Our nation entered Y2K without missing a beat and so did Section 9 wrestling! There were several major changes to the landscape of high school wrestling in this decade. First and foremost was the split into two divisions beginning in 2004. The larger schools now wrestle in Division 1 while the smaller schools wrestle in Division 2. The other major change took place in 2007 when New York adopted a “Wildcard” or “At-Large” system to allow 4 additional wrestlers per weight class to enter the state tournament in order to have a full Round of 16 for the opening round. Wrestlers who earned At-Large births into the state tournament have the letters “AL” after their weight class on the lists below.
As I assumed, putting together an All-Decade Team continues to get more difficult with each passing decade. The 2000’s All-Decade Team is absolutely loaded and there are some hammers who were left off! Imagine an All-Decade Team that excludes wrestlers like Scott Prutzman, Phil Szumlaski, John Gartiser, Sean Bauer, Terry Madden, and Joe Zitone!!! Enjoy and please feel free to share your thoughts either below in the comment section or even better, on Facebook.
The 2000’s All-Decade Team
96 – Louie Ruggirello Jr. (Valley Central)
103 – Cody Ruggirello (Valley Central)
112 – Mike Mormile (Monroe Woodbury)
119 – Darrell Ford (Minisink Valley)
125 – Jamie Franco (Monroe Woodbury)
130 – Pat Lloyd (Valley Central)
135 – Jason Jones (Port Jervis)
140 – Sean Floor (Port Jervis)
145 – Cory Lemka (Minisink Valley)
152- Nick Rausenberger (Newburgh)
160 – Max O’Meara (Red Hook)
171 – Ricky Scott (Valley Central)
189 – Steven Butler (Port Jervis)
215 – Ed Bordas (Valley Central)
285 – Corey James (Kingston)
2000
96 Pat Lloyd (Valley Central, 9) – 5th NYS
103 Mike Mormile (Monroe Woodbury, 11) – 2nd NYS
112 John Gartiser (Monroe Woodbury, 10) – 5th NYS
119 Rob Sckalor (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 4th NYS
125 Joe Gartiser (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 3rd NYS
130 Dave Edwards (Cornwall, 12)
135 Casey Todd (Monroe Woodbury, 11)
140 Jason Jones (Port Jervis, 11) – 6th NYS
145 Ryan Pullman (New Paltz, 12) – 6th NYS
152 Nick Rausenberger (Newburgh, 12) – 3rd NYS
160 Terry Madden (Pine Bush, 12) – 3rd NYS
171 Kevin Lawrence (Newburgh, 11) – 6th NYS
189 Mike Gerstl (Minisink Valley, 12) – 4th NYS
215 Jason Lichtenstein (Middletown, 12)
275 Alva Conklin (Middletown, 12) – 2nd NYS
2001
96 Ken Stalter (Ellenville, 10)
103 Chris Cartwright (Newburgh, 9) – 6th NYS
112 Mike Mormile (Monroe Woodbury, 12) NYS Champ & MOW
119 Lance Dolson (Valley Central, 12) – 4th NYS
125 John Gartiser (Monroe Woodbury, 11) – 2nd NYS
130 Eric Biccum (Port Jervis, 11)
135 Jason Jones (Port Jervis, 12) – NYS Champion
140 Casey Todd (Monroe Woodbury, 12)
145 Josh Jones (Port Jervis) – 4th NYS
152 Keith Nelson (Red Hook, 12)
160 Kevin Lawrence (Newburgh, 12) – 5th NYS
171 Mike Karaban (Monroe Woodbury, 12)
189 Steve Scrobe (Monroe Woodbury, 12)
215 Scott Proscia (Port Jervis, 12) – 2nd NYS
275 Tom O’Toole (Monroe Woodbury, 12)
2002
96 Scott Prutzman (Valley Central, 10) – 2nd NYS
103 Andy Franco (Monroe Woodbury, 9) – 5th NYS
112 Tim Schofield (Monroe Woodbury, 11)
