Gregor Gillespie 'Faced The Demons' and is Getting Ready For MMA Stardom

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

By Irwin Loew

Photo by Irwin Loew

Seven days per week. Sweat pouring off his face. The muscles aching and the body getting tired. For the ordinary person, yes. For Gregor Gillespie, no. We’re talking about a four-time NCAA Division I All-American from Edinboro University. No redshirt.

The fact is, Gregor succeeded. He got an education and didn’t look back. The time is the present. From running and conditioning to striking and counterattacks; from taking punches and giving them, kicking and learning the fine art of submission holds — it never stops. Gregor Gillespie will be the next star of MMA. There is no stopping him and the desire he brings to the table. It doesn’t matter if he’s on a bike doing 100 miles on his day off or training the new guns from his home in Nassau County. He’s a rare athlete who is always working or teaching and he wants to win now.

Gillespie provided insights about starting in MMA, his wrestling career, some things few people know about him and more in a recent interview.

First, some questions on your fighting career . . .

When did you decide to make the transition to fighting? Was it something you considered for a long time?

Gregor Gillespie (GG): I decided to fight in November of 2011. It’s a bit complicated, but I’ll try to lay out the timeline of events that led me to where I am today. 2009 was my last NCAA tournament and then I didn’t do anything competitive for about two years. In late 2010, I decided I was going to compete again and began wrestling freestyle. In late 2011, I moved to Long Island to take a coaching job at Hofstra where I would also train for freestyle tournaments.

It wasn’t long after I moved to Long Island that I found myself in a bind, torn between my lifelong love of wrestling or pursuing the exciting world of fighting. I’ll try not to minimize how hard of a decision it really was — it was REALLY REALLY TOUGH turning away from my dream of pursuing a shot at the Olympics. But I figured I was having so much fun fighting that I would follow what was piquing my interest more. And I figured I would be nice and let Jordan Burroughs take the gold (just kidding, Jordan).

It’s funny, when I was living in Rochester after my last NCAA tournament, I was at my ex-girlfriend’s house and she had a roommate whose boyfriend Ryan was an avid UFC follower. He began pestering me about why I wasn’t fighting and I very sternly told him I would NEVER, in a million years, fight. I guess he was right.

Tell us about the deal you signed with Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA).

GG: I can’t go into depth, but I will say that the RFA has given me an extremely clean contract and they were the ONLY organization who could guarantee me fights. I don’t know the dates of all my fights yet, I am preparing for one at a time. My first fight will be on November 2nd in Las Vegas.

At what weight will you compete?

GG: Lightweight. 155 pounds of nothing but lean muscle.

What do you feel your strengths are now and what do you most need to work on?

GG: I’d say my kung fu needs a little work, but I’ve dabbled in wrestling a little bit so that might be one of my strong points.

Who are your main training partners?

GG: Ryan LaFlare, Dennis Bermudez and Marcos Galvao.

Who has influenced you and your style?

GG: There are five people I really look up to that are involved in my MMA career: 1. Tim Flynn, who was my college coach. 2. Gregg Depo, my ‘jitz’ coach. 3. Ryan LaFlare, one of my main training partners as well as one of my cornermen. 4. Marcos Galvao, who with Depo has taken my ‘jitz’ game to incredible levels in the short period of time I’ve been doing it. 5. Keith Trimble, my striking coach, and all-around mentor.

Who would be the opponent you would most like to face if you could choose anyone?

GG: You said anyone so I assume that means I’m allowed to venture outside my weight class. If that’s the case, then it would have to be Chael Sonnen just to experience having a press conference where I’m the guy he’s aiming all his [sh–] talk towards. I would love to hear what he would have to say, seriously.

What are your expectations for yourself in the next year or so?

GG: I see myself with five wins and zero losses a year from now, and then it’s Dana White that makes the decision on where I go from there.

Now, a few questions on the influence wrestling has had on you.

What are the most important things wrestling has helped you with in your fighting?

GG: Mental toughness and how to wear guys down.

What will you miss most about wrestling?

GG: Singlets and getting to compete every week.

Will you stay involved with Hofstra or with wrestling in general? What was the best part of your experience coaching at Hofstra?

GG: At this point, I’m not involved with Hofstra. If Justin Accordino needs me to come in though, I will. He’s my boy. My favorite memory of coaching at Hofstra was being in Justin’s corner when he pinned Ian Miller in last year’s NCAAs.

What were your expectations for yourself coming into college?

GG: I expected to party my [a–] off and get tons of girls, which I did.

Who was the toughest matchup for you in college?

GG: [Cornell NCAA champion] Jordan Leen, hands down. He was the only person to beat me more than once in my entire career.

What was your most memorable match?

GG: Beating Dustin Schlatter in the semifinals of the NCAAs the year I won the title.

What achievements were you most proud of?

GG: There are a few things I’m really proud of on and off the mat. On the mat, it would be my first state title as a sophomore in high school and then winning the NCAA nationals in college.

Off the mat, most people don’t know this, but I won a battle against addiction to drugs and alcohol. I turned my life around on May 30, 2010 and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m extremely proud of that.

And a few more questions . . .

Have you seen significant changes in New York wrestling at the high school/youth levels since you were in high school?

GG: I don’t like the fact that New York has two divisions, but I do LOVE the fact that they have wildcards. I think the major change I’ve experienced is the level of wrestling and commitment on Long Island as compared to upstate. (This is common knowledge, don’t get offended fellow upstaters).

For the serious youth or high school wrestler, what suggestions can you make with respect to training?

GG: My suggestion to all youth and high school wrestlers who are serious about training is simple – come to me for private lessons.

Are there any changes you would like to see incorporated in this country to make us even more competitive in the international styles?

GG: I think folkstyle is not only the best style of the sport, but I also think it is the most well suited for a smooth transition into fighting. Think about it, there’s no mat wrestling in freestyle or Greco, so the mat control aspect is less developed than in someone who has excelled in folkstyle.

What are your favorite things to do outside of training?

GG: Wakeboarding is my favorite acitvity outside of training. I landed my first backflips this summer. People probably don’t know that I am obsessed with the Tour de France and cycling in general. One of my favorite non-fighting types of training is to go out on my road bike for 80-100 mile rides.

What would you change if you could?

GG: I wouldn’t change a thing. I faced the demons from my past and won and it has made me the person I am today – a good, trustworthy, reliable, honest, hardworking person. Throw on top of all those things that I’m extremely gifted and talented and wow, look out 155 pounders. You’re in for a treat.

