
Key losses — Vinny Martin, Anthony Scott*, Brendan Nunziata*, Matt Day.
Thoughts — The Admirals are one of five teams that are returning seven or more section qualifiers, and three of them placed. Depending on what weight class he’s in, Tolli should at the very least be a finalist, and he leads a stellar sophomore (soon-to-be junior) class. They definitely lose some quality guys, but Arlington seems to be a perennial top 10 team, and with several powers taking a step back, I can easily see them in the top five.

On the fringe — New Rochelle, Tappan Zee, RC Ketcham.

In Division 2, my favorite once again has to be Nanuet. The Golden Knights have an outstanding junior class with Anthony Calvano, Matt Dillon, and Dan Breit, who will lead the team as seniors next year. Throw in underclassmen such as Joe Dillon and Vinny Skokos, and Nanuet’s top five wrestlers will all be back. The result should be a third straight D2 title.

Edgemont will be in the hunt for second, led by the Aslanian brothers, but the Panthers are losing more than Nanuet is. Also, don’t count out Putnam Valley. The Tigers also seem to have a late run in them.

The last thing I’ve done is put together a list of the top 10 wrestlers entering next season. I’ve tried to strike a balance between who I believe are the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the section, and who has the best shot of making noise at states next season. If you have your own list, feel free to drop it in the comments section. (NOTE: The year listed next to each wrestler is what they were this season.)

Top 10 Returning Wrestlers

1. Dylan Realbuto, Jr., Somers
2. Trey Aslanian, Jr., Edgemont
3. Dale White, Jr., John Jay-EF
4. Nick Barbaria, Soph., New Rochelle
5. Alex Delacruz, Soph., Ossining
6. Tom Grippi, Jr., Fox Lane
7. Steven Sabella, Jr. Yorktown
8. John Muldoon, Soph., Pearl River
9. Blaise Benderoth, Fr., North Rockland
10. Dan Breit, Jr., Nanuet

I’ll be back soon to start getting your opinions on some postseason awards…

There were so many emotions running through Somers junior Dylan Realbuto in the moments after he won his first ever state title on Saturday that it’s difficult to pinpoint one over the other. His reaction was the polar opposite of his brother Brian’s, who admitted afterwards that he was more excited about Dylan’s first title than his Section 1 record third.

“I hope it feels good for him,” Brian said. “He deserves it. Living with someone who is successful is really hard. Everyone expects him to win just because his last name is the same as mine. Well, boy, he showed them.”

Brian understood that Dylan’s win means much more than just being able to call himself a state champ. If you look at how things have played out for Dylan in the past year, you start to understand why this was so satisfying for him.

Last season, he lost in the state finals, which he called, “probably the worst feeling that I’ve ever had in my life.” Then, just two weeks ago, he was upset by Ossining sophomore Alex Delacruz in the sectional semifinals, which certainly brought on some doubts and criticism. And as Brian pointed out, Dylan seems to be more vulnerable to criticism specifically because his older brother is the most successful wrestler in Section 1 history, which had to make those losses even more difficult to swallow.

But still, Dylan remains thankful for his relationship with Brian, who is definitely his brother’s biggest fan.

“Brian pushes me everyday,” Dylan said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be the wrestler that I am today.”

Going into the state tournament, Dylan seemed to fly a bit under the radar. He came in as the seventh-seed at 113 pounds, but surely would have been higher if not for the loss to Delacruz. He had to scratch and claw his way through a match or two, specifically his 4-3 win over Amsterdam’s Brandon Lapi in the semis, but he never wavered in the finals.

He was losing in the match on four separate occasions, but always seemed to keep his cool and respond with points of his own. Going into the third period down 5-4, he allowed an escape to make it 6-4. With 36 seconds to go, he came up with a clutch takedown to tie it at 6-6, but quickly surrendered another escape point. A stalemate call with three seconds remaining turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because it gave D-Real one last chance to start in the center of the mat from his feet.

Admittedly, I wasn’t sure if three seconds was enough time to make a move and execute the takedown. Brian admitted the same thing, saying that he had picked up his back and started walking out of the arena. But Dylan was ready to pounce as soon as the whistle blew to resume the match, and the rest is history. There was a brief debate between the refs about whether Dylan was in position with Hilton’s Vincent DePrez on the mat before time expired, but with just about the entire Times Union Center yelling, “Two!”, they determined that the call stood.

After the match, Dylan talked about drawing some inspiration from 2011 state champ Malcolm Allen of New Rochelle. Like Dylan, Allen entered the state tournament as a wild card, and shocked everyone by winning a title.

“Everyone that I know reminded me of Malcolm Allen,” Dylan said. “It doesn’t matter how you get in, it’s how you finish.”

Amazingly, D-Real’s win overshadowed Brian becoming the first wrestler in Section 1 history to win three state titles. Brian probably had his most dominant state tournament, winning in the quarters by technical fall, in the semis by pin, and in the finals by major decision. He almost seemed like he was toying with Longwood’s Nicky Hall in the 152-pound final, taking him down with ease, and then letting him right back up so he could do it again.

After the match, B-Real said he wrestled, “like my best friend Steven Rodrigues.” S-Rod, who won a state title for Fox Lane last season and now wrestles for the University of Illinois, was notorious for racking up points and demoralizing his opponents by taking them down over and over again.

Brian didn’t really seemed phased by becoming the first wrestler in section history to win three championships, noting that, “someone could always win four.” He also talked about how it still burns him that he lost as a sophomore. But make no mistake, his career is one that won’t soon be forgotten.

It’s difficult to compare B-Real to wrestlers from other generations, because they wrestled less matches and had all schools combined into one division. Some might say that dilutes his all-time leading wins total, but I think it’s more important to consider where the section was before he came around. His first state title in 2009 broke an eight-year drought for Section 1, and since then the section has become a perennial top five finisher at the state level. He’s been the face of the section, and has continued to meet and exceed expectations. That’s probably what I’ll remember B-Real for, first and foremost.

