Divsion 2
99 Pounds – This should prove to be an exciting, wide open weight class in Albany! Perhaps the most intriguing entry here is Section 5 7th-grader Ethan Ferro from Pal-Mac. Ferro only has two losses at 99 this season and they both came at Eastern States to the 1st and 4th place finishers. A few others to keep an eye on here include Jon Charles from Section 3, John Worthing from Section 4, and the Section 2 entry Matt LaPorte. Section 9 is represented by returning champ Wade Harris from Red Hook who is 21-11 this year.
106 Pounds – This weight class is loaded but we will start with looking at Section 2 champ Orion Anderson. A state finalist last year, Anderson’s only loss this year was in the ESC finals to the nation’s top 106 pound wrestler Adam Busiello. The wrestler who defeated Anderson, AJ Burkhart from S4, is is in this bracket and hopes to make it back-to-back titles. Drew Schafer from S5 is a returning state placewinner and Cahal Donovan from S3 is an ESC placewinner. Luke Bokina from S11 and Kevin Spann from S3 will also be in the hunt while Section 9’s Luke Jones from Eldred Liberty Sullivan West has been improving all season!
113 Pounds – This weight class has 6 returning state medalists in the bracket! Section 4 champ Chris Cirigliano is undefeated this season and is probably the favorite going into the weekend. In order to reach the top step of the podium however Cirigliano will need to top 2015 NYS placers AJ Putt (S6), Trey LaFlamme (S3), Jack Bokina (S11), Carson Dobozy (S7), and S3 wildcard Austin O’Reilly. Section 5 has 3 very good entries here in Connor Wilkins, Matt Caccamise, and Nick Young. Section 9 is represented by Chester’s Nick Conetta who has been very impressive this season sporting a 19-3 record heading into states!
120 Pounds – Division 2 120 pounds is stacked – it’s that simple! Jonathan Gomez (S8), Dane Heberlein (S5), and Theo Powers (S3) are all former state champions! Dillian Palaszewski (S2), Jacob Nolan (S7), CJ Walz (S5), and Dean Raymond (S4) are all former state placewinners. Ryan Hetrick (S6) placed at ESC this year and S1 champ Satoshi Abe and S3 wildcard Derrick Spann are as tough as nails. New Paltz junior Chris Massaro is the Section 9 entry at 120. He is 25-9 this season against a very good schedule – he might notch a win or two here!
126 Pounds – How about a second straight weight class with three former state champions in the bracket! Matteo Devincenzo (S11), Hunter Dusold (S8), and Derrick Spann (S3) have all made the top step of the medal stand in Albany. With his 2016 Eastern States title and victory over nationally ranked Jack Davis from Wyoming Seminary we have to consider Devincenzo the favorite here. Section 5 has three entries here and two of them, Nick Gaiser and Joe Sliwoski, have placed in NYS previously. We should also keep an eye on Ty Rifanburg (S4), Zach Burke (S3), and Noah Kelvas (S1). Rondout Valley sophomore Ian Houck is the Section 9 represntative here and he has a 29-7 record heading into states.
132 Pounds – There are three undefeated wrestlers in this bracket and none of them are the favorite at 132. Kellen Devlin from Section 6 is a 2X NYS champion and his only loss this year was a 4-1 decision to national #2 Vito Arujau in the ESC finals. The unbeaten wrestlers here are Ryan O’Rourke (S3), Brandon Gould (S4), and Brett Frole (S11). All three will be incontention for a medal while we must also keep an eye on Emerson Block (S5) and Zach Lawrence (S2). Highland senior Mark Castellano is the Section 9 representative here. He is making his first trip to the state tournament and sports a 24-7 record this season.
138 Pounds – This is shaping up to be a wide open weight! Section 1 champ Jake Kurzhalz was a state finalists last year and Brad Bihler (S6) and Brad Dietz (S3) are also returning placewinners. Dietz needed a wildcard to get to the state tournament after dropping a decision in the S3 finals to Tanner Cook. Adam Wagner from S5 has only one loss this year and Section 4 champ Dylan Wood is tough as nails. Section 9’s entry shouldn’t be overlooked either. Onteora sophomore Dillon Ross is 30-9 this year but has been getting better every week of the season!
145 Pounds – Section 3 champion Hunter Richard was the state champion at 138 last year and he is having another great season. All three of his losses came at the ESC where he finished 6th – none of the losses where to anyone in this bracket. Section 4 champ Nate Grubham is 40-1 this season with his only loss coming at the hands of Richard. Section 9 has a great chance to medal here with Taylor Benson from Red Hook taking the mat. Benson has looked very tough all season and is 29-5 on the year. Others to keep an eye at 145 include former placewinner Joey Bush (S10), Austin Trombley (S7), Jordan Kayes (S6), and Damian Marchetti (S5).