Going Ivy: All-American Tyler Grimaldi of Half Hollow Hills West Commits to Harvard

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

By Matt Diano

Photo by Boris V

In a story that we have been waiting two weeks to bring to you, today it is both our distinct honor and privilege to break the news that Half Hollow Hills West senior Tyler Grimaldi has committed to Harvard University. Grimaldi, the #4 rated prospect in the Empire State’s class of 2013 becomes the first student-athlete this recruiting season to select coach Jay Weiss’s Crimson program. He also becomes the second Suffolk County wrestler in less than a week to solidify his future by accepting the invitation to attend an Ivy League institution, joining Sayville’s Matt Leshinger who selected Columbia last Wednesday.

Praised by Hills West Coach, former two-time NCAA Division I All-American Mike Patrovich, as “the entire package,” Tyler enjoyed one of the biggest breakout years in the history of New York State, seemingly seeing his stock rise with each passing week and/or tournament. Mustering a 6^th place finish as a sophomore at the Section XI tournament, Grimaldi entered his junior season perhaps a bit overlooked. By the end of the season, his was name that was on the tongues of every coach, recruiter, and NYS wrestling aficionado on the planet. 2012 did not witness this young man get better, it watched him explode, going from the previously cited statistic of sixth in his own section in 2011 to second in New York State as a junior. And, most remarkable of all was that the best was still to come, as Grimaldi would put an exclamation mark on his junior campaign by notching not one, but a pair of All-American honors, finishing fourth in Virginia Beach at the NHSCA Junior National tournament, before making his summer vacation a memorable and rewarding one with a top-6 showing under the Fargo Dome at the USA Wrestling Junior National Freestyle Championships.

Ranked as the #16 wrestler in the land at the 160-pound weight in the latest Flowrestling polls, the individual that Patrovich “built his program around,” has shown himself to be jack of all trades, master of all, as in addition to his keen wrestling prowess, Grimaldi prides himself as being a true scholar, leader, and role model. Positioned near the top of his senior class academically, it was quite apparent the love and respect the student body had for the future Cambridge, Massachusetts resident when they named him to the Homecoming Court earlier this week. It is not an overstatement to say that Tyler genuinely falls into that rare .5 percent of special individuals that one cannot help but root for and embrace.

Pursued by just about every U.S. News & World Report top-25 national university with a wrestling team (#2 Princeton, #4 Columbia, #6 UPenn, #15 Cornell, and #24 Virginia among others), Grimaldi would opt for nothing but the best, choosing the top-ranked school.

In discussing his decision, Tyler said the following about why he felt Harvard was ultimately the best option for him, “What drew me to Harvard, aside from the amazing coaching staff, was that I felt that it was the one place where I could truly make the most of myself in every aspect of life. Both on and off the mat I will be able to accomplish things that most couldn’t even dream of. Ever since I was a little kid I promised myself and my parents that I would go to Harvard and now that dream has finally come to fruition.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, like any proud parent, Grimaldi’s father, Frank, was overtaken by the emotions of such a priceless moment, expressing the following sentiments, “I cannot even express in words the feelings that our family is dealing with. From when Tyler was a baby in my arms, Renee and I dreamed of our son going to Harvard, never in a million years expecting it to actually happen. Tyler is an amazing young man who has made his entire family proud. Our son has worked incredibly hard on the mat, but more importantly in the classroom and into developing into the fine young man he has become. God has truly blessed us. Many thanks to Coach Weiss for believing in Tyler. Also coach Mike Patrovich is the reason why we are talking. He discovered Tyler as an 8th grade football player and molded him into a Harvard student. We could never ever thank him enough.”

Tyler, about as humble and selfless a person as you will ever encounter, echoed his father’s eloquent words, pointing at Patrovich as a primary reason for his success. Addressing the impact of his wrestling mentor, Grimaldi said, “I would be nowhere if it wasn’t for coach Mike Patrovich and his family.”

Projected as either a 157 or 165-pounder on the next level, Grimaldi will join a Crimson squad that is ripe with quality workout partners, including fellow NYer, former 4x New York Champion/2010 NCAA National Champion, J.P. O’Connor, and NCAA All-American Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov who both serve on Weiss’s staff, as well as 2012 blue chip recruit, Devon Gobbo. Just like the 1961 World Series Champion, New York Yankees had their “M&M” boys, the addition of Grimaldi makes one wonder, how soon till the G&G are wrecking havoc on the nation?

Join us at New York Wrestling News in congratulating both Tyler, his family, and the Hills West program on the magnitude of this feat!

Binghamton-Bound Stars Tighe and Zupan Lead the Way for Section 3 in 2012-2013 (Section Season Preview)

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

Section 3 finished second in the Division II state championships last year, with five finalists and three champions. Two of those titlewinners, Nick Tighe (Phoenix) and Zack Zupan (Canastota) look to finish their careers atop the podium before heading to Binghamton. Carthage’s Shayne Brady made an impressive run to the finals a year ago in Division I and looks to move step higher on the podium in his final season of high school wrestling. For more on the wrestlers and teams to watch in Section 3 in 2012-13, read on.

(Special thanks to John Drew of cnywrestling.com for his significant contributions to this story).

Division II

2012 Returning State Placewinners

Sixth Place: Alex Herringshaw, Holland Patent, 99 Pounds

Third Place: Ryan Snow, General Brown, 106 Pounds

State Champion: Nick Tighe, Phoenix, 126 Pounds

Third Place: Isaiah Riccio, Beaver River, 138 Pounds

Sixth Place: Tyler Silverthorn, General Brown, 160 Pounds

State Champion: Zack Zupan, Canastota, 170 Pounds

Additional Returning State Qualifiers (from 2012)

113 Pounds: Laken Cook, Illion

152 Pounds: Tyler Spann, Adirondack

160 Pounds: Matt Fisher, Oneida

285 Pounds: Brandon Fayle, Lowville

Seniors to Watch:

Zack Zupan, Photo by Boris V

Fans in Section 3 will be treated to two of the top seniors in New York this season with Zack Zupan of Canastota and Nick Tighe of Phoenix looking to pick up some more hardware in their final high school campaigns.

Both stood on top of the podium in Albany last year after making their way through two of the toughest weight classes at the event.

Zupan came out on top of a 170 pound bracket that included current Division I wrestler Nick Mitchell (who came into the tournament undefeated) and two wrestlers that finished second at the NHSCA Nationals a few weeks later (Burke Paddock of Warsaw and Troy Seymour of Peru).