A few other local wrestlers had great tournaments, but fell just short on Saturday.

It was hard not to feel for Fox Lane senior Sam Speno. After placing second in the state last season, he seemed destined to win a title this time around. He was brilliant throughout the tournament, outscoring his opponents 36-4 on his way to the finals. But the one guy near the top of his bracket who he hadn’t ever seen was second-seeded Maverick Passero of Eastport-South Manor.

It was clear that both were a bit unsure to begin the match, but Speno took the majority of shots throughout. He got in on Passero’s leg a few times, but couldn’t finish any shots. Passero finally came up with a takedown in the final period, and he was able to ride out Speno until the end to hold on for the 2-1 win.

Hopefully, Speno will be able to look past this loss eventually and look back on his great career with pride. On another loaded team of Foxes this season, he was the standout. He made such an impression that, at one point during the semis, Passero’s uncle somehow found me and told me how nervous he was because Speno looked like a force.

The other two Section 1 wrestlers to lose in the finals were Scarsdale senior Jacob Berkowitz (182 in D1), and Edgemont junior Trey Aslanian (113 in D2).

Berkowitz seemed to rally back and gain momentum when he tied the score at 6-6 in the third period of the finals, but he decided to cut John Glenn’s Nick Bellanza, and then overextended on his shot. That allowed Bellanza to seal the win by spinning around to Berkowitz’s back to make the score 9-6.

Overall, it was a great tournament for Berko, who knocked off the No. 1 seed along the way, and gave Section 1 four representatives in the D1 finals. As a section, Section placed fourth in D1.

For Trey, I’m sure his 5-0 loss to Midlakes’ Sean Peacock will burn for awhile, but I’d expect him to come back as a man on a mission next year as a senior. Taking second two years in a row will be plenty of motivation for the ultra-focused Aslanian.

His performance was really the one standout for Section 1 in D2, with the section placing 10th overall. There is some work to be done at that level, but the good news is that not many of the top competitors in D2 from Section 1 were seniors. I expect to see a lot of these state qualifiers improve between now and this time next year.

As promised, I uploaded all of my videos from yesterday once I got home. Here is all of the action that I recorded on Saturday (NOTE: For some reason, the file for Berkowitz’s final is refusing to upload. I’m going to keep trying it, but that’s why that video is missing):

Semis

• D1-99: Kyle Kelly (Chenango Forks) pins Nick Barbaria (New Rochelle)


• D1-113: D-Real defeats Brandon Lapi (Amsterdam), 4-3


• D1-126: Speno majors Alec Dierna (Webster Schroeder), 8-0


• D1-152: B-Real pins Steve Maier (Spencerport)


• D1-182: Berko defeats McZiggy Richards (Wingate), 3-1

• D2-113: Sean Peacock (Midlakes) defeats Trey, 5-0


• D1-113: D-Real defeats DePrez, 8-7 (The video picks up right after DePrez escaped to go up 7-6)


• D1-126: Passero defeats Speno, 2-1


• D1-152: B-Real majors Hall, 16-6

It’s been a long day, and I have a lot more uploading to do, but what a finish for Somers junior Dylan Realbuto. He and his brother Brian were the only two state champs from Section 1, and D-Real won his title with the most thrilling finish I’ve ever seen. A desperate takedown with no time remaining on the clock gave him an 8-7 victory, and luckily, I caught it on video. Click here to watch it.

There’s a lot more action to recap, including B-Real becoming the first three-time state champ in Section 1 history, which I’ll get to tomorrow. Once I get home and have a decent internet connection to work with, I have a lot more uploading to do. I got every semifinal and final featuring Section 1 wrestlers on video.

For now, here are the results from the finals:

Division 1

113 – D. Realbuto (Somers) dec. Vincent DePrez (Hilton), 8-7. 126 – Maverick Passero (Eastport-South Manor) dec. Speno (Fox Lane), 2-1. 152 – B. Realbuto (Somers) maj. dec. Nicky Hall (Longwood), 16-6. 182 – Nick Bellanza (John Glenn) dec. Berkowitz (Scarsdale), 9-6.

Division 2

113 – Sean Peacock (Midlakes) dec. Aslanian (Edgemont), 5-0.

For full results, visit www.nysphsaawrestling.com/results.php

Photo by Seth Harrison/The Journal News

We’re about an hour away from the finals here at the Times Union Center, so here’s what you need to know about what’s happened so far today.

We have five Section 1 wrestlers who advanced to the finals – four in D1, and one in D2. Somers junior Dylan Realbuto (113), Fox Lane senior Sam Speno (126), Somers senior Brian Realbuto (152), and Scarsdale senior Jacob Berkowitz (182) each made it from D1, while Edgemont junior Trey Aslanian (113) is the sole D2 representative from Section 1.

Berko might have had the biggest win of the bunch in the semis, taking out top-seeded McZiggy Richards of Wingate. The win wasn’t a total shocker considering the fact that Berko beat Richards in an offseason tourney in October, but it was notable nonetheless. Berko came out aggressive, notching a takedown in the first 20 seconds of the match. Perhaps more importantly, he did a great job on top of Richards in the second period not allowing him to escape and tie the score. That forced Richards to let Berko up in the third and desperately try for a takedown that would never come. Now, Berko will wrestle seventh-seeded Nick Bellanza of John Glenn (Section 11) in the finals.

D-Real is the lowest seeded Section 1 wrestler in the finals, having come in as the No. 7 seed. He made the finals with a nail-biting 4-3 win over Amsterdam’s Brandon Lapi (Lapi knocked Ossining’s Alex Delacruz out in the quarters yesterday). For the second year in a row, D-Real will be wrestling in the finals, where he’ll take on fourth-seeded Vincent DePrez of Hilton (Section 5).

The other three who advanced to the finals were no surprises.

