2024 NYSPHSAA DIVISION II: SALUTE TO THE CHAMPIONS!!

101: Andrew Juliano (Soph.; Holland Patent-3)‍

One of a handful of pleasant surprises on a night (and large portions of the weekend) that seemed chalkish in nature, the Golden Knights' 10th grader succeeded in showing that seed is just a number and determination is what counts at the end of the day!!!...Sitting on the #5 line of his bracket when Friday commenced, the 2024 sectional silver medalist out of the Syracuse area had "cardiac kid" moments at various moments on South Pearl Street, but emerged with his arm raised each and every time, including the 101-pound finale, in which he found himself trailing 2-0 at the end of the 1st period, but flipped momentum in a big way as soon as he got on top to begin the 2nd...Repeatedly breaking his opponent, returning State 4th, Jakob Lucinski (Newfane), down during the initial half minute, Julian would eventually be able to lock up a chicken wing/bar, which he ran for the fall at the 3:07 mark to complete his semi-Cinderella story!!!...As exciting as the conclusion to his state-title yielding journey must have been, it likely fell short of matching the intensity of his triumph one round earlier, as in the semifinals, after getting hit for a stall call in the waning ticks to square the bout at 3-3, he'd lock up a cradle in sudden victory for the guaranteed TD, but went hunting for and found more, as he beat the buzzer with a stick in the last :04 to knock off top-seeded/2024 Section 4 titlist, Declan McKee (Tioga), in the semis...The highlight of day #1 would be a ferocious comeback down the homestretch his quarterfinal appearance, as trailing 2-1 in his rubber match with sectional teammate/S3 champ, Colin Logalbo (Little Falls), he'd be able to lock up a cradle off of bottom for the R2 + swipes in the last 20 seconds to steal the 5-2 decision...His round of 16 contest closer on the scoreboard than it was in actuality, Juliano jumped out to a 7-0 lead (whip for 2+3 in the 1st period being the catalyst) versus 3x PSAL gold medalist, Branden Munoz (Petrides) and then withstood a late rally to hang on for the 10-8 decision!!....Closing out the year as a winner in 37 of 41 trips to the circle (37-4), Juliano is the first state champ for the school since 2017, when Hunter Richard capped off his three-peat while competing on behalf of a united Holland Patent/Saquoit Valley squad!

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108: Maverick Beckwith (Fr.; Norwich-4)‍

His return to MVP Arena (after a bronze medal showing as an 8th grader in '23) being a tale of two polar opposite days, the Purple Tornado freshman could not have been any more dominant on Friday, as he racked up a combined margin of 28-0 in his round of 16 and quarterfinal matches before ceremoniously pinning both Suffolk True 2nd, Keith King (John Glenn), and Section 3 3rd, Jackson Moore (Sherburne-Earlville) via cradles in respective times of 3:42 and 3:24....Saturday on the contrary was quite the exercise in patience and endurance, as both of Beckwith's bouts required additional frames to be settled....Pitted in a rematch of a 2023 State semifinal (that he lost 5-3) versus defending NYS champ, Tommy Aiello (John Glenn), with the berth in the 'ship at stake, point were at a premium as the contest went scoreless through three regulation periods, a sudden victory period, and both alternating :30 tiebreakers. FINALLY, with Aiello being the one to have choice (and opting for top) in UTB, it was Beckwith that broke through, earning a reversal :07 into the"be-all and end-all" scenario to seize the 2-0 triumph and gain his vengeance....The 108-pound money match being nonetheless suspenseful, after an exchange of escapes and no points in sudden victory left them deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of 7:00, the Gorilla Grappler member was again able to answer the bell during crunch time, as he'd ride out his :30 tiebreaker and then after being given a free release off bottom, converted a TD + count in the waning moments to come away with the misleading 7-1 triumph over 2022 State 8th, Anthony Valls (Chenango Valley), in the latest installment of their All-S4 rivalry...The win on center mat improved Beckwith's record to 4-1 (four straight) against Valls in 2023-2024 and put a bow on an overall body of work that read as 29-2!!...2024 signifying his first state crown, with three more years remaining in his scholastic career, Beckwith is well on his way to joining the company of Tristan Rifanburg (3x), Frank Garcia (2x), and Dante Geislinger (3x), who were all multiple-time state conquerers from 2010-2020!!!
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116: Darren Florance (Sr.; BGAH-4)‍