Tighe, already a two-time champion, was simply dominant, earning three pins in four matches to capture the title in a field containing such wrestlers as Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (one of the top 50 juniors in the nation, according to Intermat), multi-time placer Corey Dake of Lansing and former state champion Tristan Rifanburg of Norwich. His 47-2 year featured 31 total falls and only six regular decisions.

Tyler Spann (Adirondack) – Spann had big wins over Kaleb Smith and Rowdy Prior in the Section tournament last season to punch his ticket to Albany, and a return trip is very likely. He tallied a 35-6 record as a junior at 145 and 152 pounds, going 1-2 at the Times Union Center with his losses coming against state champion Ben Haas and fourth place finisher Dan Dickman of Greene.

Matt Fisher (Oneida) – John Drew described Fisher as an “absolute gym rat” who “possesses freakish strength for someone his size”. He won more than 35 bouts a year ago at 160 pounds and went 1-2 at the state tournament, although both of his losses were by one point. He will look to take a few steps further next year to make the medal stand as a senior.

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

They weren’t state champions last year, but the following are wrestlers to watch this upcoming season.

Laken Cook, Ilion – Cook didn’t make the podium in 2012 but has in the past (fourth at 96 pounds as an eighth grader and fifth at 103 as a freshman). He compiled a 36-7 record with 20 pins in 2011-12, including six straight falls in January. With around 125 victories already in his career, he is a lightweight to watch as he tries to make a return to All-State status.

Brandon Fayle, Photo by Boris V

Brandon Fayle, Lowville – Fayle was within one victory of placing at the state tournament in 2012. He won a pair of bouts in Albany and lost to both the fifth and sixth place finishers by one point. The senior brought a 35-2 record into the Times Union Center, with his two losses to wrestlers he also beat during the campaign. As one of three wrestlers returning from the top 8 a year ago, Fayle could get on the podium – and quite high on the podium – in his last season.

Isaiah Riccio, Beaver River – Riccio earned third place at the state tournament in 2012 at 138 pounds a year after taking fifth at 140 in Albany. The senior has picked up 30 or more wins in each of the past three campaigns. In 2011-12, he notched a 41-3 record with all of his losses coming to All-State wrestlers (two close decisions against runner up Anthony Finocchiaro and against fourth placer Nathan Silverthorn).

Tyler Silverthorn, General Brown – The junior reached the century mark in wins last season when he racked up a 46-5 mark and a sixth place finish at the Times Union Center at 160 pounds. He was the only sophomore to medal at that weight in either Division. (In fact, only one other non-senior placed at 160 — Tyler Grimaldi of Half Hollow Hills West in Division I). Silverthorn also earned All-America status at the NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach as both a ninth and tenth grader.

Ryan Snow, General Brown – Snow has finished in the top 3 in Albany in each of the past two seasons. The lightweight dropped two bouts in December of his sophomore year, but then proceeded to get his hand raised 33 consecutive times before losing 4-2 to Cheick Ndiaye at the state tournament. He rebounded to take third after earning second the previous February. Snow will be in contention for a first state title this year.

There are also several others who didn’t get a ticket to Albany but have a great chance of finding themselves on the mats at the Times Union Center this February.

Rowdy Prior, Phoenix – Prior went 40-6 as a junior at 152 pounds. He lost to All-State wrestler Frank Affronti of Wayne in the first week of the season in early December and then won 31 out of 34 bouts prior to taking fourth at the Section 3 tournament. Prior defeated multiple state qualifiers during the campaign, such as Conner Fox of Midlakes, Josh Maier of Brockport and Tony Torrese of Fulton. He will certainly be a contender to go to Albany and win some matches on the big stage.

Dan Smith, South Jefferson – According to Drew, Smith has earned All-America honors and is seeking to pick up some more accolades in the Empire State. The junior notched a 35-12 mark last season, including a victory over state fourth place medalist Jared Soule. Six of his losses were to Matt Fisher and Tyler Silverthorn and he may get another chance against those wrestlers again in 2012-13.

Tim Fargo, Lowville – Fargo was mentioned as a possible “sleeper” pick for the upcoming campaign. He had over 35 wins last year with 19 pins at 132 pounds, with a victory over state qualifier Joey Love of Gouverneur.

Drew also believes that the 126/132 pound weight classes are worth tracking this year in Division II. “Those weights look like they could be explosive,” he said. “Junior John Mazza of Mohawk and sophomore Triston Engle of Dolgeville put on some of the most entertaining head-to-head matches of the year last season. Throw General Brown senior Brian Lear and Onondaga sophomore Tyler Field into the mix and you have potentially the deepest weight class in the section. Those wrestlers faced off many times last year, and the results were rarely more than a point or two either way. Very interesting weight class to watch, for sure.” He added that Nick Tighe will of course be the strong favorite wherever he wrestles.

Team Race . . .

Canastota finished 24.5 points ahead of Phoenix last year (although the Firebirds came out on top of Division II statewide in Albany) and the two teams look like they will be fighting for the title again in February.

While both teams suffered significant losses to graduation, including Section finalists Anthony Finocchiaro, Steve Fallon and Travis Conklyn for the Raiders and state champion Tyler Button and Austyn Hayes for the Firebirds, the squads also return several formidable competitors.

In addition to Zupan, Canastota will boast Section runner up (at 113) Nate Walker, two third place finishers from a year ago, senior Wyatt Albanese and junior Jacob Morris and three other medalists – Connor Russ (fifth at 126), Joe Tiller (sixth at 145) and Jesse Puchales (sixth at 182).

For Phoenix, Tighe will lead the way while Rowdy Prior (fourth at 152) and fifth place wrestlers Brad and Nate Dietz will also put significant points on the board.

General Brown, which took third will also make some noise, with Ryan Snow and Tyler Silverthorn leading the charge. Corey Gaffney, who was fifth at 195 will be among the upperweight favorites.

South Jefferson belongs in the discussion as well. The squad went 24-4 last year and was a final four team at the Section 3 dual meet championship as well as fourth at the Section 3 tournament. The Spartans bring back runner up Logan LaFlamme, fourth place finishers Adam Hutchinson (106) and Dan Smith (160) as well as sixth place medalist Ryan Charlebois (195) and could fare very well in the dual meet competition this year.