B-Real made quick work of Spencerport’s Steve Maier with a second period pin, and now he’ll face second-seeded Nicky Hall of Longwood (Section 11) in the finals. He has already pinned Hall this season.

Despite being a bit shaken up from a head butt in the third period, Speno was completely in control throughout his semifinals match with Webster Schroeder’s Alec Dierna on his way to an 8-0 major decision. He’s been almost as dominant as B-Real in this tourney, which prompted a reporter from Section 11 to tell me that Speno looks like one of the best wrestlers in the state, period. He’ll face second-seeded Maverick Passero of Eastport-South Manor (Section 11) in the finals. Passero is the one guy in the top five who Speno hasn’t seen this season, so there is the unfamiliarity factor to consider.

And finally, Aslanian handled Warsaw’s Austin Keough in the D2 semis, 7-2. I know he was hoping to see top-seeded William Koll of Lansing in the finals, who pinned Trey in the 103-finals last season, but Koll was knocked out in the semis by fourth-seeded Sean Peacock of Midlakes (Section 5).

Two Section 1 wrestlers lost in the semifinals – New Rochelle sophomore Nick Barbaria (99), and North Rockland senior Mike Caputo (145).

Barbaria was pinned by top-seeded Kyle Kelly of Chenango Forks, who is a defending state champ and hasn’t lost in two seasons. He looked dominant.

Caputo took a 3-1 lead against second-seeded Corey Rasheed of Longwood into the second period, but Rasheed got offensive in the second to take a 5-3 lead. In the third, he did a great job of riding Caputo, who wasn’t able to escape.

Caputo was the only Section 1 wrestler to make it to the consolation finals, where he lost to Columbia’s Evan Wallace to take fourth place. Danny Ventura (132) and Matt Pasqualini (160) of Fox Lane each won in their fifth place matches, as did John Jay-EF’s Dale White (145). Pasqualini in particular did a great job of bouncing back in wrestlebacks after being pinned with a lead in the first round yesterday.

No D2 wrestlers from Section 1 made it to either the third or fifth place matches, which likely means D2 will finish in the bottom half of the section standings. In D1, Section 1 should finish somewhere between third and fifth, depending on how things shake out in the finals.

I took videos of every D1 semifinal featuring a Section 1 wrestler, but unfortunately the internet service in this building moves at pre-2000 speed – meaning extremely slow. I’ve been uploading since noon, and have managed to get only three full videos up. I’ll keep trying between now and the time that the finals start, but I’m going to have to pull the plug at 6 so that I can get the finals on video. Whatever I don’t get up today, I’ll be sure to post tomorrow.

Here are the videos that I’ve been able to upload so far:

• D1 99 semifinal: Kelly pins Barbaria.


• D1 113 semifinal: D-Real beats Lapi, 4-3.


• D1 126 semifinal: Speno majors Dierna.

Division 1

Fifth place

99 – Bryan Lantry (Wayne) pin Barbaria (New Rochelle).

132 – Danny Ventura (Fox Lane) dec. Nick Cegelski (Penfield), 3-1.

145 – Dale White (John Jay-EF) dec. Anthony Pistone (Sachem East), 8-7.

160 – Matt Pasqualini (Fox Lane) dec. Zak Mullen (Shoreham Wading River).

220 – Nick Lupi (Hutnington) dec. Dom DeVita (Somers), 2-1 2OT

Third place

145 – Evan Wallace (Columbia) dec. Caputo (North Rockland), 4-2.

NOTE: There were no Division 2 wrestlers from Section 1 who placed 3rd-6th.

For full results, visit http://www.nysphsaawrestling.com/results.php

Division 1

99 – Kyle Kelly (Chenango Forks) pin Nick Barbaria (New Rochelle), 4:58.

113 – Dylan Realbuto (Somers) dec. Brandon Lapi (Amsterdam), 4-3.

126 – Sam Speno (Fox Lane) maj. dec. Alec Dierna (Webster Schroeder), 8-0.

145 – Corey Rasheed (Longwood) dec. Mike Caputo (North Rockland), 5-3.

152 – Brian Realbuto (Somers) pin Steve Maier (Spencerport).

182 – Jacob Berkowitz (Scarsdale) dec. McZiggy Richards (Wingate), 3-1.

Division 2

113 – Trey Aslanian (Edgemont) dec. Austin Keough (Warsaw), 7-2.

For full results, visit http://www.nysphsaawrestling.com/results.php

Videos coming once I upload them. I got every match except for Trey’s…

After one crazy day of wrestling, only seven Section 1 competitors remain standing. In Division 1, that would be New Rochelle sophomore Nick Barbaria (99), Somers junior Dylan Realbuto (113), Fox Lane senior Sam Speno (126), North Rockland senior Mike Caputo (145), Somers senior Brian Realbuto (152), and Scarsdale senior Jacob Berkowitz (182). In Division 2, there is only one wrestler still alive, and it’s exactly who we thought it would be—Edgemont junior Trey Aslanian (113).

Unless something crazy happens tomorrow, it’s unlikely that Section 1 will duplicate the success it had last season. Less wrestlers advanced to the semis than last season, and only two of them are favorites for titles—Speno, and B-Real. (Although I’ve already predicted that I think Aslanian will win one, too.) Going into the semis, Section 1 is tied for fourth in D1 (D2 standings haven’t been posted yet).

I took some videos, but I wanted to recap a few intriguing matches first.

While six D1 wrestlers made the semis, it could have very easily been seven. I said going into the tournament that I liked Mahopac senior Mike Spinelli’s chances at 195 as a sleeper, and he came out ready to go. After a pin in the first round, he appeared to notch a takedown to take the lead in the second period of his quarterfinals match against third-seeded Jesse Kozub of Brockport. I was standing right there, and could have sworn that Spinelli took Kozub down in bounds. At first, the refs awarded him his two points, but then decided to take them away. You never want to see that on this stage, and it took Spinelli out of his rhythm. He ended up losing in OT, 3-1, but give the unseeded senior credit for knocking off the six-seed, and then nearly the third.