Already a legend before he even stepped onto the mats this past weekend, February 23rd and 24th were the proverbial icing on the cake and/or farewell campaign for the Bears senior, as the two-time defending champ added crown #3 on Saturday evening when in the lone competitive affair he had all tourney, Florance converted a takedown (sprawl + spin behind) with 1:04 remaining in the 3rd period to grab the 3-0 lead on his way to a 3-1 decision (E1 with :03) versus 3x State Qualifier/2x Section 3 titlist, Brock Frederick (South Jefferson)...The decision against the Spartan sophomore being the only one of Florance's four appearances that did not end prematurely (3 1st period falls to reach the finals), he did not allow a single point (20-0) to be scored on him from the round of 16 through the semifinals, as he established cushions of 10-0, 8-0, and 2-0 before ultimately generating slaps of the mat in 1:49 (half), 1:48 (bar), and :55 (cradle) versus the likes of the 2024 sectional champs/representatives from 1, AIS, and 5---Jesse Straus (Pleasantville), Jovanny Nazario (Horace Mann School), & Dylan Depew-Cappadonia (Canisteo-Greenwood)!!!...Accruing a 34-1 resume in his final scholastic season, the 5x State place-winner/4x finalist/aforementioned 3x gold medalist's heroics in each of the past three seasons tied him with Eric Decker (2004-2006; did it for BGA before Harpursville entered the mix) as the only two three-time state champs in program history!!!
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124: Chase Nevills (Sr.; Copenhagen-3)‍

Killing two birds with one "w" on Saturday night was the soon-to-be University of Virginia, Cavalier, who not only repeated as a NYSPHSAA champ, but also avenged his only blemish (37-1) of 2023-2024 (7-1 decision in the finals of the Windsor) when in the last :40 of a deadlocked 2-2 finals bout against now 3x State medalist/previously unbeaten this season (40-0), Christopher Noto (HFL), he'd fend off a Jonsey and come out on top of the ensuing scramble for 2+2 to roll to a 6-3 decision over the Cougar sophomore superstar...Clearly the best version of himself since we last watched him compete a year ago on South Pearl Street, prior to his main event triumph, Nevills was every bit as impressive, as he banked three takedowns and an escape to cruise to a 7-1 semifinal decision over 2024 ESC 7th/eventual State 4th, Caden Barrientos (Lewiston-Porter)....His quarterfinal appearance may have actually been his best of the two-day stay in the capital, as pitted against 2x returning placer, Gene Edwards (Central Valley Academy), Nevills tallied takedowns in each of the first two periods to jump out to a 4-0 edge before applying a cow-catcher to drive the Thunder sophomore to his back for a stick 27 seconds into the middle frame...Up 6-1, the bar was the weapon of choice in the round of 16, as the future "Hoo" commenced his trek to a second consecutive brass ring by pinning 2x S9 champ, Ewan Celestine (Jr.; Red Hook), 62 seconds into the opening period!!!...By virtue of securing the hardware for a second straight season, Nevills sits in a club all of his own on Mechanic Street, as he is the first and only multiple-time state king for Golden Knight Nation!!!
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131: Gavin Mangano (Fr.; Shoreham-Wading River-11)‍

Living up to his reputation as one of the brightest prospects to grace the Evil Empire during the past decade was the fab Wildcat freshman, Mangano, who a year after settling for runner-up honors (lost an 8-7 decision to Florance at 110 pounds), enjoyed the coronation that the pundits have been forecasting since his days as an age-group phenom....Commanding in every aspect of his championship match against returning 2x State bronze, Jayden Duncanson (Tioga), Mangano hit a dump for a TD :50 into the 1st period and never took his foot off the gas, as he'd tack on three additional takedowns and two separate sets of NF to build a 12-2 advantage. With nothing to lose, the Tiger sophomore [Duncanson] attempted a desperation cement mixer in the final 15 seconds of the 3rd period and was caught on his back for the fall at the 5:56 mark...Symbolic of how the majority of the weekend transpired/played out for the student-athlete from Suffolk [Mangano], he'd strike for a TD + tilt during each of the first two periods to seize a 9-0 edge en route to a 12-2 major decision earlier on Saturday morning over 2x State Qualifier/2024 State 5th, Justin Mullis (Hudson Falls)...Giving the VHW trained Long Islander his biggest/only scare of the tourney was Section 4 silver medalist, Abdul-Jamil Zaggout (Unatego-Unadilla Valley-Franklin), who hung tough in a clash of touted 9th graders before bowing out in a 6-4 quarterfinal clash...Mangano put on a tilt clinic in the round of 16, earning four separate sets of NF to pitch the 15-0 shutout against sectional teammate/2022 State Qualifier, Frank D`Elia (Port Jefferson), in a rematch of their Section XI finale (won by an identical score)...51-1 as a 9th grader, it is hard to envision just how much better Mangano is going to get in the next three years, but what we do know is that seems destined to become an icon as goes in pursuit of tying Jesse Jantzen (1997-2000) as a four-timer at SWR!!
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138: Brayden Fahrbach (Sr.; Mt. Sinai-11)‍

