Who will get on the podium? Who will stand atop it?
The New York State boys wrestling championships kick off Friday, Feb. 27 and conclude Saturday, Feb. 28 at MVP Arena in Albany. Westlake wunderkind Marcarlo Mannello, representing the combined Briarcliff/Byram Hills/Valhalla/Westlake team or BBHVW, is seeded first at 103 pounds after a season of ripping through the competition and winning an Eastern States title. All while still an eighth grade and being just 13 years old.
Iona prep senior George Johnson is seeded second and Horace Greeley senior Chris Nocca is seeded fourth at the ultra-competitive 157-pound weight class where one of the best wrestlers in the state – and perhaps the country – Bellport’s Camryn Howard is seeded first. That should make for a competitive bracket.
Other top seeds among the large schools include Horace Greeley’s Nick Debellis, who’s seeded third at 150 after an unbelievable season and Yorktown’s Rocco Lore, who’s seeded third at 215 pounds. Lore’s been on a mission to stand atop the state podium all season after being scratched from last year’s tournament due to illness and the motivation of losing his father a year ago. Westlake’s Vincenzo Mannello, at 118 pounds, also has a No. 3 seed and is looking to add to his resume as one of the most decorated freshmen in the state.
Here’s the info on the event and a weight class by weight class look at the tournament for the Div. I brackets for large schools.
New York State boys wrestling championships
When: 9:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 27; 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 28
Where: MVP Arena, Albany
Schedule: Friday: Opening ceremonies, 9:30 a.m.; First round matches, 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m.; Second round matches, 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Quarterfinals and consolation wrestlebacks, 2:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday: Session 1 – Semifinal and consolation matches, 9:30 a.m.-noon; Wrestlebacks and consolation semifinals, noon-2:15 p.m. Consolation finals, 2:15 p.m.
Session 2 – Opening ceremony for finals, 5:50 p.m.; Finals, 6:05 p.m.
Tickets: Range from single session to both boys sessions, to combos of boys and girls all sessions and boys and girls all sessions premium. Available through MVP Arena box office or Ticketmaster (fees apply). Single session boys tickets are $16 (box office) and $24.90 (box office). Boys all session general admission is $48 (box office) and $59.60 (Ticketmaster). Boys all session premium is $56 (box office) and $69.55 (Ticketmaster).
Streaming: NFHS Network (subscription required), FloWrestling (subscription required).
103 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 1 Marcarlo Mannello, BBHVW (Westlake), 8th grade (36-0); No. 20 Izaiah Velez, Ketcham, So. (35-6).
Round of 32 matchups: No. 13 Luis Estevez, Oceanside (41-8) vs. No. 20 Izaiah Velez, Ketcham (35-6) – winner faces No. 4 Santino Pascarella, Half Hollow Hills East (37-2) in Round of 16.
Round of 16 matchup: No. 1 Marcarlo Mannello, BBHVW (Westlake) (36-0) vs. winner of No. 16 Kody Dott, Guilderland (39-5) vs. No. 17 Michael Ferullo, Orchard Park (31-3).
Top seed: No. 1 Marcarlo Mannello
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Marcarlo Mannello, BBHVW (Fifth, 101)
The lowdown: Ask anyone around wrestling, especially in Section 1 and they will tell you this weight class is Section 1’s best chance for a boys state title this season. Mannello has run through everyone this year and has faced strong competition, even winning the Eastern States title. He’s the reason you sometimes can’t cite inexperience for a wrestler in a younger grade. He’s placed at states and Eastern States and won Eastern States. And he’s 13 years old.
110 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 9 Ethan Steuber, Somers, Sr. (27-5); No. 20 Justin Cabuhat, Mahopac, Jr. (35-6)
Round of 32 matchup: No. 13 Sean McDonald, Starpoint (26-6) vs. No. 20 Justin Cabuhat, Mahopac (35-6) – winner faces No. 4 Ethan Andreula, Long Beach (25-2)
Round of 16 matchup: No. 8 Carlos Rivera-Russe, Amsterdam (30-7) vs. No. 9 Ethan Steuber, Somers (27-5).