Division I

Returning State Placewinners (from 2012)

Second Place: Shayne Brady, Carthage, 170 Pounds

Additional Returning State Qualifiers (from 2012)

99 Pounds: Dempsey King, New Hartford

106 Pounds: Kevin Paul, Baldwinsville

113 Pounds: Thomas Hill, Fulton

120 Pounds: Derrick Gray, Indian River

126 Pounds: Antonio Deluco, Rome Free Academy

132 Pounds: Connor Grome, West Genesee

145 Pounds: JT Romagnoli, Jamesville-Dewitt

Top Seniors . . .

Shayne Brady, Photo by Boris V

Zupan and Tighe weren’t the only Section 3 grapplers in the Saturday night finals this past February. Shayne Brady of Carthage racked up a 38-2 record with 14 pins as a junior. After an end of December loss to Burke Paddock, Brady reeled off over 25 straight victories to earn a state finals bid against Plainedge’s Dan Spurgeon. After earning the silver medal, he’ll be looking to climb one rung higher on the ladder in 2013.

Derrick Gray, Indian River – The Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Section 3 tournament as a junior, Gray had a successful 2011-12 campaign. The senior went 41-4 a year ago with 28 pins and a host of quality victories, including wins against state qualifiers Pat Webster, Curtis Barney, Codey Bond and Rocco Russo. He was one round from making All-State and will no doubt be shooting for that achievement in his final season for Indian River.

Antonio DeLuco (Rome Free Academy) – DeLuco has been a section finalist three times, winning two titles. He was 38-7 last year and earned a victory by major decision in Albany. He will look to get on the medal stand in his final season for the Black Knights.

Tim Sposato (Baldwinsville) – After racking up a 36-5 mark last season, Drew believes the senior could be poised for breakout year in his final campaign. He picked up a win over multiple-time All-State grappler Ryan Snow of General Brown last season.

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

Dempsey King, New Hartford – King sported a 28-5 record in his freshman year, with two wins over state placer Alex Herringshaw of Holland Patent. His draw at states was difficult, as he dropped matches to the top two seeds, Kyle Kelly and Jon Haas, but he will be a threat to go further in 2013.

Ben Honis, Jamesville-Dewitt – Honis made his presence felt in Fargo, earning All-American honors in Cadet Greco and coming within one victory of doing the same in Freestyle. His success in the ultra-competitive event in North Dakota built off a strong sophomore season at 182 pounds, after moving up from 135 pounds as a freshman. Honis went 30-4 and was edged by a point in the Section 3 finals by Garrick Cook, who pinned him early in the season. It seems likely that summer momentum will help him go further in the postseason as a junior.

Mitchell Woodworth, Fulton – “Woodworth never stops wrestling,” Drew said. “I think he’s going to have a huge sophomore year in Section 3. He narrowly lost to Dempsey King in the section finals at 99 pounds (after defeating him in the class finals the week before) and he stood toe-to-toe with Chenango Forks two-time state champ Kyle Kelly at the Bradshaw Tournament last year before bowing out 6-0.” He is likely to move up after a summer of weight training.

Tom Quinlan and Patrick Quinlan, Fayetteville-Manlius – The Quinlan brothers saw a lot of success last season, with junior Tom registering a 34-6 record with second place showings in five different events. He’ll try to get over the hump from silver to gold this season while his brother, 30-9 a year ago will aim for a Section title.

Nick Toutant, Indian River – In his 37-3 freshman season at 106 pounds, Toutant lost three matches, each by a single point. Two of those setbacks came against state qualifiers. The Indian River lightweight also topped All-State wrestlers Alex Herringshaw and Cody Carbery.

Team Race . . .

Indian River was a 16.5 point winner over Fulton in 2012 and the Warriors will be tough again. Most Outstanding Wrestler Derrick Gray returns after a 41-4 season in which he came within one win of placing at states. The other two titlewinners for Indian River, Garrick Cook and Derrek Dalton graduated as did silver medalists Jordan Berry and Matt Simpson. Trying to make up for those losses will be runner up Nick Toutant (106) and senior Michael Mullins (third at 113) as well as a duo of sixth place finishers Sonny McPherson and Jody Brown.

Like Indian River, Fulton brings back a first, second, third and two sixth placers. Also like the Warriors, Fulton said goodbye to several standouts, including All-State grappler Adam Wallace, and Section victors Tony Torrese and Nick Woodworth. Junior Thomas Hill is the returning champion and Mitchell Woodworth the 2012 runner up. Also back are Austin Whitney (third at 106), Connor Aldash (sixth at 132) and Brennan Roberge (sixth at 285). Of course, another significant change for the squad is the loss of 500 match winner Mike Conners, the head coach who spent 25 years at the helm of the program. Chris Stalker will try to start a new legacy as he takes over for a legend.

Carthage could be in the mix based on the firepower in the lineup. Shayne Brady was 38-2 and will be a contender for a state title. Trevor Gibbons, who was second at 285 returns after a 33 win campaign as does third placer William Batey. Quintin Reid and Colin Ryan, fourth and fifth, respectively in 2012 will also be back in a Comets singlet as will Andy McFarland. The only major pointscorer not returning is Josh McFarland, who was third at 145.

For more previews:

Section 1 Preview

Section 1 Feature: Aslanian and Realbuto, All-State Wrestlers and Workout Partners, Seek to End Their Careers on Top of the Podium

Piccininni, Muldoon Win Titles at the Iron Horse Invitational; Fabian, Melikian, Almaviva and McDevitt Take Second

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

Photo by Boris V

For Nick Piccininni, it was just another undefeated weekend. There have been quite a few of those recently for the 2012 state champion from Ward Melville as he went 4-0 in South Plainfield, New Jersey to capture the title at the Iron Horse Invitational. Among his victories were a major over New Jersey qualifier John Amato and a 1-0 decision over Garden State placer Craig DeLaCruz. The performance was a continuation of a dominant month for Piccininni, which included a title at the Journeymen Classic last Sunday, an unblemished record at the Waterway Duals (while wrestling up a weight) and a dominant championship at the Super 32 Qualifier in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. He’ll try to keep the momentum going at the Super 32 tournament in North Carolina in a few weeks.

Piccininni wasn’t the only champion from the Empire State at the Iron Horse. Pearl River’s John Muldoon won gold in his bracket after going 4-0 against opponents from New Jersey.

In a round robin tournament loaded with state champions and placers, four New York grapplers took second. A week ago at the Journeymen Classic, Shoreham Wading River’s TJ Fabian won each of his matches by pin while taking second behind New Jersey medalist Anthony Giraldo. On Sunday, it was a similar story. Fabian pinned three of his opponents in South Plainfield while losing a tight, 3-1 bout to Giraldo to take the silver.

