Back on the Mat: Buffalo Invitational Kicks Off the Season for Many NY Wrestlers (And NCAA Champs Stieber and Kilgore)

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

On Thursday night, the college season officially started. But for a number of New York teams and wrestlers, the 2012-13 campaign begins on Sunday at the Buffalo Invitational, which includes competitors from the host school, Army, Ohio State, Kent State, Bloomsburg, Edinboro and the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club, among others. The following preview takes a look at each weight, both at some of the top wrestlers registered, and a New York storyline or two worth watching.

125 Pounds:

Nikko Triggas, who was an All-American for Ohio State in 2011, makes his return to collegiate wrestling after an Olympic redshirt year in which he focused on Greco Roman. The wrestler who manned the 125 spot for the Buckeyes in his absence last year, Johnni DiJulius, is also in the field after earning a bid to the NCAA tournament as a true freshman in 2012. Joining DiJulius in St. Louis last March was Long Island native Max Soria of Buffalo.

Max Soria, Photo by Boris V

New York Story to Watch: Max Soria had a strong run in the MAC tournament to earn his automatic bid to the NCAAs as a freshman. He’ll try to build off that experience for the Bulls, where his competition will not only be from wrestlers like Triggas and DiJulius but also from his twin brother Mike Soria, who is also vying for the starting nod for the Bulls.

133 Pounds:

There are two NCAA champions entered in the Buffalo Invitational and Logan Stieber is one of them. The Buckeye returns to the mat after his exciting victory over Jordan Oliver a year ago in the NCAA title bout. On his way to that championship, Stieber defeated Army’s Jordan Thome, who is also scheduled to be in the field on Sunday.

Sam Recco, Photo by Boris V

New York Stories to Watch: Fans of New York high school wrestling can see the college debut of 2012 New York state champion Sam Recco of Lyndonville, who will hit the mat for Edinboro.

Another heralded newcomer at this weight is Finger Lakes Wrestling Club’s Mark Grey, who piled up accolades at Blair Academy as well as in the international styles.

141 Pounds:

There was a lot of talk in the wrestling world last week about former Warsaw High School standout Ian Paddock‘s 7-2 victory over All-American Hunter Stieber at the Ohio State wrestle-offs. The Buckeyes could meet again on Sunday.

New York Stories to Watch: Two New York wrestlers will try to disrupt the rematch between Paddock and Stieber. Former MAC champion Andrew Schutt is back after a redshirt year and looks to move up the national rankings. In addition, Connor Hanafee will look to make an impact after a convincing win at Army’s Black/Gold Match last week. [NCAA qualifier Tyler Small is also entered].

149 Pounds:

Cam Tessari and David Habat battled as freshmen a year ago, with Habat coming out on top in an overtime affair. Tessari got the upper hand in March, however, reaching the podium with a fourth place showing. Joining the mix will be Army’s Daniel Young who was off to a hot start in 2011-12 before suffering a season-ending injury. Black Knights head coach Joe Heskett said he believed Young was on track to make the NCAAs and do some damage. He’ll likely have a chance to battle some top talent this weekend. Blake Roulo of Buffalo also looks to be in the running.

New York Stories to Watch: Alex Cisneros won three California state titles and will make his college debut at 149 pounds for the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club. Fellow Intermat Top 100 recruit from the Class of 2012, two-time New York titlewinner Jimmy Kloc (Buffalo), will compete in college for the first time.

157 Pounds:

Josh Demas and Mallie Shuster saw quite a bit of each other a year ago with Shuster winning their first two bouts and Demas taking the third at the NCAAs. They will be joined by Shuster’s Kent State teammate Ian Miller, who was an impressive 28-5 in his rookie campaign at 149.

Brian Realbuto, Photo by Boris V

New York Story to Watch: This weight class could provide a great opportunity to see what some of the Empire State’s best look like as they begin their careers on the college level. Four of last year’s New York state champions are registered at 157 – Brian Realbuto and Dylan Palacio for the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club, Chris Nevinger for Buffalo and Tyler Button for Edinboro. They won titles in 2012 for Somers, Long Beach, Letchworth Central and Phoenix, respectively.

165 Pounds:

Mark Lewandowski (Buffalo) and John Greisheimer (Edinboro) were both within one victory of being All-Americans at 157 pounds at the 2011 NCAA tournament. Greisheimer logged a quality redshirt year with wins over NCAA participants such as Daniel Kolodzik, Joey Napoli, Jake O’Hara and Donnie Corby. Lewandowski dealt with some injuries in 2011-12, according to his coaches, but head coach Jim Beichner is very optimistic about what a healthy Lewandowski can accomplish on the national stage. Lewandowski and Greisheimer could be on a collision course, with highly touted Ohio State freshman Mark Martin another grappler to keep tabs on.

New York Stories to Watch: Justin Lozano spent most of his first year as an NCAA wrestler at 174 pounds before moving up to 184 for the end of the season. Now, he’s headed in the opposite direction – moving down to 165. His first matches at the new weight will be a story to watch. In addition, the second Simaz brother in the Empire State, Taylor, will begin his college career. One of his coaches is older brother and NCAA champion Cam Simaz.