152 Pounds – Section 4 senior Kobe Garrehy caught everyone’s attention when he captured the 2016 Eastern States Classic title with wins over D1 studs Chris Mauriello and Ryan Ferro. Garrehy has finished the regular season undefeated and is definitely considered the favorite here. This is by no means a race for second place though as wrestlers such as Noah Grover (S5), Dakota Gardner (S6), Zack Beirfelt (S6), and Madison Hoover (S4) will be right in the mix. Let’s not forget about Section 9 champ Noah Curreri from Eldred Liberty Sullivan West! Curreri is 37-3 on the season and has only lost to Garrehy from this bracket. Still only a junior, Curreri could definitely place here!
160 Pounds – This weight will very competitive with a couple of wrestlers having a legitimate shot at capturing the title. Section 2 champ Jason Hoffman is no stranger to the medal stand in Albany and he placed 2nd at this year’s ESC. Section 6’s Cameron Swick is a perfect 31-0 this season and will definitely challenge here as will Hammond Raes (S5) and Austin Carr (S4). Section 9’s rep at 160 is Liam Heslin from Chester. This is his second trip to the state tournament and has had a very impressive year thus far posting a 20-5 record.
170 Pounds – West Point bound Alex Herringshaw, the Section 3 champ, is a returning state champ and is definitely the favorite at D2 170. Herringshaw is 42-2 thsi year with both of his losses coming at the ESC. James Hoeg from S11 and Will Marcil from S7 are both top notch and will definitely challenge Herringshaw as will S1 champ Clifton Wand and S2’s Tyler Green. Section 9 is reresented by New Paltz junior Ben Cuppett who is not making his first trip to Albany! Cuppett is scrappy and could contend for a medal here!
182 Pounds – With six wrestlers with two or fewer losses, 182 D2 can prove to be one of the most hotly contested weights in the tournament. Section 5 champ Aaron Paddock is no stranger to the state tournament – I’m guessing he’s either been competing in the tournament himself, or cheering on one of his brothers, for about the last 10 years or so! Paddock is 46-2 this year and one of his losses is to one of the other wrestlers in the bracket – Jake Peru from Section 6! Peru’s only loss this season has been to PA hammer Dakota Geer who is ranked #2 in the nation at 182. Others to watch here are Ian Chedzoy (S4), Joe Hennessey (S3), Davis Ingrahan (S2), and Jordan Artrope (S1). New Paltz senior Theo Chazkel is 22-8 on the season and will represent S9 at D2 182.
195 Pounds – A case can be made for a few different wrestlers here but Section 3 champ Jack Buell has to be considered the favorite. He finished 3rd in NYS last year, 3rd in ESC this year and his only loss was to an out of state wrestler (at ESC) which he avenged in the medal round! Luke MacIntoch (S5), Jake Kubala (S6), Kevin Digney (S8), Joe Benedict (S3), and Tyler Zagarino (S11) all have impressive records and will be in medal contention. Also in the hunt for place on the medal stand will be Section 9 champ Kevin Morgans. Morgans is making his 3rd trip to the state tournament and was one win away from placing last year!
220 Pounds – Another very solid weight with two Eastern States Classic and one NYS placewinners in the bracket. Section 3 champ Riccardo Dawkins finished 3rd at ESC and placed 5th in NYS last season and is probably the favorite here. Aaron Mann from Section 5 finished 6th at ESC and Garyn Huntley from S4 was 5th at this weight in NYS last year. We should also keep an eye on Jacob Gregory from S2 who is 38-1 and Charles Beach from S6 who is 33-1. The Section 9 representative at 220 D2 is Will Depaolo from Eldred Liberty Sullivan West. He is making his first trip to the state tournament and has a 23-11 record on the season.
285 Pounds – The D2 heavyweight bracket is very solid this year! There are two undefeated wrestlers in Keith Houghtaling (S2) and Jacob Cupp (S5). Zach Gifford from Section 4 will be in the mix as will the S4 wildcard Kordell Huntley. Laith Alsous from S6 and Jacob Beckwith from S3 have both had great years and will contend here. The wrestler that Alsous defeated in the S6 finals, Nick Jones, placed at this weight last year – he is in this year’s tournament via wildcard. Section 9 is represented by Red Hook senior Travis Coon who is 31-6 this season. Coon has the potential to place in Albany.