The Section 1 Div. I wrestling tournament for large schools is on the horizon.
The event runs Feb. 7-8 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Champions automatically qualify for the New York State tournament hosted by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association at MVP Arena in Albany Feb. 27-28. Each weight class in Section 1 is granted a second entry to the state tournament, either a second place finisher or a third-place winner, who wins a true seconds bout, which occurs if the second-place winner has not faced the third-place finisher in the draw.
Here’s a preview of each weight class with favorites, contenders, bracket busters and some information on the top seeds and the draw.
103 pounds
Top seed: Marcarlo Mannello, BBHVW (31-0)
The favorite: Mannello, who won the Section 1 title at 101 pounds last season, is looking for his second straight Section 1 title. He won the Eastern States title earlier this season and he placed at states last season. He’s been dominant all season long.
Top three contenders: No. 7 Nick Hobson, Yorktown (24-6), No. 2 Anthony Tornambe, Mahopac (29-9), No. 4 Marco Portillo, Tappan Zee (22-8)
Bracket buster: No. 8 Andrew Kalathil, Horace Greeley (17-6)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 2
The lowdown: Mannello is one of the heaviest favorites the whole weekend. He’s a favorite to win a state championship this season. That said, this a deep, young group with a lot of wrestlers for whom the time could be now.
110 pounds
Top seed: Ethan Steuber, Somers (23-5)
The favorite: In a deep field with a lot of contenders, the senior Steuber still needs to be favored because of his track record and having no losses in Section 1 this season.
Top three contenders: No. 3 Braelyn Farrison, Suffern (24-6); No. 5 Flavio Di Nicola, Fox Lane (27-7), No. 6 Justin Cabuhat, Mahopac (31-5).
Bracket buster: No. 2 Luca Lore, Yorktown (17-9)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 4
The lowdown: This weight class has been such an interesting gauntlet all season. Nearly all contenders other than Steuber have a win and a loss against someone else in the field. There are at least seven wrestlers here who would not be surprising to win. That speaks to the quality depth of this bracket. It also made the rankings entertaining all season.
118 pounds
Top seed: Vincenzo Mannello, BBHVW (34-2)
The favorite: The freshman Mannello is looking for his third straight Section 1 title, after having won the 101 title in 2024 and the 108 title last season. He’s also placed twice at Eastern States and is a legitimate state title contender this season.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Liam Lin, North Rockland (28-2), No. 3 Loghan Dwyer, Somers (23-8), No. 4 Sam Rose, Clarkstown North (24-12).
Bracket buster: No. 9 Lucas Glickman, Ketcham (30-4).
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 5
The lowdown: It would be an upset if someone other than Mannello prevailed. The battle for second place in this bracket could be really good, too.
126 pounds
Top seed: Nick Fortugno, BBHVW (27-6)
The favorite: Fortugno is chasing his fourth straight Section 1 title, having won at 102 in 2023, 108 in 2024 and 116 last season. He’s mostly been his consistent self all season and if that keeps up, he could end his senior year on a podium in Albany.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Piero Di Nicola, Fox Lane (13-11), No. 3 Gio Tornambe, Yorktown (19-6), No. 4 Carlos Deoleo, Yonkers (22-2)
Bracket buster: No. 5 Ethan Murphy, Horace Greeley (22-10)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 5
The lowdown: Fortugno is the most decorated of the wrestlers in this class and it would be an upset if he lost. That said, there are capable grapplers who have been winners all over this bracket.
132 pounds
Top seed: Chase Allocca, Carmel (32-7)
The favorite: Allocca and No. 2 Luke Iasiello have been 1-2 in the lohud rankings most of the season. Iasiello has only one loss this season.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Luke Iasiello, Scarsdale (34-1), No. 3 Noah Diaz, Tappan Zee (26-6), No. 5 Matteo Crino, New Rochelle (24-9).
Bracket buster: No. 8 Jace Weinerman, BBHVW (21-6)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 3
The lowdown: Allocca has a chance to cap off his senior year with his first Section 1 title, but there are no easy outs and trap matches everywhere in this bracket.
138 pounds
Top seed: Ryan Ball, Somers (36-5)
The favorite: With Ball and No. 2 Charles Przymylski of Mahopac (35-2) both being returning all-state wrestlers who somehow have never faced, it’s really a pick-em between them and Przymylski’s had a better season, so he is favored. I have a feeling that outcome could depend on the day because they are both that good.
Top three contenders: Ball, No. 3 Derek Kuchinsky, Somers (31-8), No. 4 Jamaal Wells, White Plains (32-4).
Bracket buster: No. 13 Cooper Constantine, Yorktown (24-11).
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 2
The lowdown: Ball is going for his third Section 1 title and Przymylski his second straight. This is match they both want and it would probably be really good.
144 pounds
Top seed: Cal Ehrmann, Somers (31-6)
The favorite: This weight class is a really tough read, but No. 4 Rowan Larsen of Yorktown (22-10) medaled at Eastern States, so he gets the edge here.