174 Pounds:

John-Martin Cannon took fourth at the Midlands last year during a redshirt season that Beichner called perhaps the best he’s seen from a Buffalo wrestler. He’ll have a chance to make another statement with All-American Nick Heflin of Ohio State in the bracket.

New York Story to Watch: Buffalo’s Jake Waste had a strong rookie year, going 24-9 after starting at 184 and moving down to 174. In fact, he was 17-4 at the lower weight and will look to get ready for a full year at that class.

184 Pounds:

Casey Newburg won 30 matches as the starter for Kent State last year, including a major decision against Vic Avery of Edinboro. Avery is also taking part in the Buffalo Invitational after winning more than 20 matches in his first season of college wrestling. Making his return after sustaining a season-ending injury early in the 2011-12 campaign is Army’s Collin Wittmeyer. Ohio State freshman Kenny Courts was one of the top recruits in the country a few years ago.

Tony Lock, Photo by Boris V

New York Stories to Watch: Tony Lock, an undefeated state and national champ from Pioneer, will get some early tests from the aforementioned wrestlers as will Phoenix graduate Austyn Hayes, who took third at 195 pounds in his final season for the Firebirds in 2011-12. Another first year college wrestler worth following is Michigan state champion Gabe Dean, who will be making his first start for the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club.

197 Pounds:

The second NCAA champion signed up to wrestle is Kent State’s Dustin Kilgore. He will have a pair of Buckeyes to contend with in his first action back after an Olympic redshirt year. Andrew Campolattano made the Round of 12 in his freshman season, while teammate Cody Magrum has represented Ohio State at both 184 and 197 during his career.

New York Stories to Watch: After two years in the ACC with Virginia Tech, Angelo Malvestuto returned to his home state as a transfer to Buffalo. He bolsters the Bulls lineup and looks to compile wins right away. In addition, a wrestler Army head coach Joe Heskett spoke very highly of in the preseason, Bryce Barnes, will get started for the Black Knights.

Ernest James, Photo by Boris V

285 Pounds:

A pair of New York natives head the field at heavyweight, with Peter Capone (Johnson City) coming off a successful campaign for the Buckeyes that included a runner up finish at the prestigious Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas. Edinboro’s Ernest James (Longwood) is looking for a strong follow up to his 30-12 campaign for Edinboro in which he beat NCAA bronze medalist Mike McMullan of Northwestern. (Capone won an early December one-point match over James in overtime). A darkhorse may be Kent State’s Keith Witt, who picked up more than 25 victories for the Golden Flashes at 197 pounds and has made the move up to the heaviest class.

New York Stories to Watch: Justin Heiserman competed at 197 in his rookie season for the Bulls, but has made the transition up to 285 for his sophomore year. Meanwhile, Oney Snyder, who was the Cornell starter for a portion of the 2010-11 season, will look to get off to a strong start to his senior campaign.

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New York Wrestling News plans to post match videos after the event. Please check back later.

** The article was written according to the event’s registration as of the morning of November 2

Young New York Talent Ready to Take On the West Coast Through NYWAY Trips

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

“The mystique of getting on a plane and traveling all the way across the country is unbelievable for the kids,” Michael LaPorte said.

A number of young wrestlers from New York will be experiencing that mystique over the next few weeks as part of a pair of NYWAY trips. On November 1, a group of elementary school grapplers will head to Las Vegas for the NUWAY Southwest Kickoff. About a week later, a contingent of middle schoolers will make the journey to California to take part in the Final Four Duals and Junior Mid Cals.

Carson Alberti, Courtesy of Cobra Wrestling

Both trips involve plenty of high quality wrestling as well as an opportunity to see the surrounding areas.

The Vegas-bound crew includes 11 students ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade.

“We wanted to give kids a chance to see a new place and showcase them in a different environment,” said Kevin Lucinski, who is leading the trip. “We’ll do a little sightseeing when we get there and then wrestle in the tournament. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing some different styles of wrestling. When you go to different parts of the country, different things are emphasized. Personally, I’m anxious to see the kids from California and Nevada. Some of the brackets have Reno Worlds placers and champions. It gives our kids a chance to test themselves and shows everyone that even if you’re the best in your state, you still have to work really hard because there are so many good wrestlers out there.”

The list of wrestlers going to Vegas includes: Carson Alberti, AJ Burkhart, Josh Gill, Michael Gonyea, Jason Hoffman, Justin Hoffman, Andy Lucinski, Jakob Lucinski, Caiden Mondore, Mitchell Seaver, Garrett Skeens and Carter Schubert.

Golden State Adventure

Matthew LaPorte and Orion Anderson, Courtesy of Michael LaPorte

LaPorte, who led the trip to Northern California last year as well, never had any doubt that he wanted to return again in 2012.

“Just hearing the kids talking amongst themselves about how much fun they were having was worth all the hard work that goes into it,” he said. “I knew I wanted to do it again. It’s really important to helping the sport grow in New York and having the kids advance as much as they possibly can. Having West and East coast meet each other is something special.”

There were some exciting matchups last year for the Empire State squad. The team placed fourth at the dual meet competition and had two wrestlers win individual titles as well. Both of those grapplers, Orion Anderson and Dane Heberlein, are coming back.