We also have to talk about the Foxes. While Speno was dominant, outscoring his opponents 28-4, Danny Ventura (132) and Matt Pasqualini (160) each suffered heartbreaking losses. Pasqualini had a 7-0 lead going into the third period in the first round, but got caught trying to take a shot, which resulted in him getting pinned. Ventura (pictured to the right) was down 4-0 in the quarters, but rallied back to take a 5-4 lead going into the third period. With about 30 seconds left, he tried taking a shot, but ended up getting taken down. After his opponent picked up three more near fall points, Ventura lost, 9-5. Afterwards, Fox Lane coach Joe Amuso talked about how each got caught being too aggressive with the lead. He emphasized being smart in those situations. Brewster senior Mike Parise (106) was also pinned in the first round when he had a lead.

In D1, 113 was an especially interesting weight class. I said going in that I liked D-Real’s chances to bounce back, and that’s exactly what he did, making the semis for the second year in a row. In the quarters, he gave up a 4-1 lead, but notched a takedown with 20 seconds left to win it. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see him wrestle Ossining sophomore Alex Delacruz in the semis after he was bounced in the quarters. Interestingly enough, both of the top two seeds at 113 lost in the first round, so D-Real is certainly in the mix for a title. When I spoke to him afterwards, he talked about being more relaxed on the mat after experiencing this environment last season.

The match that I know most of you were hoping to see came at 145. John Jay-EF junior Dale White got another shot at Caputo, and this match was much different than the first one. While they seemed to be feeling each other out in the section semis two weeks ago, this match was go, go, go. Caputo came out with two quick takedowns, and it was 6-3 by the end of the first period. White rallied back, and nearly tied it on a close call near the edge of the mat in the second period. He fought hard until the end, but Caputo was able to hold on for the 9-7 win.

Next up for Caputo is another shot at second-seeded Corey Rasheed of Longwood. The two split at Eastern States, with Caputo winning when they met in the quarters, and Rasheed winning when they met in the third place match. That will be a must watch.

Another Section 1 wrestler facing a familiar foe in the semis is Berkowitz (pictured to the left). He’ll be up against top-seeded McZiggy Richards of Wingate, who has developed a reputation as a physical freak. But as Berko informed me today, he beat Richards in an offseason tourney in October, 8-2, so we’d better be on upset alert.

Going back to D2, the guys who came closest to the semis other than Trey were Ardsley junior Drew Longo (126), and Nanuet junior Dan Breit (195). Both lost by only two points in the quarters, with Breit in particular just missing out of bounds on a late takedown attempt. The good news for D2 fans is that most of the wrestlers who performed well on Friday have at least another year, so we can probably expect more locals to make it to the semis next season.

Unfortunately, the few videos that I took are taking forever to upload. (The internet service around here has not been my friend for the past two years.) The one I made sure to get up first is the Caputo-White 145-quarterfinal. Here is the link.

Because there were so many Section 1 kids wrestling at the same time, I didn’t get to take as many videos as I wanted to today. But tomorrow, I intend to get every match in the semis and finals featuring Section 1 wrestlers. The semis are slated for 10 a.m., and the finals for 6 p.m., so I should have plenty of time to upload in between.

Thanks to all of you who followed me on Twitter today. I think they will attest to the fact that it’s the best way to track the action from home. If you’d like to do so tomorrow, follow me @vzmercogliano.

Goodnight everyone!

Photos by Seth Harrison/The Journal News

Division 1

99 – Barbaria (New Rochelle) dec. Bryan Lantry (Wayne), 2-1. 113 – Realbuto (Somers) dec. Jake Green (Chenango Forks), 6-4; Brandon Lapi (Amsterdam) dec. Delacruz (Ossining), 5-2. 126 – Speno (Fox Lane) tech. fall Isaiah Perry (Massena), 19-4. 132 – Dylan Cohen (Williamsville East) dec. Ventura (Fox Lane), 9-5. 138 – James Dekrone (John Glenn) tech. fall Grippi (Fox Lane), 16-0. 145 – Caputo (North Rockland) dec. White (John Jay-EF), 9-7. 152 – Realbuto (Somers) tech. fall Luke Falzone (Williamsville South), 22-6. 170 – Dan Spurgeon (Plainedge) pin Sabella (Yorktown), 2:51. 182 – Berkowitz (Scarsdale) dec. Josh Reed (Webster Schroeder), 5-1. 195 – Jesse Kozub (Brockport) dec. Spinelli (Mahopac), 3-1 OT. 220 – Max Antone (Niagara Wheatfield) pin Lilly (New Rochelle).

Division 2

99 – Luis Weirbach (Hoosick Falls) dec. Aslanian (Edgemont), 4-1; Alex Herringshaw (Holland Patent) dec. Dillon (Nanuet), 5-0. 106 – Cheick Ndiaye (Brooklyn International) dec. Skokos (Nanuet), 10-3. 113 – Aslanian (Edgemont) dec. Cody McGregor (Tonawanda), 6-2. 126 – Dylan Rifenburg (Palmyra-Macedon) dec. Longo (Ardsley), 6-2. 160 – Chris Nevinger (Letchworth) tech. fall Boyle (Dobbs Ferry), 17-1. 195 – Ben Perry (Saranac) dec. Breit (Nanuet), 3-1.

For full results, visit http://www.nysphsaawrestling.com/results.php

Division 1

99 – Nick Barbaria (New Rochelle) dec. Joe Calderone (Walt Whitman), 6-3.

106 – Freddy Dunau (St. Anthony’s) pin Mike Parise (Brewster), 5:45.

113 – Alex Delacruz (Ossining) dec. Jesse Porter (Shenendehowa), 4-1; Dylan Realbuto (Somers) maj. dec. Thomas Hill (Fulton), 9-0.