Top seed: No. 1 Xavier Seabury, North Babylon, So. (43-1)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Jon Tutku, Massapequa (First, 101); Xavier Seabury, North Babylon (Third, 101); Will Soto, Newburgh (First, 108); Ethan Andreula, Long Beach (Third, 108)
The lowdown: Steuber had a great senior season for Somers and looks for a good showing here, but man, is this field tough. Two state champions from last year and neither of them is the top seed. If Steuber gets into the quarters, he could potentially match up against Seabury.
118 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 3 Vincenzo Mannello, BBHVW (Westlake), Fr. (38-2); No. 14 Liam Lin, North Rockland, Jr. (31-3)
Round of 32 matchup: No. 14 Liam Lin, North Rockland vs. No. 19 Aiden Rodriguez, Orchard Park (23-4)
Round of 16 matchup: No. 3 Vincenzo Mannello, BBHVW vs. Lin-Rodriguez winner.
Top seed: No. 1 Dunia Sibomana, Long Beach, Sr. (42-3)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Tanner Catrabone, St. Francis (Second, 101); Brody DiCaprio, Christian Brothers Academy (Seventh, 101); Cameron Crumpler, Niagara Falls (Eighth, 101); Vincenzo Mannello, BBHVW (Fourth, 108); Lukas Yeager, Hilton (Seventh, 108); Dunia Sibomana, Long Beach (First, 116)
The lowdown: As is evident above, this bracket is a gauntlet, Should Lin win, he’d face Mannello in a rematch of the Section 1 final. Mannello could do a lot of damage in Albany and he’s going to have to beat excellent wrestlers to go on the podium. Returning state champion Dunia Sibomana would be one of the toughest matches of Mannello’s career.
126 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 8 Nick Fortugno, BBHVW (Byram Hills), Sr. (31-6); No. 18 Piero Di Nicola, Fox Lane, Sr. (28-12)
Round of 32 matchup: No. 15 Evan Merrell, Maine-Endwell (32-8) vs. No. 18 Piero Di Nicola, Fox Lane (28-12) – winner faces No. 2 E.J. Vass, Valley Central (37-5)
Round of 16 matchup: No. 8 Nick Fortugno, BBHVW (Byram Hills) (31-6) vs. No. 9 Nick Testa, Hilton (38-2)
Top seed: No. 1 Vincent Mastrianni, Colonie (46-2)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Austin Bronco Campsey, East Hampton (Second, 108); Kelly Sullivan, Monroe-Woodbury (Eighth, 108); E.J. Vass, Valley Central (Sixth, 116); Tristan Levin, Tottenville (Eighth, 116); Vincent Mastrianni, Colonie (Fifth, 124); Carlos Salazar, Hewlett (Seventh, 124)
The lowdown: After making the blood round in his third state tournament in 2025, Fortugno would love to complete his scholastic career on the podium on states. He has a tough path with an 8-9 matchup and then a potential quarterfinal against a No. 1 seed. Expect a healthy Fortugno to contend.
132 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 11 Matteo Crino, New Rochelle, Jr. (29-9); No. 12 Chase Allocca, Carmel, Sr. (38-8)
Round of 32 matchup: No. 12 Chase Allocca, Carmel (38-8) vs. No. 21 Aaden Howard, Jamestown, Jr. (31-13) – winner faces No. 5 James Nalbone, Bethlehem (40-4)
Round of 16 matchup: No. 6 Santiago Chrisjohn, Christian Brothers Academy (42-4) vs. No. 11 Matteo Crino, New Rochelle (29-9)
Top seed: No. 1 Marco Futia, Wallkill (49-1)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Cullen Edwards, St. Francis (Fourth, 116); Jon Testa, Hilton (Fourth, 124).
The lowdown: Crino’s in his first state tournament and Allocca is back. They are in upset spots on different sides of the bracket.
138 pounds
Section 1/CHSAA local wrestlers: No. 7 Charles Przymylski, Mahopac, Sr. (40-2); No. 8 Ryan Ball, Somers, Sr. (40-6); No. 9 Shane Degl, Iona Prep, So. (49-4)
Round of 16 matchups: No. 7 Charles Przymylski, Mahopac (40-2) vs. No. 10 Caleb Brown, Monroe-Woodbury (27-4); No. 8 Ryan Ball, Somers (40-6) vs. No. 9 Shane Degl, Iona Prep (49-4).