“It’s always great competition,” LaPorte said. “Orion (80 pounds) was the only New York wrestler to go undefeated last year on both days. He had some close matches, but he always came out on top. I think some of those California kids will be looking for him because of his performance last year. Dane will be at 90 pounds. He’s super excited about going back. He was the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler last year and I think some of those West Coast kids will be looking for another chance at him as well.”

Also returning is Matthew Laporte (70 pounds), who registered a number of victories in 2011. Joining the team will be Isaiah Bailey, Anthony Cirillo, Grant Cuomo, Antonio Cutrie, Connor Fredericks, Michael Gonyea, Jason Hoffman, Stephen Kapuscinski, Zach Kornberg and Dillan Palaszewski.

What excites LaPorte about the squad is that it brings wrestlers from all over the Empire State.

“The really good thing is that we were able to get a nice balance of the state with the addition of a few Long Island kids this year,” LaPorte said. “Just about every area of New York has some representation, which is a good, healthy sign.”

According to NYWAY President Clint Wattenberg, the organization is working to expand to cover more of the Empire State this coming season.

“In representing New York with wrestlers from all corners of the state, it helps us get the word out about the many things that we are trying to do to increase opportunities for our young wrestlers. This year we hope to have the same broad representation at our NYWAY State Championships, which will serve to coalesce our season.”

As is the case with the Vegas trip, NYWAY will be covering a large portion of the wrestler costs. According to LaPorte, the cost to each wrestler to go to California, including airfare, hotel, custom singlets, event entry costs is $250.

Like last year, the team will take some time to explore San Francisco in addition to both a dual event and an individual tournament.

“We’ll get there on Friday and have some time to rest,” he said. “Then, we’ll wrestle in the Final Four duals on Saturday and the Mid Cals on Sunday. On Monday, which is a holiday, our agenda is to take the kids sightseeing – the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf. It will be a great end to the trip.”

As for accomplishments on the mat, LaPorte said he’d like to improve upon last year’s fourth place showing in the duals.

“We’d like to be top three as a team this time,” he said. “And we want to place as many kids as possible into the finals on the second day. But the biggest thing for me is making sure that it’s a great experience for the kids. It’s great for them to know there’s so much more out there in wrestling and outside of it. It’s really rewarding for me as a coach to be part of it.”

On the Cusp of Greatness: Brady Takes Eighth; Several NY Wrestlers Fall Just Short of the Podium (Super 32 Recap)

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

By Matt Diano

When the Empire State reflects upon this weekend’s collective effort at the Super 32 Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, the word “almost” will be a term that gets dropped often in the conversation. Heading into day two with a squad of six strong, on paper, New York knew it would need to catch some breaks in order to maximize real estate on the podium. Unfortunately, the cosmos would just never align, as one-by-one, after battling hard against the nation’s best for the past two days, five of the six student-athletes would fall just short of placing in the top 8.

Setting the tone for the kind of day it would be for NYS was Nick Piccininni of Ward Melville (Section XI). Less than 24 hours removed from pulling the most significant upset of the opening day of the tournament when the 2012 NYS DI champion upended the top-ranked wrestler in the nation, Zahid Valencia of California, everything seemed to be falling into place for the super sophomore who was looking to win his third Flo major in as many weeks. All that would separate him from the top step on the medal stand would be a pair of wins over nationally-ranked foes. After all, having already defeated the “best of the best,” many looked at Piccininni as an invincible force. Unfortunately, the #11 wrestler in the land, Georgia state champion Sean Russell had different plans, as he asserted his offense early and often, halting Piccininni’s trek to title town with a 10-6 decision. This loss would set up a rematch in the consolation round with Valencia. And this time, it would be the native of the Golden State reversing the decision, eliminating Piccininni by the slimmest of margins, 2-1. Valencia would go on to win his remaining matches to finish third, with Russell losing to his high school teammate, Ryan Millhof, in the finals. By virtue of losing only to the silver and bronze medalists in a loaded 113-pound bracket, Piccininni easily showcased that he is deserving of a spot in the national rankings.

Another wrestler riding a high after an impressive day one performance was Connetquot senior Steve Bulzomi. Perhaps a bit of a surprise to those outside of Suffolk County, the 120-pounder who finished fourth in section XI in 2012 would find himself closing in on All-America honors this weekend. Posting a 3-1 record on the first day (with his only loss being a narrow defeat at the hands of #20 ranked Nathan Boston from Kentucky), Bulzomi would take to the mat this morning needing three wins to secure a place on the podium. Beginning the day on a high note, Bulzomi would win his opening match, 4-2, but would be unable to string together the winning streak he would need as his day was ended one round later via a loss by fall to 2012 New Jersey sixth place finisher, Christian Innarella, at the 4:58 mark. Innarella would conclude his weekend with an eighth place finish.