120 – Steve Michel (Lancaster) dec. Jake DiMarsico (North Rockland), 11-5.

126 – Sam Speno (Fox Lane) maj. dec. Tom Murphy (Monroe-Woodbury), 9-0; Mike Lofrese (Garden City) dec. Matt Caputo (North Rockland), 9-6.

132 – Danny Ventura (Fox Lane) pin Curtis Barney (Canton), 1:13.

138 – Tom Grippi (Fox Lane) dec. Dave Almaviva (Shenendehowa), 4-1.

145 – Mike Caputo (North Rockland) dec. Mike Roman (Spencerport), 9-5; Dale White (John Jay-EF) tech. fall Bret Sauschuck (Port Jervis), 15-0.

152 – Brian Realbuto (Somers) inj. def. Thomas Carta (South Glens Falls).

160 – Zach Colgan (Johnson City) pin Matt Pasqualini (Fox Lane), 4:41.

170 – Steven Sabella (Yorktown) dec. Dillon Franco (Coming), 3-1 OT.

182 – Jacob Berkowitz (Scarsdale) dec. Joesef Carter (Brockport), 4-1.

195 – Mike Spinelli (Mahopac) pin Colton Kells (Fairport), 3:43.

220 – Tyler Lilly (New Rochelle) pin Alex Pontiff (Queensbury), 5:13; Nick Lupi (Huntington) dec. Dom DeVita, 3-2 2OT.

285 – Leon Gonzalez (Franklin D. Roosevelt) pin David Varian (Yorktown), 3:30.

Division 2

99 – Tyler Aslanian (Edgemont) maj. dec. Tanner Lapiene (Ogdensburg), 9-0; Joe Dillon (Nanuet) dec. Alexis Bleau (Schoharie), 7-0.

106 – Vinny Skokos (Nanuet) dec. Cody Carberry (Chittenango), 4-2.

113 – Trey Aslanian (Edgemont) dec. Jack Leguelaff (Oyster Bay), 7-0.

120 – Codie Gillette (Saranac) dec. Anthony Calvano (Nanuet), 7-4.

126 – Drew Longo (Ardsley) dec. Jordan Bushey (Peru), 9-4.

132 – Frank Garcia (Norwich) dec. David Occhipinti (Croton-Harmon), 5-1.

138 – Anthony Finnocchiaro (Canastota) tech. fall Dean Rogener (Westlake), 20-3; Quinton Murphy (Holley) tech. fall Matt Dillon (Nanuet), 16-1.

145 – Tyler Button (Phoenix) maj. dec. Brett Pastore (Irvington), 8-0.

152 – Conner Fox (Midlakes) dec. Scott Porter (Pawling), 5-0.

160 – Mike Boyle (Dobbs Ferry) maj. dec. Joe Massaro (Mineola), 13-2.

170 – Zack Zupan (Canastota) pin John Messinger (Putnam Valley), 2:53.

182 – Oliver Mold (Pawling) dec. Dylan Rankin (Oyster Bay), 8-5.

195 – Dan Breit (Nanuet) pin Miguel Perez (Eagle Academy).

285 – Alex Soutiere (Ravena) dec. Obum Anyichie (Pleasantville), 5-1.

For full results, visit http://www.nysphsaawrestling.com/results.php.

I had my first opportunity to cover the wrestling state championships last season, and one of the things that really struck me was the way that all of the Section 1 athletes pulled for each other. For just about every match featuring a Section 1 wrestler, a crowd of others from around the section seem to form. After seeing these wrestlers compete against each other all season, it was a bit of an odd sight. But it was also a refreshing display of sportsmanship and friendship.

I had an opportunity to visit a full Section 1 team practice at John Jay Middle School last Thursday, and it was apparent that all of the state qualifiers from the section have flipped the switch from enemies to teammates once again. John Jay coach Bill Swertfager, who runs these practices, and the rest of the coaches from Section 1 have worked hard to develop that camaraderie, and the proof is in the pudding. Last season was an historic showing for Section 1, and now we’re just a couple of hours away from the start of the 2012 tournament. Here is my full story on how Section 1 becomes one big team at this time of year.

I’m about to get on the road to Albany, but you can follow the action right here. I’ll post results and videos on the blog as often as I can, but the best place to track the action from home will be to follow me on Twitter @vzmercogliano. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. today, with the quarterfinals scheduled for 2 p.m.

Good luck to all of the Section 1 wrestlers!

After coming on strong last season, Dom DeVita elevated himself into one of the top wrestlers in state in his weight class. His rival all season was New Rochelle’s Tyler Lilly, who he beat twice by one point, including in the section finals. DeVita has a non-stop motor, and often bumped up to wrestle super heavyweights who were significantly bigger than him. For the second consecutive year, the Tuskers will be sending a DeVita to states along with the Realbuto brothers. Last season, Dom’s older brother Rino placed at 145 pounds.

Here are Dom’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 220 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? Five years.

Is this your first section title? Yes.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: All of my hard work paid off.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? After the Eastern States, I had injuries in both of my elbows. Getting my elbows to 100 percent was difficult.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? I think I’ve improved most on top. Being able to ride kids is a great advantage.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? I like to listen to music, play soccer with my friends, and just hang out.

What is your favorite food? What isn’t my favorite food? I love it all.

Favorite professional athlete? Ben Askren.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I can tie a knot in a cherry stem only using my tongue.

Photo by Peter Carr/The Journal News

We’re less than 24 hours away from the start of the 2012 NYSPHSAA wrestling state championships, which will be held at the Times Union Center in Albany. I’ll be making my way up there tomorrow morning, and covering all of the action throughout the weekend. Wrestling is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, with the quarterfinals set for around 2 p.m. They’ll start the day with the semifinals on Saturday at 10 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 6 p.m.