Top seed: No. 1 Anthony Severino, Lindenhurst (41-2)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Anthony Severino, Lindenhurst (Third, 131); Trey LeChase, Fairport (Fourth, 131); Ryan Ball, Somers (Sixth, 131); Greg Green, Shenendehowa (Eighth, 138)
The lowdown: Local grapplers are seeded 7-8-9 here. Przymylski is back for a second year and could contend for a medal. Ball medaled last year, but has a very tough opening bout with someone he’s very familiar with in Degl. This is one of the strongest classes for Section 1 with three serious contenders.
144 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 8 Justin Reiss, Tappan Zee, Sr. (28-3); No. 9 Rowan Larsen, Yorktown, Jr. (26-11).
Round of 16 matchups: No. 8 Justin Reiss, Tappan Zee (28-3) vs. No. 9 Rowan Larsen, Yorktown (26-11).
Top seed: No. 1 Ryan Munn, Carthage, Sr. (39-1).
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Marco Provenzano, Fairport (Eighth, 124); Matthew McDermott, Smithtown East (Second, 131); Eljah Brown, Monroe-Woodbury (Sixth, 138); Ryan Munn, Carthage (Fifth, 145)
The lowdown: Quirk of the seeding gives us a rematch of the Section 1 final in the Round of 16 between Reiss and Larsen, both solid contenders to medal.
150 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 3 Nick Debellis, Horace Greeley, Jr. (38-2); No. 12 Ryan Ciardullo, Clarkstown North, Sr. (36-4)
Round of 32 matchup: No. 12 Ryan Ciardullo, Clarkstown North (36-4) vs. No. 21 Tennison Eiss, Indian River (28-8)
Round of 16 matchup: No. 3 Nick Debellis, Horace Greeley, Sr. (38-2) vs. winner of No. 14 Anthony Pica, Garden City (35-6) vs. No. 19 Maxim Belousov, James Madison (19-6).
Top seed: No. 1 Samson McKissick Staley, Pittsford, Sr. (40-1)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Samson McKissick Staley, Pittsford (Second, 138); Michael McGuinness, Walt Whitman (Eighth, 145)
The lowdown: Debellis is widely considered the most improved wrestler in Section 1 and comes into this tournament with a great seed. It would not be surprising to see Debellis and/or Ciardullo on Day 2 of the tournament or in Session 2.
157 pounds
Section 1/CHSAA local wrestlers: No. 2 George Johnson, Iona Prep, Sr. (39-1); No. 4 Chris Nocca, Horace Greeley, Sr. (35-2); No. 18 Pace Zeiler, Mahopac, Jr. (39-3)
Round of 32 matchup: No. 15 Liam Torpey, Webster Schroeder, Sr. (41-6) vs. No. 18 Pace Zeiler, Mahopac (39-3).
Round of 16 matchup: No. 2 George Johnson, Iona Prep, Sr. vs. No. 15 Liam Torpey, Webster Schroeder vs. No. 18 Pace Zeiler, Mahopac winner; No. 4 Chris Nocca, Horace Greeley, Sr. vs. No. 13 Ryan Wood, Sayville, Jr. (34-5) vs. No. 20 Yusufdzhon Balaev, Franklin D. Roosevelt (31-3) winner.
Top seed: No. 1 Camryn Howard, Bellport, So. (44-0).
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Camryn Howard, Bellport (First, 138); Devon Weber, Greece Schools (Seventh, 138); George Johnson, Iona Prep (Sixth, 145); Chris Nocca, Horace Greeley (Fourth, 152)
The lowdown: Johnson and Nocca faced in the Eastern States semifinals with Johnson earning the win. The wrestlers in this bracket will face a tough challenge with one of the best wrestlers in the country with the returning state champion Howard in this bracket.
165 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 7 Luke Ryan, Fox Lane, Sr. (34-6); No. 15 Jason Gaylord, Rye , Sr. (36-8)
Round of 32 matchups: No. 15 Jason Gaylord, Rye, Sr. (36-8) vs. No. 18 Colton Parese, Kingston, Sr. (23-11).
Round of 16 matchups: No. 7 Luke Ryan, Fox Lane, Sr. (34-6) vs. No. 10 Kristopher Mihalitsas, Pittsford, Sr. (34-6).
Top seed: No. 1 Griffin LaPlante, St. Francis, Sr. (43-5)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Griffin LaPlante, St. Francis (First, 152); William Wood, Brockport (Seventh, 152); Danny Dacey, Saratoga Springs (Fifth, 160)
The lowdown: Ryan is a strong contender in a bracket that includes a returning state champion in LaPlante. There was a state champion from Fox Lane last year too.
