LoHud Wrestling Blog

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

As a fifth seed entering the tournament, Steven Sabella was one of the more unlikely champs of the weekend—but we probably should have seen it coming. Sabella had an outstanding regular season in which he suffered only two losses, and he capped it with a stellar sectional tournament. After defeating defending section champ Aaron Butler of New Rochelle in the semis, Sabella held off Scarsdale’s Jack Braun in an exciting overtime final. He’s a huge part of an up-and-coming Yorktown program, and was one of two ‘Huskers to breakthrough with a section title this season.

Here are Steven’s responses:

Year: Junior

Weight class: 170 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? This is currently my eighth year wrestling.

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: The moment my hand was raised I felt a feeling of accomplishment. I’ve had my eye on winning a title for years, and actually living in that moment was a feeling like no other. I’ll never forget it.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? My biggest challenge this year was mentally bouncing back from last year when I wrestled at 145. I crashed at the end of the year from cutting way too much, and having a handful of injuries, leaving me not even qualifying for sectionals. This year, I wanted gold more than anything, and I couldn’t have a repeat of the past, so I worked harder than ever before.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? I feel like I’ve improved the most mentally and physically. My mind was focused day in and out, and I kept my body healthy and in top shape throughout the whole winter.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Outside of wrestling, I love to fish, eat, and go hard when it comes to frisbee. Once spring comes around I’m outside literally all of the time; it’s the best. Music is also a hobby of mine. Find me a piano and I’ll be glued to it.

What is your favorite food? Well, all food is good food, but sushi is the clear favorite. I don’t care what kind or what’s in it, I’ll eat it. Then again, that also goes for 90% of all other foods; it’s too hard to say no.

Favorite professional athlete? Ray Lewis. He is a SAVAGE. By far the most dangerous man in the NFL. Love his work ethic, and he always seems to take it to the next level. Truly an inspiration.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: My celebrity crush is Emma Watson.

Photo by Ricky Flores/The Journal News

The tentative seeds for the NYSPHSAA state championships are up, and there were three Section 1 wrestlers who received top seeds (all in Division 1). Two-time state champ Brian Realbuto of Somers is the No. 1 seed at 152 pounds, with Sam Speno (126) and Danny Ventura (132) of Fox Lane also taking the top spots in their respective weight classes. Speno (112) and Ventura (119) each placed second in the state last season.

North Rockland senior Mike Caputo grabbed the third seed at 145 pounds, Somers senior Dom DeVita is No. 3 at 220, and Scarsdale senior Jacob Berkowitz is seeded fourth at 182.

Edgemont junior Trey Aslanian is highest seeded Section 1 wrestler in Division 2, claiming the second spot at 113 pounds. Ardsley junior Drew Longo is seeded third at 126, Nanuet junior Dan Breit is the fourth seed at 195, and Pleasantville senior Obum Anyichie is seeded fourth at 285.

Here is the full D1 bracket.

And here is the full D2 bracket.

Just two weeks after losing by seven points to Mahopac’s Jake Srednicki in the Super 16 finals, Tom Grippi bounced back with arguably the most impressive individual performance of any section final. Grippi did not allow Srednicki to score on his way to a convincing 8-0 major decision. His win proved to be critical from a team standpoint, as the Foxes were able to hold off North Rockland by just 3.5 points. After winning his title, Grippi talked about having the opportunity to become a two-time champ next season like his older brother Joey.

Here are Tom’s responses:

Year: Junior

Weight class: 138 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? Nine years (since third grade).

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

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: It felt great. I wasn’t surprised.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? Getting the respect I deserved.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? Bottom position. I used to be terrible at bottom, but now I can get up with little trouble.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? I play baseball on a travel team.

What is your favorite food? Mashed potatoes.

Favorite professional athlete? Rajon Rondo.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I’m from New York, but I like the Minnesota Vikings, and Boston Celtics. And I don’t stop eating outside of wrestling.

Photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News

After flying a bit under the radar to win a section title last season, no one was sleeping on Jacob Berkowitz this time around. The Binghamton-bound senior had a dominant season, which was capped on Sunday with a 7-2 win over Yorktown’s Thomas Murray in the finals. The Raiders have garnered more respect this season across the section, in large part due to the presence of a standout like Berkowitz. Scarsdale placed in the top 10 at sectionals, with three wrestlers appearing the finals. After speaking with Berko at the Section 1 team practice yesterday, he seems to be pretty confident about his chances of placing at the state level this season. He’ll get his opportunity next weekend.

Here are Jacob’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 182 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? I started in eighth grade.

Is this your first section title? This is my second. I won last year at 171.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: I was excited for another chance at the State Tournament.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? I didn’t have many obstacles. I had a very good, supportive coaching staff and team.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? My mat work.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Long walks on the beach.