Over the course of the past few days, I’ve done some research to size up the chances for some of the top wrestlers from Section 1. I’ve looked at previous meetings with other state qualifiers in each wrestler’s weight class, as well as looked up information on some of the top guys from each weight class outside of Section 1. I came up with three categories – top seeds, contenders, and sleepers. The contenders are guys who are seeded in the top four, and the sleepers are wrestlers who are seeded outside of the top four who I think have good shots to place.

Division 1

Top seeds

126: Sam Speno, Sr., Fox Lane (42-1) – After placing second at 112 last season, Speno is completely focused on a state title, and I like his chances. He has wins over fifth-seeded Sam Melikian of Fordham Prep (10-3), fourth-seeded Alec Dierna of Webster Schroeder (12-6), and third-seeded Dylan Caruana of Kenmore West (5-1). The only guy he hasn’t seen in the top five is second-seeded Maverick Passero of Eastport-South Manor, but he seems pretty confident after scouting Passero. Speno’s only loss this season came to Wyoming Seminary’s Dom Malone (Penn.) at the Eastern States, which is why I think he will follow in the footsteps of former Fox Lane standout Steven Rodrigues and win a state title.

132: Danny Ventura, Sr., Fox Lane (42-4) – Being the top seed will really help Ventura’s chances of getting to the finals. He has wins over fifth-seeded Nick Cegelski of Penfield (3-2), and sixth-seeded Eric Lewandowski of Lancaster (6-4). The other side of the bracket seems a bit deeper. Ventura lost to seventh-seeded Nick Mauriello of Hauppauge (6-4), and has yet to see second-seeded Nick Kelley of Shenendehowa.

152: Brian Realbuto, Sr., Somers (43-1) – As a two-time state champ, B-Real enters this year’s tournament as a clear favorite. He has already pinned first round opponent Thomas Carta of South Glens Falls this season, and he’s also pinned his likely finals opponent, second-seeded Nicky Hall of Longwood in the Eastern States semis. His only loss this season came to Dylan Palacio of Long Beach, who is wrestling at 160. The bottom line is, I’d be shocked if Realbuto doesn’t win his third title.

Contenders

145: Mike Caputo, Sr., North Rockland (44-3) – As the third-seed, Caputo seems to have a good shot to make the semis. If he gets there, he’ll likely have an opportunity to avenge a loss from Eastern States to second-seeded Corey Rasheed of Longwood (7-2). Caputo could run into John Jay-EF’s Dale White in quarters, who he just beat two weeks ago (3-2).

182: Jacob Berkowitz, Sr., Scarsdale (48-2) – Berko has not seen anyone in his bracket this season, which makes it difficult to predict how things might play out for him. After making it to states last season, he’s garnered some respect from around the state, which resulted in him receiving the fourth seed. If he makes it to the semis, he’d likely see top-seeded McZiggy Richards of Wingate. Richards is a two-time PSAL city champ, and a really interesting story. He’s a top-notch goalkeeper in soccer, and didn’t start wrestling until two years ago. Here is a story on him from the New York Post.

220: Dom DeVita, Sr., Somers (38-3) – DeVita enters as the third-seed in a weight class that seems a bit more wide open than most. He has an overtime win over Queensbury’s Alex Pontiff (who is New Rochelle’s Tyler Lilly’s first round opponent), and a 3-1 win over fourth-seeded Jon Babson of La Salle. DeVita has also beat the seventh-seeded Lilly twice, who would have to make the semis for a rematch.

Sleepers

99: Nick Barbaria, Soph., New Rochelle (34-4) – After placing second at Eastern States, I like Barbaria’s chances to place at states. He’s seeded fifth, and beat first-round opponent Joe Calderone of Walt Whitman in overtime of the Shoreline finals. Barbaria also beat sixth-seeded Gerard Daly of Minisink Valley (5-3). He lost to third-seeded Jose Rodriguez of Wantagh in the Eastern States finals (9-0). Getting past the semis may prove to be difficult though, with top-seeded Kyle Kelly of Chenango Forks having won a state title last season with a 7-4 win over Dylan Realbuto. He hasn’t lost in two seasons.

113: Dylan Realbuto, Jr., Somers (40-3) – It’s difficult to think of Realbuto as a sleeper after he placed second at 96 last season, but that’s the case after his surprising loss in the section semifinals to Ossining’s Alex Delacruz. Realbuto is seeded seventh, but his resume looks more like someone who should be in the top four. D-Real lost by one point on a controversial call to top-seeded Mark Raghunandan of Long Beach in the Eastern States finals, so we know he can hang with the best in his weight class. Second-seeded Corey Jamison of Huntington eked his way to a Suffolk county title while scoring just five total points in his final three bouts; that matchup in the quarterfinals will be a must watch, and could pave Realbuto’s way to the finals. D-Real split with Delacruz, but both would have to make the semis for another collision. Delacruz is seeded sixth.

195: Mike Spinelli, Sr., Mahopac (42-3) – The only guy in his bracket who he has seen this season is second-seeded Reggie Williams of Johnson City, who he lost to 10-7. Despite not seeing anyone else, I like Spinelli’s chances to surprise people. He was head and shoulders above the competition in Section 1 all season, and placed fifth at Eastern States.

Others who I think could place: 106 – Mike Parise, Sr., Brewster; 113 – Alex Delacruz, Soph., Ossining; 145 – Dale White, Jr. , John Jay-EF; 160 – Matt Pasqualini, Sr., Fox Lane; 220 – Tyler Lilly, Sr., New Rochelle.

Division 2

Top seeds

No D2 wrestlers from Section 1 received a top seed

Contenders

113: Trey Aslanian, Jr., Edgemont (36-1) – The bracket is set up perfectly for Aslanian to exact some revenge and capture his first state title. He had a lead on Lansing’s William Koll when he got pinned in last season’s 103-pound state final, and Koll is sitting on the other side of the bracket as the top seed. Trey is the one D2 wrestler who I believe will win a state title.