Also entering play today with a 3-1 tally was Eastport South Manor junior Travis Passaro. A runner up at the Journeymen Classic a few weeks ago, no one has ever questioned the talents of the 2011 NHSCA Freshman All-American. However, having watched as older brother Maverick placed last season at the “Battle for the Belt,” this weekend was about making it two-for-two for the family. Passaro lost two consecutive bouts to NJ state qualifier Sal Profaci during the lead-up to this tournament. So when an opening win this morning set up the trilogy, it would have been easy for Passaro to get down on himself. However, that simply is not the “Strong Island” way; rather, he would use the previous outcomes as a motivation. It would work, as Passaro controlled the entire match, cruising to the 8-2 victory, putting him one more “w” away from placement. Again, it would be a familiar foe that opposed Passaro as he would be pitted against the only wrestler to beat him up to this point, Florida’s Jared Prince. Determined to avenge the loss, Passaro undoubtedly gave 110 percent effort, but much like yesterday, it would be the kid from the Sunshine State pulling out the decision, 5-2.

TJ Fabian, Photo by Boris V

The unofficial award for biggest heart/guts this weekend goes to returning NYS DI fourth place finisher T.J. Fabian of Shoreham Wading-River. Dropping his opening bout of the tournament, the multiple-time NHSCA All-American would put together one heck of a rally, winning seven straight matches (including a 1-0 victory this morning against 12th ranked Ken Bade of Michigan). In agreement with the emerging theme, the win over the blue chipper would put the New Yorker a single victory away from pulling off a feat that 24 hours earlier had seemed impossible. But, as evidence that a higher power has a cruel sense of humor, after all of the blood, sweat, and grit that went into his comeback story, yet again, a NYS representative would see his effort met with humble pie as Fabian would get pinned by Pennsylvania’s Colby Ems, a wrestler who came in as an unknown, but rode a hot streak to a seventh place showing at 126 pounds. To call this twist of fate heartbreaking would be a gross underestimation of the situation. If there was a single wrestler this weekend that deserved to go out with a “w”, without hesitation it would be the senior from Suffolk County.

The shutout streak would finally be broken at 182 pounds when 2012 NYS DI runner-up Shayne Brady of Carthage rebounded from a 4-0 quarterfinal loss to Cornell recruit (and eventual champion) Jacob Taylor of Pennsylvania, to reign victorious in his first consolation bout, etching out the 6-5 decision over New Jersey’s Nick Zak. The win guaranteed that the senior from Section III would finish in the top 8. Brady would get the short end of the stick in his final two bouts of the tournament, losing a pair of decisions to Ohio’s Alex Belaia and nationally-ranked Keystone Stater (#3) Dakota DesLauriers by respective 4-2 and 5-0 scores. The loss to DesLauriers was in the match for seventh.

220-pounder Nelson Wymbs of Horace Greeley would be defeated in his only bout of the day, getting bested by 2012 Virginia State runner-up, Eldon Valery, 6-1. Valery would win one more match before dropping his remaining bouts to finish up with an eighth place showing.

New York Middle Schoolers Pile Up Hardware

Yianni Diakomihalis, Photo by Boris V

While the day may not have belonged to the NYS scholastic level athletes, it did prove to be a banner day for the next generation as the Empire State would crown a pair of champions in the middle school tournament. Sixth-grader Adam Busiello (75 pounds) and 100-pound eighth-grader Yianni Diakomihalis (who competed on the Hilton High School varsity last season), went 5-0 and 4-0 to win their individual weight classes. In doing so, they became the first New York State wrestlers since 2007 (Joe Booth) to win a Super 32 title at either level of competition. Busiello finished third here in 2010. 90-pounder Peter Pappas would finish second at his weight, compiling a 4-1 record this weekend.

Other middle school top 8 finishes included the following (in weight order):

Dylan Ryder: 6^th at 70
Hector Colom: 7^th at 95
Vitali Arujau: 3^rd at 100
Louie Deprez: 7^th at 120
Michael Spallina: 3^rd at 157

Piccininni Prevails Over Nation's #1 Wrestler, Joins Carthage's Shayne Brady in the Quarterfinals

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

It will be hard to keep him out of the national rankings now.

Nick Piccininni has won a string of tournaments in recent weeks, dominating in most of his bouts, but he didn’t appear in the latest national rankings at 113 pounds. On Saturday, he stated his case once again with pins in his first three matches before an overtime triumph over the country’s #1 sophomore wrestler, Zahid Valencia of California, to advance to the quarterfinals at the Super 32 Challenge against Sean Russell of Georgia.

Shayne Brady, Photo by Boris V

Also making the quarterfinals was state runner up Shayne Brady of Carthage, who tallied a 3-0 record at 182 pounds to earn a meeting tomorrow morning with Cornell recruit Jake Taylor of Pennsylvania with a semifinal berth on the line.

After dropping his first bout at 126 pounds, Shoreham Wading River’s TJ Fabian navigated a difficult path to the second day of competition, impressively winning five in a row to set up a battle with Michigan’s Ken Bade on Sunday.

In the 120-pound class, a pair of Suffolk County grapplers, Steven Bulzomi of Connetquot and Travis Passaro of Eastport South Manor, moved forward after each compiling 3-1 marks in Saturday’s action. Bulzomi will meet Tommy Ziegler of Ohio while Passaro will take on Zacheri Ulerick of Pennsylvania.

Also continuing in consolation action is Horace Greeley’s Nelson Wymbs, who will face Eldon Valery of Virginia at 220.

The brackets are here.