Top three contenders: Ehrmann, No. 2 Justin Reiss, Tappan Zee (23-3), No. 3 Colin Liebertz, Ossining (31-8)
Bracket buster: No. 6 Kenny Keltto, Carmel (25-5)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 5
The lowdown: There are a bunch of wrestlers here who would not surprise much as champion. But you do have a number of seniors and the junior, Larsen, looking for their big moment.
150 pounds
Top seed: Nick Debellis, Horace Greeley (33-2)
The favorite: Debellis has been one of the best wrestlers in the section in his junior year, placing at Eastern States.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Jonathan Abzun, Ossining (27-6), No. 3 Ryan Ciardullo, Clarkstown North (32-3), No. 5 Andre Duval, Scarsdale (28-4).
Bracket buster: No. 6 Henry Cerasoli, Mamaroneck (35-5).
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 2
The lowdown: Debellis, Abzun and Ciardullo have all had exceptional seasons and it’s almost a shame they all can’t go to Albany. Competition at 150 should be hot.
157 pounds
Top seed: Chris Nocca, Horace Greeley (31-2)
The favorite: Following up a season in which he placed fourth in the state at 152 pounds, the Brown-bound Nocca has had a senior season to remember. He is definitely a state title contender.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Pace Zeiler, Mahopac (35-2), No. 4 Jake Reiss, Tappan Zee (24-6), No. 3 Matthew Clyman, Lakeland/Panas (27-7).
Bracket buster: No. 6 Jonathan Tenesaca, Port Chester (25-11).
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 2
The lowdown: Nocca’s been outstanding all season and seems poised for his second straight Section 1 title. Who will challenge him?
165 pounds
Top seed: Luke Ryan, Fox Lane (30-6)
The favorite: Ryan won the Section title at 160 last year and he’s been great, placing at Eastern States.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Jason Gaylord, Rye (31-7), No. 3 Felix Santana, North Rockland (28-4), No. 4 Hector Perez, Mahopac (30-7)
Bracket buster: Dylan Rodrigue, Arlington (30-9)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 2
The lowdown: Ryan’s showed all year his section title in 2025 was no fluke. It will be interesting to see how he’s challenged by seniors like Gaylord or Santana.
175 pounds
Top seed: Will Roden, Clarkstown North (35-3)
The favorite: The junior Roden placed sixth at Eastern States this year and has been on top at 175 all season.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Tyler Caricati, Yorktown (23-6), No. 3 Benjamin Xiao, Scarsdale (29-4), No. 4 C.J. Luth, Rye (18-1).
Bracket buster: No. 5 Mason Ready, Clarkstown South (25-7).
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 3
The lowdown: While Roden and Caricati appear to be the favorites, Rye’s C.J. Luth going down to 175 is significant. He made the blood round at states last season and is someone to contend with.
190 pounds
Top seed: Devin Bierfeldt, Nyack (34-2)
The favorite: Bierfeldt placed at Eastern States and is the current favorite at this weight class, which again has a good amount of parity.
Top three contenders: No. 2 T.J. Mauro, Somers (28-8), No. 3 Christopher Bloom, Fox Lane (20-8), No. 4 Nick Duran, Yorktown (22-12).
Bracket buster: No. 5 Danny Morrison, John Jay-East Fishkill (29-2)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 3
The lowdown: This weight class was the one where the second-place finisher from Section 1 made the state final in 2025 – Dylan Shelton of North Rockland. There’s no reason why that can’t happen again.
215 pounds
Top seed: Rocco Lore, Yorktown (34-3)
The favorite: Rocco Lore has been on top of this weight class all season. He’s on a mission to get to states.
Top three contenders: No. 6 Andrew Brauning, Fox Lane (33-3), No. 5 John Brew, Clarkstown South (27-4), No. 2 Jack Anderson, Rye (33-3).
Bracket buster: No. 4 Caiden Hylton, Mount Vernon (32-4)
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 3
The lowdown: Rocco Lore is one of the best stories in Section 1. He’s had this tournament circled on his calendar for a long time. It will be interesting to see who else emerges.
285 pounds
Top seed: Michael Mauro, John Jay-East Fishkill (29-4).
The favorite: Mauro wants to get back to the state final, which he did last season at 215.
Top three contenders: No. 2 Binak Bruncaj, Tappan Zee (20-6), No. 3 Chiam Fountain, North Rockland (16-2), No. 5 Jeremiah Fils, North Rockland (14-4)
Bracket buster: No. 4 Juan Orzuna, White Plains (14-2).
Number of 2025 all-section wrestlers in the bracket: 3
The lowdown: Mauro and Bruncaj both medaled at states in 2025, so it appears to be those two on a collision course.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Breaking down the Section 1 large schools wrestling tournament
Reporting by Phil Strum, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