126: Drew Longo, Jr., Ardsley (28-4) – After placing at the state level last season, Longo enters this year’s tournament as a known commodity. The result was a third seed, despite the fact that he hasn’t seen anyone in his bracket this season. Second-seeded Tristan Rifanburg of Norwich beat Longo in the quarters at 112 pounds last season, 6-4. He could get another shot at him in the semis. Other than Trey Aslanian, I think Longo has the next best shot of any Section 1 wrestler in D2 to reach the finals.

195: Dan Breit, Jr., Nanuet (37-4) – The only guy in his weight class who Breit has seen this season is sixth-seeded Hunter Ayen of Gouverneur, who he beat at Eastern States (9-5), but he’s on the other side of the bracket. Top-seeded Ryan Todd of Lansing is a three-time Section 4 champ, and would likely be Breit’s opponent in the semis as the fourth-seed. Todd placed second in the state last season at 189 pounds.

285: Obum Anyichie, Sr., Pleasantville (30-2) – Anyichie hasn’t seen anyone in his bracket, but enters the tournament as the fourth seed. Top-seeded Kacee Sauer of Holley has lost by a point in each of the last two D2 285-finals, and he looks like a heavy favorite. That would be who Anyichie would see in the semis. Same as with Breit, it will probably be tough for Anyichie to get past the semis.

Sleepers

99: Tyler Aslanian, Soph., Edgemont (28-6) – The only guy in his bracket he has seen is Nanuet’s Joe Dillon, who he has beat twice. As the fifth-seed, fourth-seeded Luis Weierbach of Hoosick Falls would likely be Aslanian’s opponent in the quarters. Weierbach is a two-time Section 2 champ, so that will be a match to look for.

132: David Occhipinti, Sr., Croton-Harmon (36-4) – Occhipinit hasn’t seen anyone in his bracket, but he has plenty of experience on this stage, and seems poised for a run. He should see fourth-seeded Connor Lapresi of Lansing in the quarters, who is a bit of an underdog himself. He upset the top seed to win a section title in Section 4 two weeks ago. I like Occhipinti’s chances to end his career by placing.

Others who could place: 120 – Anthony Calvano, Jr., Nanuet; 152 – Scott Porter, Sr., Pawling; 182 – Oliver Mold, Sr., Pawling.

After losing to eventual state champ Ryan Osleeb in last season’s section finals, Brett Pastore was able to get it done this year. Pastore only suffered five losses all season, and pinned his opponents in well over half of his wins. His most recent pin of Edgemont’s Jack McCormack earned him a section title. He was the only section champ for the Bulldogs, and has developed into one of the best wrestlers in Division 2.

Here are Brett’s responses:

Year: Junior

Weight class: 145 in D2

How many years have you been wrestling for? I started wrestling around fourth grade at a kids club in Irvington.

Is this your first section title? Yes.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: I felt like a huge burden was just lifted off my shoulders; a ton of relief.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? Watching my weight. I grew throughout the season, so it became tough sometimes to make weight.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? Neutral wrestling.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Run
cross country, and weightlifting.

What is your favorite food? Sushi.

Favorite professional athlete? Chuck Liddell.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I have two older brothers who wrestled for Irvington, and in college.

Photo by Joe Larese/The Journal News

Each year the Golden Knights seem to have a new face emerge as a prominent contender in Division 2, and this season that was Vinny Skokos. In his first full season in the varsity lineup, Skokos came on strong, showing right away that he can hang with some of the best in the section. By the end of the season, he was the clear-cut favorite in his weight class, and he went into the sectional tournament and took care of business. He leads a very good freshmen class for Nanuet that should preserve its tradition of winning section titles.

Here are Vinny’s responses:

Year: Freshman

Weight class: 106 in D2

How many years have you been wrestling for? Three years.

Is this your first section title? This was my first.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: That all of the late nights and weekends in the practice room paid off for me.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? Staying on my diet with my mom’s help, and going from Nanuet practice to Olympic Wrestling Club every night to train with my dad and Florian.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? Most of all my stamina; to be able to go six minutes, and more if I had to.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Hang out with friends, and play football over the summer.

What is your favorite food? Hot wings.

Favorite professional athlete? Dan Gable.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I have a twin sister, and also have a younger brother and sister that are twins.

Photo by Peter Carr/The Journal News

After years of coming close, Dean Rogener finished off his career in Section 1 on top with his 3-2 win over Nanuet’s Matt Dillon in the finals. Rogener had placed second as a sophomore, and third as a junior. He missed a portion of the season due to injury, but rallied back to claim his first title by edging out Dillon. Rogener will be the only wrestler representing the Wildcats at states.

Here are Dean’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 138 in D2

How many years have you been wrestling for? Eight years.

Is this your first section title? This was my first.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: I felt like all of my hard work finally paid off; I had reached my goal.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? I had to get through a few injuries this season. They kept me out for a good portion of the season, but luckily I was able to bounce back.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? I think that I improved on my feet.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Eating, lifting, and hanging out with Sam Speno.

What is your favorite food? Chicken parm pizza.

Favorite professional athlete? Oguchi Onyewu of the U.S. National Soccer team.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I have been to 10 different countries.

Photo by Ricky Flores/The Journal News

It’s 6:30 p.m., and we’re one hour away from our live LoHud Wrestling Chat! I’ll be hosting the chat beginning at 7:30, and you can log in by visiting the LoHud Wrestling Blog, or by going to our homepage at lohud.com.

With all of the Section 1 champions being crowned and the state tournament just three days away, there should be plenty to talk about! Come ready with questions and comments, and we should have another great conversation!

In a feature story that I wrote for today’s paper, I detailed the unique bond that is shared between the four sets of brothers from Section 1 who will each be making the trip to Albany for this weekend’s state championships. As many of you know, there are several prominent wrestling families throughout the section, and I thought that was exemplified based on how many sets of brothers qualified for states this season.