119 Darren Mima (Kingston, 11)
125 Zac Mills (Wallkill, 10)
130 Pat Lloyd (Valley Central, 11)
135 John Gartiser (Monroe Woodbury, 12)
140 David Mills (Wallkill, 11)
145 Eric Biccum (Port Jervis, 12) – 5th NYS
152 Ricky Scott (Valley Central, 9)
160 Mike Vichiariello (Port Jervis, 11)
171 Jerrell O’Neal (Newburgh, 11)
189 Dennis Norton (Cornwall, 12)
215 Jon Andriac (Port Jervis, 12) – 4th NYS
275 Matt Gurdineer (Minisink Valley, 12)
2003
96 Lou Ruggirello (Valley Central, 9) – 3rd NYS
103 Steve Valastro (Valley Central, 10)
112 Scott Prutzman (Valley Central, 11)
119 Darrell Ford (Minisink Valley, 11) – 4th NYS
125 Darren Mima (Kingston, 12)
130 Pat Lloyd (Valley Central, 12) – NYS Champion
135 Trevor Nauta (Pine Bush, 12) – 6th NYS
140 Pat D’Aliso (Monroe Woodbury, 9)
145 Matt Bauer (Valley Central, 12)
152 Mike Vichiariello (Port Jervis, 12) – 4th NYS
160 Ricky Scott (Valley Central, 10) – 5th NYS
171 Kevin Navarra (Cornwall, 12)
189 Pablo Diaz (Middletown, 12)
215 Ed Bordas (Valley Central, 10) – 6th NYS
275 Steve Cuff (Newburgh, 11)
2004 – Division 1 – First Year of D1/D2
96 Lou Ruggirello (Valley Central, 10) – NYS Champion
103 Mike D’Amato (Wallkill, 8)
112 Sean Bauer (Valley Central, 11)
119 Darrell Ford (Minisink Valley, 12) – 3rd NYS
125 Phil Szumlaski (Newburgh, 12) – 3rd NYS
130 Chris Cartwright (Newburgh, 12) – 5th NYS
135 Kyle Fried (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 5th NYS
140 Tom Sands (Newburgh, 12)
145 Bryan Welsh (Minisink Valley, 12) – 6th NYS
152 John Foley (Port Jervis, 11)
160 Willis Freeman (Kingston, 12) – 3rd NYS
171 Ricky Scott (Valley Central, 11) – NYS Champion
189 Alex Kaufmann (Port Jervis, 10)
215 Ed Bordas (Valley Central, 11)
275 Steve Cuff (Newburgh, 12)
2004 – Division 2
96 Robert Slavin (Millbrook, 10)
103 Emilio Torres (New Paltz, 10)
112 Nick Nekos (Onteora, 10)
119 Mike Amodio (New Paltz, 12)
125 Jason Rury (Onteora,10)
130 Ryan Wittig (New Paltz, 10)
135 Trevor Gale (Onteora, 11)
140 Chris Cannizaro (Millbrook, 12)
145 Chuck Chandler (Eldred, 11)
152 Joe Judge (New Paltz, 12)
160 Scott Honan (New Paltz, 12)
171 Justin Martino (New Paltz, 11)
189 Corey Proscia (Eldred, 11)
215 Tim Hallock (Eldred, 11)
275 John Slegona (Ellenville, 12)
2005 – Division 1
96 Jamie Franco (Monroe Woodbury, 8) – 4th NYS
103 Jeremiah Biddle (Minisink Valley, 11) – 6th NYS
112 Lou Ruggirello (Valley Central, 11) – NYS Champion
119 Steve Valastro (Valley Central, 12) – 4th NYS
125 Sean Bauer (Valley Central, 12) – 2nd NYS
130 Shad Rissler (Washingtonville, 12)
135 Dimitri Laurent (Goshen, 11)
140 Sean Taft (Minisink Valley, 11) – 4th NYS
145 Bobby Gingras (Valley Central, 11) – 3rd NYS
152 John Foley (Port Jervis, 12) – 6th NYS
160 Ben Muller (Port Jervis, 12)
171 RICKY SCOTT (Valley Central, 12) – NYS Champion
189 Alex Kaufmann (Port Jervis, 11) – 4th NYS
215 ED BORDAS (Valley Central, 12) – NYS Champion
275 Tom Beyer (Monroe Woodbury, 12)
2005 – Division 2
96 Robert Slavin (Millbrook, 11) – 6th NYS
103 Kevin Dommreis (Millbrook, 7)
112 Patrick Spaulding (New Paltz, 10)
119 Josh Coon (Red Hook, 12)
125 Adam Slavin (Millbrook, 12)
130 Jason Rury (Onteora, 11)
135 Trevor Gale (Onteora,12) – 4th NYS