Also competing last weekend at the Journeymen Classic were Fordham Prep’s Sam Melikian and Shenendehowa’s David Almaviva. Both followed up with second place performances in New Jersey. Almaviva cruised past Garden State foes Max Elling and Collin Boylan and won a close one over fellow New Yorker Thomas Dutton, 3-1 in overtime. His only setback was a 2-1 bout in the tiebreakers against Florida’s Aaron Hartman. Melikian also notched a 3-1 record topping a trio of New Jersey wrestlers by a combined score of 24-7 while dropping his match with Sean Glasgow.

Wantagh’s Dan McDevitt and Joshua Ugalde both completed action with a 3-1 mark in their upperweight bracket, however, Ugalde tallied more bonus points during the day to secure the title. McDevitt, who finished fifth at the state tournament in 2012, outscored his opponents 23-4 in his three victories.

Taking third place for New York were: Wantagh’s Chris Araoz (including a victory over New Jersey placer and nationally ranked Zack Hertling), Rocky Point’s Thomas Dutton and Shenendehowa teammates Nick Kelley, Levi Ashley and Zach Joseph. For full results, see below:

Fifth Place: Vinny Skokos, Nanuet (Bracket 3)

Mike Russo (NJ) dec Skokos, Nanuet, 7-5 OT

Max Nauta (NJ) pin Skokos, 2:39

Tyler Casamenti (NJ) dec Skokos, 4-2

Brian Damon (NJ) over Skokos, forfeit

1st Place: Nick Piccininni, Ward Melville (Bracket 5)

Piccininni dec Matthew Lattanze (PA), 6-4

Piccininni over Blake Retell (NY), forfeit

Piccininni over Craig DeLaCruz (NJ), 1-0

Piccininni major John Amato (NJ),10-2

Fifth Place: Blake Retell, Shaker (Bracket 5)

Matthew Lattanze (PA) dec Retell, 1-0

John Amato (NJ) dec Retell, 6-2

Retell forfeited vs. Piccininni and DeLaCruz

Fourth place: Travis Passaro, Eastport South Manor (Bracket 9)

Dave McFadden (NJ) dec Passaro, 3-2

Sal Profaci (NJ) dec Passaro, 8-3

Kyle Brady over Passaro, forfeit

1st Place: John Muldoon, Pearl River (Bracket 11)

Muldoon dec Devon LaFranco (NJ), 5-1

Muldoon major Mike DeFaria (NJ), 13-3

Muldoon dec Tommy Gattinella, 4-3

Muldoon over Mike Van Brill (NJ), forfeit

2nd Place: TJ Fabian, Shoreham Wading River (Bracket 12)

Fabian pin Joe Kratochvil (NJ), 1:20

Fabian pin Troy Shaafsma (NJ), 2:55

Fabian pin Billy Ward (NJ), 1:26

Anthony Giraldo (NJ) dec Fabian, 3-1

3rd Place: Chris Araoz, Wantagh (Bracket 14)

Scott Delvecchio (NJ) pin Araoz 3:57

Mike Pongracz (NJ) dec Araoz, 2-0

Araoz dec Zack Hertling (NJ), 4-0

Araoz major Ryan Burkert (NJ), 19-4

2nd Place: Sam Melikian, Fordham Prep (Bracket 16)

Melikian dec Joe Tavoso (NJ), 10-3

Melikian major Vin Carriddi (NJ), 9-1

Melikian dec Matt Barber (NJ), 5-3

Sean Glasgow (NJ) dec Melikian, 11-6

3rd Place: Nick Kelley, Shenendehowa (Bracket 18)

Kelley pin Miguel Calixto (VT), 4:20

Kelley pin Spencer Carey (NJ), 3:24

Troy Heilmann (NJ) dec Kelley, 10-7

Brian Hamann (NJ) dec Kelley, 3-0

3rd Place: Zach Joseph, Shenendehowa (Bracket 19)

Joseph over Tyler Kozimor (NJ), forfeit

Joseph over Jesse Thorsen (NJ), forfeit

Gary Dinmore (NJ) major Joseph, 13-1

Joseph Grello (NJ) dec Joseph, 10-3

2nd Place: David Almaviva, Shenendehowa (Bracket 20)

Almaviva dec Collin Boylan (NJ), 5-1

Almaviva dec Thomas Dutton (NY), 3-1 OT

Aaron Hartman (FL) dec Almaviva 2-1 tb

Almaviva major Max Elling (NJ), 10-0

3rd Place: Thomas Dutton, Rocky Point (Bracket 20)

Aaron Hartman (FL) dec Dutton, 4-3

Almaviva dec Dutton, 3-1 OT

Dutton major Max Elling (NJ), 11-1

Dutton pin Collin Boylan (NJ), 1:22

2nd Place: Dan McDevitt, Wantagh (Bracket 24)

McDevitt dec Nick Carey (NJ), 7-2

McDevitt dec Zach Spira (NJ), 6-0

Joshua Ugalde (NJ) dec McDevitt, 2-0 OT

McDevitt dec Colin Barber (NJ), 7-2

3rd Place: Levi Ashley, Shenendehowa (Bracket 27)

Ashley dec Austin Price (VT), 7-4

Ali Yildiz (NJ) major Ashley, 10-1

Nathan Bueno (NJ) dec Ashley, 5-2

Ashley dec Matt Correnti (NJ), 10-4

All-State Wrestlers Piccininni, Kelley, Almaviva, Fabian and McDevitt Ready For Tests at the Iron Horse Invitational

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

Photos of Piccininni, McDevitt and Kelley by Boris V

Last weekend, many New York wrestlers tested themselves against competition from all over the country at the Journeymen Wrestling Classic near Albany. As the start of the season inches closer, many of the same competitors will travel to New Jersey on Sunday to once again challenge themselves against some of the best from the Garden State, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland and Vermont at the Iron Horse Invitation in South Plainfield. The round robin tournament includes champions from the states listed above and a plethora of additional placers in the field of about 150 grapplers.

Several wrestlers who won titles in the “A” bracket last weekend at the Journeymen will once again take the mat, including New Yorkers Nick Piccininni and Nick Kelley as well as New Jersey’s Sal Profaci, Anthony Giraldo, Scott Delvecchio, Maaziah Bethea, Chad Walsh and Jon Schleifer.