In Division 1, we have the Realbutos of Somers (Dylan and Brian), and the Caputos of North Rockland (Matt and Mike). In Division 2, we have the Aslanians of Edgemont (Tyler and Trey), and the Dillons of Nanuet (Joe and Matt). There are interesting dynamics between each set of brothers, and each that I spoke with talked about how they’ve learned each others tendencies—both on and off the mat—in large part due to the relationship that they’ve developed through wrestling.

Not only do these brothers train with each other and motivate each other, but they also know when to back off. In some cases where you have an older brother who has accomplished more at this stage of his career, the elder often talks about it meaning more to see his brother achieve his goals. They can almost feel what the other is going through on the mat. For the full story, here is the link.

After placing second in the section last season, Obum Anyichie came back stronger than ever this year. He got his revenge when he defeated Irvington’s Chris DiNardo late this season, and then beat DiNardo’s brother Anthony in the section finals by decision, 3-1. Anyichie has to be considered among the best super heavyweights in the section after defeating D1 champ David Varian of Yorktown during the regular season.

Here are Obum’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 285 in D2

How many years have you been wrestling for? Five years.

Is this your first section title? Yes.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: I finally did it. All of the hard work in the offseason paid off.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? Coming back from last season’s disappointing loss in the section finals.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? I feel that I’ve most improved in my conditioning, and being able to score from scramble positions.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Taking naps, and watching TV.

What is your favorite food? I love all food as long as it tastes good.

Favorite professional athlete? Osi Umenyiora.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I lived in Nigeria for five years.

Photo by Matthew Brown/The Journal News

John Messinger comes from a wrestling family, and he became the first Messinger to win a section title this season. His older brother Ray seemed destined for a title himself, but injuries derailed his season before sectionals twice. That made John’s victory on Sunday all the more sweeter for the Messinger family. Messinger also helped propel the Tigers to a third place finish at sectionals, surpassing a few teams that most had penciled in ahead of them.

Here are John’s responses:

Year: Junior

Weight class: 170 in D2

How many years have you been wrestling for? This is my fifth. I started as a seventh grader on the modified team.

Is this your first section title? Yes.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: So many things… The hard work I put in to prepare for the tournament, and maybe even more so, I thought about my family and older brother Ray. He was injured as a junior and senior (seeded No. 2 as a junior, and No. 1 as a senior) for sectionals, so to win it not only for him, but for my younger brother Willie as well, who is just a freshmen this year.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? At the beginning of the year a couple days before our first match, I re-injured my knee while wrestling live at practice. The rehab took more than a month and a half (the majority of my season), but thanks to my coaches, I was able to get back in time for sectionals.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? My positioning on my shots has improved greatly since last year, and I’m really starting to find more set-ups. I’m taking less and less dive shots the more that time goes on, which had seemed to be the one piece of my game I really needed to solidify.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Relaxing is one of my favorite things to do, and my favorite place to really relax is when I’m out doing something like golfing. My dad will bring me out on the course sometimes, and it’s always really nice.

What is your favorite food? Sandwiches are the perfect food.

Favorite professional athlete? Right now, it would have to be Jordan Burroughs because he has the most dominate double-leg takedown in the world!

Photo by Brian O’Gorman

To get everyone set for the state tournament this weekend, I’ll be hosting another CoverItLive LoHud Wrestling Chat tomorrow night at 7:30. We’ll be discussing how things played out at sectionals, how Section 1 is preparing as a team for states, and which wrestlers have the best shot of making noise up in Albany.

At this point, I think most of you know the drill. You can log into the chat by either coming to the blog shortly before it begins, or simply going to the LoHud homepage. Come ready with questions and comments, and spread the word!

It’s difficult to believe that this was Danny Ventura’s first section title, but in fact it was. He’d come close before, before finally getting it done with a first period pin of Scarsdale’s John Tambunting on Sunday. Ventura is regarded as one of the best wrestlers in Section 1 after placing second in the state last season at 119 pounds. After receiving a top seed for this year’s state tournament, Ventura should be right in the mix for a state title, which would really send him out with a bang.

Here are Danny’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 132 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? Six years. I started in seventh grade with the modified program at Fox Lane.

Is this your first section title? This is my first, but I was a runner-up twice.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: It didn’t mean as much because I was expected to win, unlike in past years. I think the fact that it was expected it took away from the celebration. It would have been nicer to win one of the past two when I wasn’t the favorite.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? The hardest thing was staying healthy. I have a torn labrum and a partially torn rotator cuff, and it made me a little more hesitant because I was afraid to completely tear my rotator cuff and not be able to finish the season. I also got sick mid-season, and that lasted for almost two weeks. I had to miss some matches for that. So, staying healthy was difficult.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season?  I am able to wrestle more calm now, recognize a position, and adapt to it quicker.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Swimming.

What is your favorite food? Chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate syrup and whip cream. It’s the best breakfast you can have.

Favorite professional athlete? Amar’e Stoudemire.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I plan to study psychology.

Photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News

David Occhipinti has become one of the faces of Division 2 wrestling, and he took another step towards cementing his legacy with his third section title on Sunday. Over the course of his time at Croton, he’s seen the program improve every season, combining with coach Sam Occhipinti to form the most lethal father-son duo in the section. Occhipinti pinned Edgemont’s Colin Hopkins in the third period of the finals, and will now look to see if he can place at the state level for the first time.

Here are David’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 132 in D2

How many years have you been wrestling for? Eight years.

Is this your first section title? This is my third. I also won in 2008 (96 lbs.), and in 2011 (125 lbs.).

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: All of the hard work has paid off.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? The most difficult obstacle has been wrestling through sickness.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? I am wrestling better from my feet. I feel a lot more confident now.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? I like hanging out with friends, weight lifting, and playing sports.

What is your favorite food? Peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches.

Favorite professional athlete? LeBron James.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I listen to, ‘Three Days Grace,’ before most of my matches.

Photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News