Additional Results for New York wrestlers

106 Pounds:

Nick Barbaria (New Rochelle) – (2-2)

Christian Briody (Chaminade) – (0-2)

Ryan Burns (Clarence) – (4-2)

Nick Casella (Locust Valley) – (2-2)

Tito Colom (Scorpion/Cobra) – (1-2)

Jon Errico (Byram Hills) – (1-2)

Brandon Fay (Fox Lane) – (0-2)

Andrew North (Pine Bush) – (2-2)

Jack Scurti (Half Hollow Hills East) – (1-2)

113 Pounds:

Joe Nelson (Oxford) – (1-2)

Andrew Flanagan (Holley) – (1-2)

Timothy Johnson (Harborfields) – (0-2)

Ben Lamantia (St. Anthony’s) – (3-2)

120 Pounds:

Travis Alexander (Long Island Lutheran) – (0-2)

Anthony Calvano (Nanuet) – (4-2)

Mike D’Angelo (Commack) – (4-2)

Jeffrey Gould (Pittsford Mendon) – (0-2)

Joe Russ (St. Anthony’s) – (2-2)

126 Pounds:

Freddie Dunau (St. Anthony’s) – (2-2)

Blaise Rufo (Monsignor Farrell) – (1-2)

Ryan Snow (General Brown) – (3-2)

132 Pounds:

Chris Araoz (Wantagh) – (3-2)

Sam Melikian (Fordham Prep) – (1-2)

Conor O’Hara (Sachem East) – (3-2)

Jon Silveri (Arlington) – (1-2)

138 Pounds:

Vincent Deprez (Hilton) – (1-2)

Kevin Jackson (St. Anthony’s) – (1-2)

Sam Ward (Locust Valley) – (0-2)

145 Pounds:

Nick Alessandrini (St. Anthony’s) – (0-2)

Anthony Deprez (Hilton) – (0-2)

Isaiah Riccio (Beaver River) – (1-2)

152 Pounds:

Mike Dusold (Locust Valley) – (1-2)

Matthew Haenel (Half Hollow Hills East) – (0-2)

Joseph Koshakow (Scarsdale) – (3-2)

Connor Lawrence (Duanesburg) – (0-2)

Rowdy Prior (Phoenix) – (2-2)

Matthew Russo (Horace Mann) – (3-2)

Paul Schoenberg (Baruch) – (1-2)

160 Pounds

Joe Mastro (Yorktown) – (2-2)

Andrew Psomas (Monsignor Farrell) – (3-2)

Jun Yoo (Jericho) – (0-2)

170 Pounds:

Johnny Vrasidas (St. Anthony’s) – (2-2)

Austin Weigel (Onteora) – (3-2)

182 Pounds:

Kevin Rodriguez (Patchogue-Medford) – (0-2)

Dan Smith (South Jefferson) – (1-2)

195 Pounds:

Chris Chambers (East Islip) – (1-2)

Collin Pittman (Spencerport) – (2-2)

New York Wrestlers Ready to Make Their Mark at the Super 32 Challenge

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

Last year, Jamel Hudson and Maverick Passaro kicked off their state championship seasons by making the podium at one of the nation’s toughest tournaments, the Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, North Carolina. Both showed their skills in fields loaded with All-Americans and top 100 recruits, with Hudson (now a Hofstra freshman), grabbing fourth at 132 pounds while Passaro (Rutgers) earned eighth in the 126-pound bracket.

This year, over 60 New York wrestlers are entered in the high school division and an additional 19 in the middle school competition. Action begins on Saturday and runs through Sunday.

Sean Peacock, Photo by Boris V

So, who from the Empire State will earn a spot on the podium this weekend? Here are some of the many candidates:

A pair of 2012 state champions will be taking the mat as Ward Melville’s Nick Piccininni and Sean Peacock of Midlakes are registered at 113 and 120 pounds, respectively. In addition, 2012 state silver medalists Justin Cooksey (126), Vincent Deprez (138), Drew Hull (152) and Shayne Brady (182) are entered, as is bronze winner Isaiah Riccio, who will be at 145.

The parade of All-State wrestlers continues as New Rochelle’s Nick Barbaria, Locust Valley’s Nick Casella and Holley’s Andrew Flanagan are set to go at 106 while Shoreham Wading River’s TJ Fabian, General Brown’s Ryan Snow and 2011 NYS placer Freddie Dunau will be at 126. In addition, Oxford’s Joe Nelson (113) and Bellmore JFK’s Robert Person (120) will take the mat, as will NHSCA Junior National champion Chris Araoz (at 132).

But the previous New York medalists aren’t the only threats to excel. In 2011, John Keck (now a freshman at Navy) took third at the Super 32 without having earned All-State honors in his career to that point. Many other New Yorkers look to follow that path.

Several of the top young wrestlers in New York are set to compete in the Middle School event. One interesting matchup could take place at 100 pounds where Intermat‘s #5 ranked Junior High wrestler in the nation, Yianni Diakomihalis of Hilton, could collide with Syosset’s Vitali Arujau. They were both victorious in different brackets at the Journeymen Classic near Albany a few weeks ago.