In addition to state champion Piccininni and Binghamton-bound Kelley, a number of top contenders for All-State honors in the Empire State will compete on Sunday. The expected entrants from New York are:

Section 1:

John Muldoon (Pearl River)

Vinny Skokos (Nanuet, state qualifier)

Section 2:

David Almaviva (Shenendehowa, Fargo All-American, Binghamton recruit)

Levi Ashley (Shenendehowa, state qualifier)

Nick Kelley (Shenendehowa, Fargo All-American, Binghamton recruit)

Blake Retell (Shaker, won the 120B bracket at the Journeymen Classic)

Joe Sprung (Berne Knox Westerlo, state qualifier)

Section 8:

Chris Araoz (Wantagh, NHSCA National Champion in 2012)

Dan McDevitt (Wantagh, NHSCA All-American, NYS fifth)

Section 11:

Tom Dutton (Rocky Point, Fargo and NHSCA All-American)

TJ Fabian (Shoreham Wading River, NHSCA All-American, NYS fourth)

Travis Passaro (Eastport South Manor, NHSCA All-American)

Nick Piccininni (Ward Melville, NYS champion in 2012)

CHSAA

Sam Melikian (Fordham Prep, state qualifier)

**Entries provided by Iron Horse

State Champion Realbuto and Returning Placers White, Barbaria and Aslanian Lead the Way for Section 1 in 2012-13 (Season Preview)

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

New York Wrestling Newswill be taking a look at the Sections across the state over the next few weeks. We began with a story on Section 1 stars Dylan Realbuto and Trey Aslanian, which can be found here.

In addition to returning state champion Realbuto and runner up Aslanian, Section 1 welcomes back two other placewinners from 2012 and more than 15 additional qualifiers. The following takes a look at some wrestlers to keep an eye on this year, some potential breakout stars and the teams to beat for the 2013 campaign in Section 1.

Division I

Returning State Placewinners (from 2012)

State Champion: Dylan Realbuto (12) Somers, 113 Pounds

Fifth Place: Dale White (12) John Jay East Fishkill, 145 Pounds

Sixth Place: Nick Barbaria (11) New Rochelle, 99 Pounds

Additional Returning State Qualifiers (from 2012)

113 Pounds: Alex Delacruz (11), Ossining

120 Pounds: Jake DeMarsico (12), North Rockland

126 Pounds: Matt Caputo (11), North Rockland

138 Pounds: Tom Grippi (12), Fox Lane

170 Pounds: Steven Sabella (12) Yorktown

285 Pounds: David Varian (12) Yorktown

Seniors to Watch

Dylan Realbuto (Somers) – Realbuto won his first state championship in dramatic fashion, taking Hilton’s Vincent DePrez down as the buzzer sounded in the third to capture an 8-7 decision. He’ll try to add a second title in his last year, which would bring his family’s total to five (older brother Brian captured championships in 2009, 2011 and 2012).

Dale White (John Jay East Fishkill) – White showed he was a contender for All-State honors last year at the Eastern States where he pushed two-time New York champion Jimmy Kloc in the finals before losing 7-6. White had only five other setbacks during his junior season, four of which were by one point (and another by two points). He looks to climb higher on the podium than his fifth place showing in 2012.

Tom Grippi (Fox Lane) – A returning Section champion, Grippi began his run in Albany last season by defeating eventual third-place finisher David Almaviva of Shenendehowa. Grippi went on to a 2-2 record at the state tournament, falling one win short of placing. He posted a 45-6 mark as a junior while splitting time between 138 and 145 pounds and will be a strong candidate to earn All-State honors in Feburary.

Steven Sabella (Yorktown) – Sabella went 42-4 in 2011-12 at 170 pounds with 21 pins. He won a pair of matches at the state tournament, coming within one round of medaling in Albany.

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

Nick Barbaria (New Rochelle) – Barbaria stood sixth on the podium at 99 pounds as a sophomore following a 36-7 season. He defeated All-State wrestlers Cheick Ndiaye (the Division II runner up) and notched a pair of victories over fourth place finisher Joe Calderone and a win over Bryan Lantry. (Both Calderone and Lantry also both avenged those results). In January, Barbaria had a strong run to the silver medal at the Eastern States Classic. Barbaria has been active in the offseason, competing at events such as the Ken Lesser Memorial Summer Heat and the Journeymen Classic.

Blaise Benderoth (North Rockland) – As a ninth grader, the North Rockland wrestler went 36-6 at 106 pounds and made the podium at the prestigious Eastern States Classic. Benderoth had several quality victories, including wins over state placer Nick Barbaria of New Rochelle and a pair of triumphs against qualifier Vinny Skokos of Nanuet. However, he missed the state tournament after he dropped the Section 1 final to Michael Parise of Brewster 3-2, who eventually came within one match of getting on the podium in Albany. Benderoth made the trip upstate for the postseason as an eighth grader and looks to do it again in 2013.

Alex Delacruz, Photo by Boris V

Alex Delacruz (Ossining) – Delacruz earned a ticket to Albany last year after upsetting eventual state champion Dylan Realbuto during the Section 1 tournament, avenging an earlier loss to the Somers grappler. Although he went 1-2 at the Times Union Center, Delacruz had a strong 36-6 season in which he defeated another state finalist – Division I runner up Justin Cooksey of MacArthur. With big victories like that one, he will be expected to have a big year in 2012-13.

Of those who haven’t been to the state tournament before, keep tabs on Thomas Murray of Yorktown who lost in the Section 1 final to eventual state runner up Jacob Berkowitz of Scarsdale. “Tom’s been working really hard and I think if he’d gone to state last year, he could have placed,” coach Max Askren said.

Also working hard and ready to take another step forward is Byram Hills freshman John Errico. As a 99-pound eighth grader, Errico took third in the Section and was 34-4 overall. He also tested himself against some of the Northeast’s best at the recent Journeymen Classic.

Team Race

In 2012, Fox Lane took the Division I title, sending longtime coach Joe Amuso out with a flourish. The Foxes went into the last session of the Sectionals needing all four of their finalists to win in order to grab the team title and they all delivered. Three of those wrestlers, Sam Speno, Matt Pasqualini and Dan Ventura graduated. However, Tom Grippi returns and the new coach has talent at his disposal, including a pair of juniors who won over 30 matches last season and placed at the Sectionals – Ben Ettlinger and Brendon Fay.

Last year’s second place team, North Rockland and 2012’s fifth-place group from Yorktown return a handful of Section placewinners and look to be leading contenders for the championship.