What is your favorite food? Hamburger Helper.

Favorite professional athlete? John Benton of the U.S. Curling team.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I am an avid fan of ‘Glee.’

Photo by Ricky Flores/The Journal News

After a heartbreaking loss in last year’s 103-pound final to eventual state champ Jimmy Duckham, Mike Parise found himself on the winning end of a tight match in this year’s section final with a 3-2 win over North Rockland’s Blaise Benderoth. With his second career title, Parise is leaving quite the legacy behind at Brewster. He is the program’s all-time wins leader, and has seen the Bears’ program improve in every season during his five-year career. This season, Parise was apart of the Brewster team which upset mighty Fox Lane in the Section 1 Dual Meet championships. Next up, he’ll be looking to place at the state level for the second time in Albany.

Here are Mike’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 106 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? I began wrestling at age six. I have been wrestling for 11 years.

Is this your first section title? I won a section title in 2010 in the 96 lbs. weight class. I placed fifth in the state that year. In 2011, I was the sectional runner up and qualified for states.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: When the referee raised my hand after the finals I was relieved, and knew that my hard work had paid off.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? The most difficult obstacle that I had to overcome this season was keeping myself healthy and focused on my goal.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? I have improved most on bottom wrestling, especially after the Eastern States.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Some of my favorite things outside of wrestling are fishing, hanging out with my friends, and eating .

What is your favorite food? My favorite food is my Dad’s mashed potatoes.

Favorite professional athlete? Derek Jeter.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I can make a mean guacamole dip.

Photo by Joe Larese/The Journal News

In many ways, Hackley senior Justin Seim’s 2011-12 season has been a quest for respect. As one of the top private school wrestlers in the state, Hackley coach Fran Stanek made a conscience effort this season to get Seim into as many tournaments with top public school wrestlers as possible. And while Seim (pictured above) knows a lot of different Section 1 wrestlers through different clubs that he’s attended, it’s safe to say that he made even more of an impression with his performance this year.

Seim has beaten the likes of Ardsley’s Drew Longo and Clarkstown North’s Colby Kash this season, and placed ahead of Longo and North Rockland’s Matt Caputo at the Eastern States Classic in January at 126 pounds. Last Saturday, he became the second wrestler in state history to win five private school state titles, capping the most successful career in Hackley wrestling history. He owns the school records for career wins (135-17), takedowns (312), pins (69), and reversals (66). He also holds the top marks for each of those categories in a single season.

For my story that appeared in today’s paper, I spoke with Seim about his career, his relationships with some of the top wrestlers in Section 1, and his prospects for the private school national tournament at Lehigh University on Feb. 24-25. With a top eight finish at 132 pounds, he will be an All-American for the first time in his career. He’ll be joined by teammate Will Johnson, who a his first state title last weekend at 182 pounds. For the full story, here is the link.

Photo by Xavier Mascareñas/The Journal News

For all that he’s accomplished in his career, Sam Speno seems to fly under the radar a bit sometimes. In a room filled with section champs and quality wrestlers, Speno may not always get his due for what he truly is—one of the top wrestlers in the state. Aside from two-time state champ Brian Realbuto, Speno is probably Section 1’s next best shot at a state title this season. He placed second in the state last year at 112 pounds, and has his sights set on a championship this time around. He beat North Rockland’s Matt Caputo in the finals on Sunday, 6-2, to cap an impressive career in Section 1.

Here are Sam’s responses:

Year: Senior

Weight class: 126 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? Since about fifth grade I was going to open mats at Fox Lane .

Is this your first section title? This is my third. I also won as a sophomore at 103 pounds, and as a junior at 112.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: I was thinking, ‘What is next step?’ And the next step is to win a state title.

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? Staying focused throughout the whole season.

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

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? Fishing with Pat Argast and Henny Omar, hunting, and going to the beach .

What is your favorite food? Bacon cheeseburger.

Favorite professional athlete? Misty May (Olympic volleyball player).

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I go tanning at Beachbum Tanning.

Photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News

I spent about two hours at John Jay Middle School with the complete Section 1 team of wrestlers that will be heading up to Albany for the state championships next weekend. Although a few were missing due to nagging injuries (nothing serious, don’t worry), the room was packed full of well-accomplished wrestlers from around the section. Most of the guys are friendly with each other, with many having worked together at various local clubs. It’s evident when you first walk in, as you can easily spot kids chatting it up and horsing around with one another.

I think a big part of that comes from John Jay coach Bill Swertfager and the rest of the coaches who are involved (there were plenty of them there). They make a point of stressing the fact that all of the wrestlers from Section 1 are now apart of one big team, and all of the kids seem to buy into it.