The full list of Empire State participants at the Super 32 is below:

High School

106 Pounds:

Nick Barbaria (New Rochelle)

Christian Briody (Chaminade)

Ryan Burns (Clarence)

Nick Casella (Locust Valley)

Tito Colom (Scorpion/Cobra)

Jon Errico (Byram Hills)

Brandon Fay (Fox Lane)

Andrew Flanagan (Holley)

Andrew North (Pine Bush)

Jack Scurti (Half Hollow Hills East)

113 Pounds:

Timothy Johnson (Harborfields)

Ben Lamantia (St. Anthony’s)

Joe Nelson (Oxford)

Nick Piccininni (Ward Melville)

120 Pounds:

Travis Alexander (Long Island Lutheran)

Steven Bulzomi (Connetquot)

Anthony Calvano (Nanuet)

Mike D’Angelo (Commack)

Jeffrey Gould (Pittsford Mendon)

Sean Peacock (Midlakes)

Robert Person (Bellmore JFK)

Joe Russ (St. Anthony’s)

Adam Santoro (Fordham Prep)

126 Pounds:

Justin Cooksey (MacArthur)

Freddie Dunau (St. Anthony’s)

TJ Fabian (Shoreham Wading River)

Travis Passaro (Eastport South Manor)

Blaise Rufo (Monsignor Farrell)

Ryan Snow (General Brown)

132 Pounds:

Chris Araoz (Wantagh)

Sam Melikian (Fordham Prep)

Conor O’Hara (Sachem East)

Jon Silveri (Arlington)

138 Pounds:

Vincent Deprez (Hilton)

Kevin Jackson (St. Anthony’s)

Jakob Restrepo (Sachem East)

Sam Ward (Locust Valley)

145 Pounds:

Nick Alessandrini (St. Anthony’s)

Anthony Deprez (Hilton)

John Doherty (Monticello)

Matthew Haenel (Half Hollow Hills East)

Isaiah Riccio (Beaver River)

John Vouzonis (Herricks)

152 Pounds:

Mike Dusold (Locust Valley)

Declan Gray (Chaminade)

Drew Hull (Royalton Hartland)

Joseph Koshakow (Scarsdale)

Connor Lawrence (Duanesburg)

Rowdy Prior (Phoenix)

Matthew Russo (Horace Mann)

Paul Schoenberg (Baruch)

160 Pounds

Joe Mastro (Yorktown)

Andrew Psomas (Monsignor Farrell)

Jun Yoo (Jericho)

170 Pounds:

Johnny Vrasidas (St. Anthony’s)

Austin Weigel (Onteora)

182 Pounds:

Shayne Brady (Carthage)

Matt Roberts (Monsignor Farrell)

Kevin Rodriguez (Patchogue-Medford)

Dan Smith (South Jefferson)

195 Pounds:

Chris Chambers (East Islip)

Collin Pittman (Spencerport)

220 Pounds:

Roman Accetta (Poly Prep)

Nelson Wymbs (Horace Greeley)

Middle School

70 Pounds:

Michael Gonyea (East Greenbush)

Drew Schafer (Marion)

75 Pounds:

Adam Busiello (Eastport South Manor)

Salvatore Jones (Lindenhurst)

Dylan Ryder (Candlewood)

80 Pounds:

Joseph Russo (Wantagh)

85 Pounds:

John DeRidder (Carle Place)

Tony Negron (631 Elite)

90 Pounds:

AJ Burkhart (Waverly)

Peter Pappas (POB)

Jack Ward (Locust Valley)

95 Pounds:

Hector Colom (Scorpion/Cobra)

Zachery Lawrence (Duanesburg)

100 Pounds:

Vitali Arujau (Syosset)

Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton)

105 Pounds:

Zachary Ancewicz (John Glenn)

112 Pounds:

Hunter Dusold (Locust Valley)

120 Pounds:

Louis Deprez (Hilton)

157 Pounds:

Michael Spallina (Hilton)

The "Miracle" Continues: The Return of Aaron Paddock

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

A New York wrestling fan wouldn’t have been faulted for a doing a double take in May at the Cadet Greco Roman New York state championships during the 182-pound third place match.

In that bout, Aaron Paddock took the bronze with a 2-1, 3-2 victory over Dakota White.

Could it be the same competitor who earned sixth at the New York state championships in a weight class 79 pounds lighter about 14 months earlier? Could it be the same individual who wasn’t sure just a few months before whether he would ever lace up his wrestling shoes again?

It was.

The weekend represented a new chapter of the “miracle” comeback story of the Warsaw freshman, who spent significant time in a coma after a backyard accident led to severe head trauma in August of 2011. At the time of the incident, doctors feared that he wouldn’t survive, or that if he did, he may never speak or walk again.

(For the full story, please see this link).

Aaron, Ian and Burke Paddock, courtesy of the Paddock family

However, Paddock made an incredible recovery and returned to school after a 17-week absence in January of 2012, saying he felt “back to [his] old self.” He even put on a Warsaw uniform again, joining the track team.

“He ran track but he didn’t compete very much because he broke his big toe early on,” Brad Paddock said. “He told me he didn’t really like it much anyway – he just wanted to wrestle.”