North Rockland, which was edged by just 3.5 points by Fox Lane in February, boasts three returning finalists – Jake DiMarsico (Champion at 120), Blaise Benderoth (2^nd at 106) and Matt Caputo (2^nd at 126). In addition, new head coach Jeff Swick can expect to pick up points from a trio of grapplers who were fourth a year ago — Derek DiMarsico, Troy Feniger and Conner Reigotti.

Yorktown also has significant firepower scheduled to come back, including 2012 Section 1 champions Steven Sabella (170) and David Varian (285) as well as runner up Thomas Murray (182). Fellow senior Joseph Mastro was 40-3 last campaign, with two of his losses to state placers (Mike Caputo and Dale White). Mastro is coming off a silver medal in the Sections at 145 while classmate James Kaishian earned 36 wins at 120 and a fifth place showing at Pace University.

The teams that took third and fourth last year, New Rochelle and Somers, both have some standouts, but suffered heavy losses to graduation. The Huguenots feature All-State wrestler Nick Barbaria in the lightweights as well as Justin Douglas, who was a runner up in the Sectionals, but graduated placers Aaron Butler, Jonathan Stokes, Tyler Lilly and Bryan Ferrandi. Somers will have Albany title threat Dylan Realbuto in the lineup although his brother Brian and Dom DeVita are among the highly successful wrestlers who completed their Tuskers careers.

Division II

Returning State Placewinners (from 2012)

Second Place: Trey Aslanian (12) Edgemont, 113 Pounds

Additional Returning State Qualifiers (from 2012)

99 Pounds: Tyler Aslanian (11) Edgemont

99 Pounds: Joe Dillon (11) Nanuet

106 Pounds: Vinny Skokos (10) Nanuet

120 Pounds: Anthony Calvano (12) Nanuet

126 Pounds: Drew Longo (12) Ardsley

138 Pounds: Matt Dillon (12) Nanuet

145 Pounds: Brett Pastore (12) Irvington

170 Pounds: John Messinger (12) Putnam Valley

195 Pounds: Dan Breit (12) Nanuet

220 Pounds: Matt Acevedo (11) Pawling

Seniors to Watch

Trey Aslanian (Edgemont) – The three-time state placer hopes this will be the year. Aslanian qualified for the finals the past two seasons in Albany but came away with runner up status at 103 in 2011 and 113 last year. He looked tough over the summer, registering a 7-1 record for the Empire State at Junior Duals in Freestyle and competing at Fargo.

Drew Longo (Ardsley) – In 2012 he found himself out of the medals at a loaded 126-pound bracket at the state tournament, but he’s been on the stand before. In fact, as a freshman, Longo was the runner up at 96 pounds and he followed that up with a fifth place finish in 2011. He looks for one more drive to the podium in his last campaign for Ardsley.

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

Tyler Aslanian (Edgemont) – The second of three Aslanian brothers currently wrestling for Edgemont, Tyler went 30-8 as a sophomore at 99 pounds. He notched a pair of victories over fellow Section 1 state qualifier Joe Dillon and came within one bout of making All-State at the Times Union Center.

“Tyler was just short of placing last year and he has worked tremendously hard since the end of the season,” Edgemont coach Peter Jacobson said. “Our hope is that he makes All-State this year – he’s definitely an All-State caliber wrestler.”

Vinny Skokos (Nanuet) – Skokos had a strong ninth grade campaign for the Golden Knights, earning 32 victories and a Section title. He topped All-State wrestlers Nick Barbaria and Cody Carbery as well as NHSCA All-American Kyle Quinn of Wantagh.

“Skokos has a track record for working hard and making big improvements,” Jacobson said. “He had a tremendous freshman year and works year round. I would expect him to make a big jump this year and turn some heads.

Anthony Calvano (Nanuet) – Calvano went 16-5 a year ago and made a dominant run through the Section tournament with a pin and two decisions in which he outscored his opponents by a combined 16-3 tally. He went 0-2 in Albany but at least one opposing coach thinks he’ll be far better this time.

“I thought his showing at the state tournament last year was not at all reflective of the wrestler that he is. I believe he will place at the state level this year,” Jacobson said.

Team Race

In Division II, Nanuet won the crown by over 40 points a year ago and has a slew of contributors back. In addition to Section champions Vinny Skokos (106), Anthony Calvano (120) and Dan Breit (195), the team offers four more finalists in Joe Dillon (99), Matt Dillon (138), Mike Buhlmann (160) and Kevin Brundage (182). But that’s not all. Nanuet has several other wrestlers who were in the top six in 2012 on its roster, including three bronze winners.

Mounting a strong challenge will be Edgemont, led by the Aslanian brothers. Three-time state placer Trey was the Section titlist at 113 a year ago after defeating teammate Skylar Korek. Tyler Aslanian was the Panthers’ other Section 1 victor at 99 pounds, where sibling Kyle also wrestled as an eighth grader (and won 18 bouts). Silver medalists Colin Hopkins, Jack McCormack and Chris Kim will once again be in the mix, as could Will Graybeal and Ross Kantor, who were both top four.

“We both have a lot of returning finalists and placefinishers,” Jacobson said. “A lot will depend on who ends up going what weight — matchups will be key. But none of it on paper means that much. It’s going to be a product of what guys have done for the past nine months and will do for the next few months and who has a better weekend. [Nanuet] is the team to beat. They do a great job, consistently developing their athletes and that isn’t going to change. But I think the team title could go either way.”

Overcoming those squads will be difficult, but 2012’s bronze team Putnam Valley aims to put some wrestlers on the podium. One grappler to watch is John Messinger, the 170-pound titlewinner who pinned his way through the event last season.

Special thanks to all of the contributors to this article.

All results from the NWCA Scorebook.

All-State Wrestler Matt Leshinger of Sayville Selects Columbia University

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

By Matt Diano

Today, it was announced that second-year Columbia University Head Coach Carl Fronhofer picked up his first recruit from the class of 2013 when he landed returning NYS DI place-winner (3rd @120) Matt Leshinger out of Sayville High School in Suffolk County. The news came on the heels of the super senior’s Honorable Mention selection to the NYS-10 list, a segment of the series published annually by InterMat Wrestling.

Projected as a 133-pounder in college, the addition of Leshinger further bolsters the strong stable of lightweight talent that Fronhofer has built in his short tenure at the helm of the Ivy League program. Last season, it was Joey Moita (a multiple-time All-American in the international styles, as well as 2x State place-winner) and Johnson Mai (2x State finalist/2011 Champion, who also won the 2011 Junior National Greco-Roman title), both of California, leading the strong surge of young 125/133 pounders flocking to the Upper Manhattan based campus.