140 Mike Coffey (Onteora, 12)
145 Chuck Chandler (Eldred, 12)
152 Max O’Meara (Red Hook, 9)
160 John Kravic (Red Hook, 10)
171 Justin Martino (New Paltz, 12)
189 Corey Proscia (Eldred, 12)
215 Brandon Stoothoff (Onteora, 12)
275 Cody Chase (Onteora, 12) – 5th NYS
2006 Division 1
96 Cody Ruggirello (Valley Central, 8) – 3rd NYS
103 Michael Santalla (Warwick Valley , 9) – 5th NYS
112 Jamie Franco (Monroe Woodbury, 9) – 2nd NYS
119 Lou Ruggirello (Valley Central, 12) – NYS Champion
125 Mike D’Amato (Valley Central, 10) – 6th NYS
130 Doug Christensen (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 4th NYS
135 Andrew Lowry (Cornwall, 12)
140 Sean Taft (Minisink Valley, 12)
145 Cory Lempka (Minisink Valley, 11) – 5th NYS
152 Dana Presto (Port Jervis, 11)
160 Lucas Brooks (Rondout Valley, 11)
171 Joey Scott (Valley Central, 12) – 3rd NYS
189 Mike VanHouten (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 6th NYS
215 Jimmy Dollaway (Valley Central, 11)
275 Marcus Gurdineer (Minisink Valley, 12) – 5th NYS
2006 Division 2
96 Justin Signorelli (Highland, 9)
103 Tom Carney (Red Hook, 9)
112 Patrick Spaulding (New Paltz, 11) – 6th NYS
119 Robert Slavin (Millbrook, 12) – 6th NYS
125 Chris Grover (Red Hook, 11)
130 Cody Runyon (Red Hook, 11)
135 Jordan Tiberio (Red Hook,10)
140 Steven Geiger (Eldred, 11)
145 Ryan Wittig (New Paltz, 12)
152 Max O’Meara (Red Hook, 10)
160 John Kravic (Red Hook, 11)
171 Bill Pease (Red Hook, 12)
189 Richie Ross (Red Hook, 12)
215 Paul Rauch (Red Hook, 10)
275 Brad Serini (Highland, 11)
2007 Division 1 – First Year of Wildcards
96 Mike Vespa (Monroe Woodbury, 9)
96AL Taylor Laraia (Newburgh, 9)
103 Cody Ruggirello (Valley Central, 9) – NYS Champion
112 Drew Bloss (Cornwall, 11)
119 Jamie Franco (Monroe Woodbury, 10) – 4th NYS
119AL Jeremiah Biddle (Minisink Valley, 12)
119AL Patrick Spaulding (New Paltz, 12)
125 Kyle Piaquadio (Newburgh, 11) – 6th NYS
125AL Michael Santalla (Warwick Valley, 10)
130 Blaze Chatham (Newburgh, 12) – 5th NYS
135 Mike D’Amato (Valley Central, 11) – 4th NYS
140 Sean Floor (Port Jervis, 11)
145 Cory Lempka (Minisink Valley, 12)
152 Spencer Casey (Washingtonville, 12)
160 Ross Hansen (Minisink Valley, 11)
160AL Derek Stanley (Saugerties, 12)
171 Justin Diesel (Minisink Valley, 12) – 3rd NYS
189 Steven Butler (Port Jervis, 10)
215 Jimmy Dollaway (Valley Central, 12) – 5th NYS
275 Corey James (Kingston, 11) – 4th NYS
2007 Division 2
96 Bill Brunner (Tuxedo, 10)
103 Justin Signorelli (Highland, 10)
112 Michael Wernick (Ellenville, 9)
119 Ian Ellis (Red Hook, 11)
125 Paul Goicochea (Highland, 11)
130 Jacob Coutant (Ellenville, 10)
135 Cody Runyon (Red Hook, 12)
140 Jordan Tiberio (Red Hook, 11)
145 Joe Exner (Ellenville, 12)
152 Joe Picard (Red Hook, 11)
160 Max O’Meara (Red Hook, 11)
171 John Kravic (Red Hook, 12)
189 James Kravic (Red Hook, 10)
215 Paul Rauch (Red Hook, 11)
275 Brad Serini (Highland, 12) – 3rd NYS
2008 – Division 1
96 Shane Connolly (Warwick Valley, 8)
103 Mike Vespa (Monroe Woodbury, 10)
112 Taylor Laraia (Newburgh, 10)
119 Cody Ruggirello (Valley Central, 10) – 2nd NYS
125 Jamie Franco (Monroe Woodbury, 11) – NYS Champion
125AL Drew Bloss (Cornwall, 12)