There wasn’t much question that he longed to be back on the mat competing in his favorite sport. He attended as many wrestling events as he could, supporting his older brother Burke and his teammates. So it wasn’t at all unusual when he joined his family and some other area wrestlers for a trip to Binghamton for the New York State Freestyle and Greco championships in early May.

However, according to Brad Paddock, Aaron wasn’t satisfied with a spectator role.

“He kept pushing — asking over and over again if he could wrestle. He wouldn’t let it go,” Brad Paddock said. “It was really hard to make that decision. I wanted to say no. But he had no issues at all. He was healed and if God healed him, then who was I to say no? When I told him he could wrestle, his demeanor changed completely. He pepped right up. He was running around, jumping on people, smiling so wide.”

That smile didn’t go away, even when he was reminded that he’d be stepping on the mat for the first time in quite some time at a weight class that was totally new.

“He probably weighed around 175 pounds that day,” Jeanie Paddock, his mother, said. “He went through a big growth spurt. We told him – the last time you wrestled, you were at 103. 182 will be very different. He said, ‘I don’t care, let’s go.’”

Weigh-ins were already complete for Freestyle, so he got ready for Greco. He entered at 182 pounds and could hardly contain his excitement.

“I expected all along to wrestle again, but I wasn’t really expecting to do it that weekend,” Aaron Paddock said. “It was just really nice to wrestle again. I actually liked it better with the bigger guys because it was more upperbody stuff and less about being speedy. I wasn’t nervous, but I know everybody else was.”

That’s for sure.

“Saying it was hard to watch him would be a huge understatement,” Brad Paddock said. “I just about had an aneurysm.”

Those feelings of nervousness come up again when talking about the upcoming high school campaign. Jeanie Paddock described it simply by saying it will be a “scary and interesting” season.

Aaron has been given full clearance to wrestle by his regular physician, neurologist and neurosurgeon. After a number of tests, the medical professionals didn’t find any reasons that he can’t get back on the mat this year.

Aaron and Burke Paddock (just a few years ago), courtesy of the Paddock family

He’s been preparing ever since his performance at the Greco New York states in May, when he began lifting and running more on his own. And, although he didn’t do much wrestling initially, he found himself a new training partner – Burke.

“Before, Aaron was at 103 and I was at 160, so we didn’t really work out together,” Burke Paddock said. “But now, it’s pretty nice. I worked out with him a lot at Fargo and it was a lot of fun. It’s nice to have him back. I definitely didn’t ever think Aaron would be at a higher weight than me.”

Burke wrestled at 170 pounds for Warsaw a year ago, taking third at the state championships after finishing fifth as a freshman and second as a sophomore. He said he will move down to 160 for 2012-13 while Aaron will slide into his former spot in the lineup at 170.

“Aaron’s a little bit bigger than I am and I think it will be easier for me to cut the weight,” Burke Paddock said. “I weighed about 170 last year and I want to help him out.”

They will be helping each other out throughout the season. Along with All-State wrestler Tim Schaefer and others, Aaron will look to push Burke towards his goal of a first New York title.

“I definitely want to win states this year,” Burke said. “It’s harder than I thought it would be when I was younger. I expected to win one by now. When I was younger, I thought I would do it a lot of times like my older brothers did.”

Speaking of older brothers, Joey is currently wrestling at Liberty University. And Ian, after taking time off from Ohio State to help guide Aaron through his recovery, is back with the Buckeyes, ready to wrestle off for the 141-pound spot with Hunter Stieber, according to Brad Paddock.

“I actually think the break was really good for Ian,” Brad Paddock said. “Everything’s coming together now. He’s feeling good and he’s in a good place, training wise. Sometimes a kid redshirts and doesn’t come back the same. That’s not true for Ian. He hasn’t lost that intensity.”

After his layoff from the sport, Aaron hasn’t lost that intensity, either. He’ll wear special headgear as extra protection. And he’ll get his wish to wear the Tigers singlet again.

“I’m looking forward just to being on the mat, wrestling for Warsaw,” Aaron Paddock said when asked what his goals are for the year. He then quickly added, “And I want to make it to states again.”

Aaron Paddock at SuperSectionals, courtesy of the Paddock family

The path to Albany goes through the SuperSectionals. While Aaron Paddock didn’t compete at the event in 2012, he did earn a victory there.

According to Brad Paddock, during the tournament, Aaron was presented with an award and a t-shirt that said, “One Match to Win . . . 1-0”.

“It was a really nice gesture,” he said. “Through all of this, Aaron has inspired a lot of people.”

He has inspired by simply returning to his everyday life. And he will continue to inspire every time he takes the mat.

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.

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)

Army Graduate Jon Anderson Wins World University Team Trials; Cornell's Perrelli, Hofstra Recruit Howes Finish Third in Challenge Event

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Urgent Doctor

West Point graduate Jon Anderson’s ultimate wrestling goal is to win a gold medal while representing the United States in Greco Roman action at the Olympics. While he was an alternate for the Red, White and Blue this summer during the London Games, he assured himself of a chance to represent his country in 2012 international competition when he captured the 74 kg title at the World University Team Trials in Colorado on Saturday. (For a closer look at Anderson and his Army background, see this article.)