Photo by Boris V

Leshinger is also the fourth native Empire Stater in the past three years to commit to the Lions. He joins current freshmen Chris Loew (184) and Connor Sutton (165), as well as sophomore Ben Villaret (also a 165-pounder) in making up a strong nucleus of in-state studs looking to take the EIWA conference member to the next level.

A much heralded student-athlete since his days competing as a Schoolboy, it was evident from a very early stage that Leshinger was going to be a special talent. A late starter in some respects (his first year competing was in 7th grade), it did not take long for the future Lion to demonstrate the vastness of his ceiling when he was a 2009 double All-American, placing 8th in both international styles. From here, the legend was born. And, with each passing year, like a fine wine, the product just seems to get better with age. A two-time All-Suffolk wrestler heading into his junior year (finishing 4th @96 in 2010 and 6th in 2011 @113), Leshinger would enjoy a breakout campaign last season, compiling a record of 44-6 en route to winning his first sectional crown, as well as earning the aforementioned spot on the podium at the NYS DI tournament in Albany. Included among this plethora of wins was a victory over eventual 2012 State Champion, Sean McCabe (currently a freshman at Rutgers), 3-2 in the Section XI quarterfinals. He would post an identical score the following round, besting 2009 State Champion, Mark West, before ultimately taking the title with a 5-4 double overtime win against fellow 2013 Honorable Mention, TJ Fabian (who he also defeated in the state bronze medal match a few weeks later) in the finals. So incredible was this run to the title that Leshinger joined a very exclusive company of individuals to be voted as both the Most Outstanding Wrestler and the Champion of Champions at the County Tournament. He heads into his swan song as the favorite to win the one piece of hardware that has escaped him during his scholastic career, the NYS title.

As gifted in the classroom as he is on the wrestling mat, prior to his commitment, Leshinger had been something of a hot commodity on the recruiting market, attracting the attention of the likes of Dave Amato (Brown), Chris Ayres (Princeton), Pat Santoro (Lehigh), Dan Wirnsberger (Bucknell), and Pat Popolizio (NC State) among the collection of suitors. With older brother, Steven, currently a sophomore on Ayres’s Tiger roster, today will certainly set up a battle for Ivy bragging rights in the Leshinger household.

Congratulations to Matt, his family, and the Sayville wrestling program on this tremendous accomplishment! On behalf of the entire NYS wrestling community, we look forward to seeing this young man do huge things in the Columbia Blue and White !

This article was originally published on http://www.gothamcitywrestling.com

Finger Lakes Wrestling Club to Host the FLWC Fall Brawl, Clinic with NCAA Champion Cam Simaz This Weekend

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

The Finger Lakes Wrestling Club is hosting the FLWC Fall Brawl this Sunday, October 7th at the Friedman Wrestling Center on the campus of Cornell University. Get in some preseason wrestling and attend a clinic conducted by NCAA champion and four-time All-American Cam Simaz.

All ages and experience levels are welcome. Weigh-ins are at 11 a.m. and action is scheduled to begin at 12:30. (The clinic will run from 11:30-12:30).

Please see the flyer for more information: Fall Brawl Flyer

Take a Look at More Videos from this Weekend's Journeymen Classic, Featuring Several NY State Placewinners

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

Here are a few more videos from the Journeymen Classic this weekend, featuring several more New York state placewinners. For the remainder of the videos and results, see link

TJ Fabian (NYS 4th) vs. Sean Peacock (NYS Champion)

Nick Piccininni (NYS Champion) vs. Nick Casella (NYS Runner Up)

Justin Cooksey (NYS Runner Up) vs. Christian Vallis (New England Prep Champ)

Vitali Arujau (VHW) vs. Josh Logiudice (Journeymen)

Johnny Stramiello (NYS Placer) vs. Blake Retell (Journeymen)

Chris Koo (NHSCA All-American) vs. Logan Dean (Virginia State Placer)

Check out Videos and Results from the Journeymen Wrestling Classic

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

On Sunday, Niskayuna High School hosted The Journeymen Classic, which featured some of New York’s best wrestlers as well as competitors from 17 other states in a round robin format.

Check out some videos from the event (more will be added).

RESULTS are at the bottom of the page.

Nick Kelley (Fargo All-American, 2x NYS Placer) vs. Gary Dinmore (NJ State Placer) – 140 Pounds

William Koll (NY State Champion, NHSCA All-American) vs. Travis Passaro (NHSCA All-American) – 125 Pounds

David Almaviva (Fargo All-American, NYS 3rd) vs. Thomas Dutton (Fargo All-American) – 145 Pounds

Vincent DePrez (NY State Runner Up) vs. Scott Delvecchio (NJ State Champion)

Yianni Diakomihalis (Ranked #5 Nationally among Jr High wrestlers) vs. Jesse Dellavecchia (Sachem East)

Louie Hernandez (Section 8 Champion) vs. Brad Drover (New England Runner Up)

Yianni Diakomihalis (Ranked #5 nationally among Jr High wrestlers) vs. Tommy Aloi (All-American)

New York Wrestling News 2012-2013 Archive

See Newyorkwrestlingnews.com for new content!

Category Archives: Division 1

Gregor Gillespie 'Faced The Demons' and is Getting Ready For MMA Stardom

Going Ivy: All-American Tyler Grimaldi of Half Hollow Hills West Commits to Harvard

Binghamton-Bound Stars Tighe and Zupan Lead the Way for Section 3 in 2012-2013 (Section Season Preview)

Division II

Seniors to Watch:

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

Team Race . . .

Division I

Top Seniors . . .

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

Team Race . . .

Piccininni, Muldoon Win Titles at the Iron Horse Invitational; Fabian, Melikian, Almaviva and McDevitt Take Second

All-State Wrestlers Piccininni, Kelley, Almaviva, Fabian and McDevitt Ready For Tests at the Iron Horse Invitational

State Champion Realbuto and Returning Placers White, Barbaria and Aslanian Lead the Way for Section 1 in 2012-13 (Season Preview)

Division I

Seniors to Watch

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

Team Race

Division II

Seniors to Watch

Also Keep an Eye On . . .

Team Race

All-State Wrestler Matt Leshinger of Sayville Selects Columbia University

Finger Lakes Wrestling Club to Host the FLWC Fall Brawl, Clinic with NCAA Champion Cam Simaz This Weekend

Take a Look at More Videos from this Weekend's Journeymen Classic, Featuring Several NY State Placewinners

Check out Videos and Results from the Journeymen Wrestling Classic