175 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 5 Will Roden, Clarkstown North, Jr. (39-3); No. 6 Tyler Caricati, Yorktown, Jr. (27-7)
Round of 16 matchups: No. 5 Will Roden, Clarkstown North, Jr. (39-3) vs. No. 12 Porter Vega, Spencerport, Jr. (31-7) vs. No. 21 Shota Kundukhashvili, New Utrecht, Jr. (20-0); No. 6 Tyler Caricati, Yorktown, Jr. (27-7) vs. No. 11 Mateo Morell, Newburgh, Sr. (30-4) winner
Top seed: No. 1 Wyatt Boice, Minisink Valley, Jr. (31-0)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: 175: Wyatt Boice, Minisink Valley (Third, 160); Rory White, St. Francis (Fourth, 160); Preston Jackson, Rush-Henrietta (Eighth, 160)
The lowdown: Roden and Caricati could both make an impact here and could place above their seeds.
190 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 12 Devin Bierfeldt, Nyack, Jr. (38-2); No. 14 T.J. Mauro, Somers, Sr. (31-9).
Round of 32 matchups: No. 12 Devin Bierfeldt, Nyack (38-2) vs. No. 21 Christian Horeis, East Islip (36-5); No. 14 T.J. Mauro, Somers (31-9) vs. No. 19 Jack Weber, Mepham (41-3)
Top seed: No. 1 Ryan Brown, Syracuse (30-0).
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Ryan Brown, Syracuse (Fourth, 190); Zachary Caldwell, St. Francis (Seventh, 215)
The lowdown: This weight class was where a year ago Derek Shelton of North Rockland emerged from a No. 17 seed to place second in the state tournament. Looking at that, you’ve got to like Bierfeldt and Mauro’s chances here.
215 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 3 Rocco Lore, Yorktown, Sr. (38-3); No. 14 Jack Anderson, Rye, Sr. (39-4).
Round of 32 matchup: No. 14 Jack Anderson, Rye, Sr. (39-4) vs. No. 19 Jon Landen, North Tonawanda, Jr. (34-3)
Round of 16 matchups No. 3 Rocco Lore, Yorktown, Sr. (38-3) vs. No. 14 Jack Anderson, Rye (39-4) vs. No. 19 Jon Landen, North Tonawanda (34-3) winner
Top seed: No. 1 Devin Downes, Plainedge, Sr. (39-4)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Zach Filip, Minisink Valley (Seventh, 190); Devin Downes, Plainedge (First, 190, Div. II)
The lowdown: Lore could end up in a Section 1 title rematch against Anderson in his first bout. He’s got as good a chance as anyone here. He’s faced Filip, the second seed twice before. He’s among Section 1’s best chances at a state title.
285 pounds
Section 1 wrestlers: No. 5 Michael Mauro, John Jay-East Fishkill, Sr. (33-4); No. 7 Binak Bruncaj, Tappan Zee, Sr. (24-7)
Round of 16 matchups: No. 5 Michael Mauro, John Jay-East Fishkill, Sr. (33-4) vs. No. 12 Patrick Curran, Pine Bush, Sr. (16-6) vs. No. 21 Ashton Klugewicz, Patchogue-Medford, Sr. (14-4) winner; No. 7 Binak Bruncaj, Tappan Zee, Sr. (24-7) vs. No. 10 Sean Paulsey, Ballston Spa, Sr. (33-8).
Top seed: No. 1 Chris Belmonte, New Hartford-Saquoit Valley, Sr. (46-1)
Returning champions/all-state wrestlers: Michael Mauro, John Jay-East Fishkill (Second, 215); Chris Belmonte, New Hartford-Saquoit Valley (Second, 285); William Workoetter, St. Francis (Third, 285); Mason Naple, Victor (Seventh, 285); Binak Bruncaj, Tappan Zee (Eighth, 285)
The lowdown: We’ll call this the unfinished business bracket. Mauro and Belmonte both lost in finals last year. Mauro’s been on a mission all year to be back under the lights and win. Bruncaj made a big jump last year and kept going this year. He can’t be underestimated.
Phil Strum is local sports editor for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Breaking down the New York State boys Div. I tourney for large schools
Reporting by Phil Strum, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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