Anderson earned his ticket to October’s World University Championships in Finland in dominating fashion, outscoring his opponents 41-1 on the day. He began by sweeping his three bouts in the morning Challenge Tournament without yielding a point to make it into the best two-out-of-three championship series.

“I had a lot of fun every match,” Anderson said. “My technique felt great and I stayed in control. Coach Lewis said right before the tournament to take it one period at a time, one match at time. I knew that I had to be in the moment for every moment that I was on the mat, and that’s what I did.”

Anderson’s opponent in the finals was Tanner Andrews, who earned an automatic bid after winning the University Nationals crown a few months ago. The two certainly aren’t strangers. Andrews defeated Anderson at the Dave Schultz Memorial early in 2012 and Anderson returned the favor at the Olympic Trials in the consolation bracket, pinning Andrews on his way to a third place finish and a spot as an Olympic alternate.

The Army graduate was in control from the start and took the first bout, 1-0, 7-0. In the second match, Anderson dropped the first period when he was unable to turn Andrews in par terre, however he won the second and third stanzas 3-0 and 4-0 on the strength of multiple takedowns and turns.

“Tanner’s a great competitor,” Anderson said of his opponent. “He always comes out and fights hard. I knew it would be a scrap. But I thought I was able to win it with my positioning, strength and conditioning.”

For Anderson, who thanked his family and friends for their “continuous awesome support”, the work has just begun.

“I had high aspirations for this weekend,” he said. “I’ve been training really hard without let up since the Olympic Trials. I feel like I still have a lot of room to improve and I want to improve every day. Things are continuing to click for me.”

He’ll keep that progress going, starting with a new training cycle at Fort Carson this week.

“I’ll be doing two workouts a day, with strength training, cardio and lots of wrestling. My focus now is on winning the gold medal in Finland. I feel like it makes no difference where I’m wrestling or who I’m wrestling. I need to focus on my technique and my match every time. That’s my mentality. If I make my opponent wrestle my game, I don’t think anyone can hang with me.”

While Anderson spent time abroad during his military service, the trip to Finland will be his first overseas tour wrestling for his country. He feels confident that it will be the first of many appearances for the United States.

“I’m very excited to represent my country in a world championship, whatever level that is,” he said. “In October, it will be in Finland for the World Universities, then I expect next summer it will be at the Senior Worlds. And in 2016, I expect it to be in Rio, winning the gold medal there.”

————————————————————–

Frank Perrelli, Photo by Boris Veysman

Anderson wasn’t the only wrestler with New York ties on the mats in Colorado on Saturday. Cornell All-American Frank Perrelli took third in the 55 kg Freestyle Challenge tournament, avenging his three period opening round loss to Kyle Hutter by defeating the former Old Dominion grappler 5-0, 1-0 in the bronze medal bout. Perrelli pinned Panther Wrestling Club’s Cruse Aarhus to earn his shot at third.

Also taking third was Hofstra signee Dwight Howes, who more than held his own in a loaded 84 kg Freestyle Challenge bracket that included four NCAA All-Americans. The Colorado native, who will spend this season at the Olympic Training Center, was tested right away, topping 2012 NCAA 184-pound third place finisher Austin Trotman in the first round before dropping a tight match to former Oklahoma State national runner up Clayton Foster. Howes responded with a two-period decision over Navy’s Peter Huntley before defeating Trotman a second time for bronze.

Another Empire State native battling for third place in the Challenge tournament was All-American Kyle Borshoff at 66 kg, an additional weight featuring several accomplished NCAA grapplers. The former American Eagle began his day by beating Simon Kitzis and Cole Von Ohlen before falling against NCAA champion Frank Molinaro. In his first consolation contest, Borshoff faced another national title winner, Kellen Russell of Michigan, and came out on top, 3-1, 0-1, 3-1. In his final bout of the day, he was edged 1-0, 1-0 by Adam Hall to grab fourth.

Hunter College’s Oliver Lopez, who previously competed for McKee High School in Staten Island, also took third place — in the Challenge tournament at 60 kg in Greco.

Full results are available on http://www.trackwrestling.com

New York Wrestling News 2012-2013 Archive

See Newyorkwrestlingnews.com for new content!

Category Archives: Section 5

Back on the Mat: Buffalo Invitational Kicks Off the Season for Many NY Wrestlers (And NCAA Champs Stieber and Kilgore)

125 Pounds:

133 Pounds:

141 Pounds:

149 Pounds:

157 Pounds:

165 Pounds:

174 Pounds:

184 Pounds:

197 Pounds:

285 Pounds:

Young New York Talent Ready to Take On the West Coast Through NYWAY Trips

On the Cusp of Greatness: Brady Takes Eighth; Several NY Wrestlers Fall Just Short of the Podium (Super 32 Recap)

Piccininni Prevails Over Nation's #1 Wrestler, Joins Carthage's Shayne Brady in the Quarterfinals

New York Wrestlers Ready to Make Their Mark at the Super 32 Challenge

High School

Middle School

The "Miracle" Continues: The Return of Aaron Paddock

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

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

Army Graduate Jon Anderson Wins World University Team Trials; Cornell's Perrelli, Hofstra Recruit Howes Finish Third in Challenge Event