“It’s weird in that sense, but I think it’s good,” Edgemont junior Trey Aslanian (pictured to the right) said. “You go up to states by yourself, and there’s a lot of pressure, but there’s something about being in it together. That’s where you get that team aspect, and it’s really important. I think coach Swertfager does a really good job of preaching team.”

Practice began with a serious of warmups, led by Somers senior Brian Realbuto. As a two-time state champ, he seems to be the closest thing the group has a to captain, and it’s obvious that everyone in the room respects him. Although don’t think they won’t jump on an opportunity to razz him a little bit when they get a chance.

After the warmups, they go right into some basic, live partner drills, but they get more specific as the practice goes on. They’ll go for two or three minute clips at a time working on shots or wrist control, and then go right to the next thing, switching partners to change things up every so often. It’s very crisp and fast-paced.

“There’s a lot more live and conditioning here than at my normal team practices,” Scarsdale senior Jacob Berkowitz said. “At team practice, there’s a lot more inexperienced guys, so we’re working on technique and a lot of drilling to get that technique now. Here it’s not much drilling—it’s just go, go, go.”

After about 45 minutes of that, they do some conditioning before they take a break. Sprints from one end of the room to the other, and some suicides at the end. The practice only lasts about an hour and a half, but it’s pretty much a non-stop cardio workout the whole time. Obviously, these wrestlers are experienced enough so that the coaches don’t need to worry about technique. It’s more about staying sharp and well-conditioned.

“From here to states, you’re not really going to learn many new things,” Fox Lane senior Sam Speno (pictured to the left) said. “It’s more about working on your wind, getting your toughness up, and getting your mind ready for the state tournament.”

While the wrestlers definitely work hard, it’s also clearly important that they stay loose. The kids all joke around with each other, but you can see their competitive sides come out at times. It may seem as if two partners are going half speed, but as soon as one puts a move on the other, it can become heated very quickly (in a good, competitive way).

The coaches try make sure there is a good blend of seriousness and looseness. At one point Swertfager, who makes all of the commands during practice, quipped that the better looking wrestler take the bottom for the start of one particular drill. Some jumped right to their knees, while others looked around a little confused.

Swertfager finished practice by having all of the kids play dodge-ball against each other, which I thought was a nice twist at the end. There were smiles all around as wrestlers tried to pelt each other from across the room.

“I went down to Penn State, who won the nationals this past year,” Swertfager said. “I met a guy down there who told me that Penn State plays a game every day, and that blew me away. It’s totally anti what you’d think of when you think of wrestling and grinding and pounding – but he wants to be fun. I’ve kind of taken that and tried to incorporate that into what we do here.”

The practices have been run this way at John Jay for about five years now, and it’s probably no coincidence that Section 1 has improved its standing at the state level just about every year since.

“The way they used to run practices was very haphazard, and only half the kids would show up,” Swertfager said. “That’s when we had that real bad performance (in 2007), and we had to make a change.”

I’ll be working on a few stories based on what I saw and interviews that I did while I was at the practice. Look for those next week…

Photos by Seth Harrison/The Journal News

Nick Barbaria entered the season with high expectations, and never wavered on his way to one of the more dominant seasons in the section. In a relatively deep weight class, Barbaria was head and shoulders above the competition all year. He won multiple tournament titles along the way, most notably at home at New Rochelle’s Shoreline Invitational. He placed second at the Eastern States Classic, which has many people talking about Barbaria as someone who will be in the mix to place at states. He breezed through the competition on his way to a section title, defeating Port Chester’s Kevin Rodriguez by major decision in the finals.

Here are Nick’s responses:

Year: Sophomore

Weight class: 99 in D1

How many years have you been wrestling for? This is my third year on varsity. I began wrestling in fourth grade with the New Ro Kids program. .

Is this your first section title? This is my first section title. I placed third last year at 96 lbs. This year, I placed first at the Shoreline and Albany Big 10 tournaments.

Describe what was going through your head when the referee raised your hand after the finals: When my hand was raised, I felt proud and relieved. It was important to make eye contact with my brother (A.J.).

What was the most difficult obstacle that you had to overcome this season? Maintaining my weight was the biggest obstacle. It stinks that wrestling season lasts from Thanksgiving, through Christmas and the Super Bowl.

What area do you feel that you’ve improved in the most over the course of the season? I’ve most improved with my movement and speed of finish.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of wrestling? My favorite thing to do outside of wrestling is watching ESPN, drawing, and hanging out with friends.

What is your favorite food? My favorite food is anything my mom cooks.  However, a nice cheeseburger “all the way” from Five Guys also works.

Favorite professional athlete? Jordan Oliver.

Name one thing that’s interesting about you that people may not know about: I hold a black belt in kumite-ryu arnis jitsu.

Photo by Ricky Flores/The Journal News