130 Kyle Piaquadio (Newburgh, 12)
135 Matt Doolittle (Middletown, 12)
140 Sean Floor (Port Jervis, 12) – 2nd NYS
140AL Mike D’Amato (Valley Central, 12) – 6th NYS
145 Joey Gambino (Saugerties, 12)
152 Cinque Mandela (Newburgh, 12)
160 Keith Corley (Valley Central, 12)
171 Ross Hansen (Minisink Valley, 12)
189 Steven Butler (Port Jervis, 11) – 4th NYS
215 CJ Floor (Port Jervis, 11)
215AL Jared Rosado (Middletown, 12)
285 Corey James (Kingston, 12) – 2nd NYS
285AL Joe Zitone (Port Jervis, 11) – 4th NYS
2008 – Division 2
96 Pete Hottum (Onteora, 9)
103 Greg Brunner (Tuxedo, 9)
112 Corey O’Farrell (Red Hook, 10)
119 Chet Cochrane (Onteora, 10)
125 Ian Ellis (Red Hook, 12)
130 Paul Goicochea (Highland, 12)
135 Matt Whitebay (Highland, 12)
140 Donald Exner (Ellenville, 11)
145 Jordan Tiberio (Red Hook, 12)
152 Joe Picard (Red Hook, 12)
160 Kyle Gale (Onteora, 12)
171 Max O’Meara (Red Hook, 12) – 3rd NYS
189 Eric Thayer (Ellenville, 11)
215 Paul Rauch (Red Hook,12)
285 Glen Coon (Red Hook, 12)
2009 – Division 1
96 Shane Connolly (Warwick Valley, 9)
103 Gary Wolff (Monroe Woodbury, 10)
112 Richard Dennison (Minisink Valley, 10)
119 Taylor Laraia (Newburgh, 11) – 3rd NYS
119AL Kaare Stokdal (Kingston, 12) – 6th NYS
125 Jamie Franco (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 2nd NYS
130 Cody Ruggirello (Valley Central, 12) – 3rd NYS
130AL Mike Vespa (Monroe Woodbury, 11)
130AL Kyle Diesel (Minisink Valley, 10)
135 Ali Hasan (Valley Central, 11)
140 Mike Santalla (Warwick Valley, 12) – 4th NYS
145 Mitch Wightman (Warwick Valley, 10)
152 Louis Berger (Pine Bush, 12)
160 Sean Prell (Warwick Valley, 10)
171 Matt Parlier (Port Jervis, 12) – 2nd NYS
189 James Brain (Minisink Valley, 12) – 4th NYS
189AL CJ Floor (Port Jervis, 12)
189AL Marcus Spearman (Newburgh, 11)
215 Steven Butler (Port Jervis, 12) – 2nd NYS
215AL Shaun Bacchiocchi (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 5th NYS
285 Joe Zitone (Port Jervis, 12) – 2nd NYS
285AL Brendan Byrne (Minisink Valley, 12) – 3rd NYS
2009 – Division 2
96 Jorge Chardon (Highland, 11)
103 Andy Ehlers (Tuxedo, 9)
112 Greg Brunner (Tuxedo, 10)
119 Corey O’Farrell (Red Hook,11)
125 Chet Cochrane (Onteora, 11)
130 CJ Goldizen (Onteora, 10)
135 Justin Signorelli (Highland, 12)
140 David Wright (Red Hook, 11)
145 Donnie VanBuren (Onteora, 10)
152 Dean Hottum (Onteora, 12)
160 Kevin Dommreis (Millbrook, 11)
171 Ivan Carlson (Red Hook,11)
189 Eric Thayer (Ellenville, 12)
215 Peter Behnke (Highland, 11)
285 Frank Casamento (Ellenville, 12)
I can see why Procia and Andriac from Port Jervis didn’t make the all-decade team. They each had others place higher than they did through the 10 years. Josh Jones places 4th at the state tournament in 2001. No one else placed 4th or higher at 145lbs through the entire decade except Josh Jones. I’m sure he was considered for the all-decade team but, why wasn’t he named to the team? Maybe there is more to be considered than placing at the state tournament but it doesn’t make sense considering the state tournament is the proving ground of who is the beat in NY state.
I have to correct myself.. Gingas from Valley Central in 2005 places third at the state tournament.