Hailed as the "O.W. making bracket" in advance of the start of the festivities, 138 did not disappoint as it was the current Mt. Sinai senior and/future Appalachian State Mountaineer, Fahrback, being the last champ (there were three former or defending state winners in the crowd) standing, as he followed up his 132-pound hardware in 2023 (34-0 record) by capping off yet another immaculate campaign (39-0), by way of a 6-5 decision in the finals over now 5x medalist/4x finalist/former 2x champ, Gianni Silvestri (Tioga)....An illegal head-scissor, followed by a TD in the final 40 ticks of the 1st period enabling the Mustang 12th grader to grab a 3-0 lead at the end of 2:00, his Tiger counterpart did not go down quietly, as Silvestri was able to notch a reversal in the 2nd and TD in the 3rd to make a match of it, but ultimately, it was on the strength of three escapes between the 2nd and 3rd stanzas (to complement his earlier output) that the Suffolk prince would do just enough to prevail....Strolling through a field ripe with landmines, with the exception of his round of 16 outing (16-0 TF; TD + six sets of swipes) versus 2x State Qualifier, Aiden Marcin (Oxford-Greene), there was no "easy" stop on the road to Victoryville for Fahrback, as in the quarters, he relied on a 1st period TD and a 3rd period R2 to double up returning 4x state medalist (2023 runner-up)/8th in 2024, Aidan Gillings (Newfane), 4-2....The semifinals did not provide much in the way of relaxation, as a takedown and E1 in the 1st (sandwiched around his opposition's reversal) accounted for three of the four points recorded by Fahrbach as part of a 4-2 decision over returning 2x All-Stater/3rd in '24, Patrick Grimsey (Lowville)!!!...Now with TWO golds to babysit the silver he took in 2022 and a bronze in 2020, Fahrbach became the first multiple-time titlist on the North Country Road campus!!
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145: Casper Stewart (Sr.; Attica-Batavia-5)

THE WAY IT NEEDED AND DESERVED TO END!!!....After six amazing years that witnessed him develop into one of the winningest (279 career victories) in NYS, as well as one of the most prolific pinners in high school wrestling history (202), the Blue Devil senior fulfilled his destiny to ascend to the top of the NYSPHSAA throne when a ball & chain tilt for 2NF in the 2nd, complemented by a 3rd period reversal was all the damage needed to emerge as a 4-2 victor on Saturday night against returning 2x State place-winner/2024 ESC 4th, Kieran Cullen (Greenville)...The win, which was the 53rd of the year (53-3) for the future West Point Black Knight, was the ideal and warranted culmination in a saga where NYWN's top-ranked 2024 Big Boarder was on the cusp several times prior, but was forced to settle for 3rd, 4th, and 3rd in 2020, 2022, and 2023...Adding the first state title in history to the Blue Devils' trophy case, the multiple-time All-American in all three styles (1x Folk in Virginia Beach, 2x GR/1x FS in Fargo), reached the ship by virtue of exploding for eight points between the 1st and 2nd period (bodylock TD + tilt in the 1st; escape + single-leg TD + stall warning in the 2nd), as he handed 2x State Qualifier/2024 bronze medalist, Ryley Monica (South Jefferson), his only loss of the season, 8-2, in the semifinals...Showcasing his speciality on day #1, Stewart used a guillotine to pin 2x Section 10 titlist, Turner Sochia (Gouverneur), 1:05 into the 1st period of their round of 16 bout...The Curby Training Center pupil added his second fall of Friday in the quarters when he was able to lock up a cradle in the last 25 ticks of stanza #1 to glue 2x returning State medalist/2024 5th, Colton Havens (Canisteo-Greenwood), at the 1:48 mark of an All-Rochester area collision!!!
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152: Tavian Camper (Sr.; Copenhagen-3)

Saturday proved to be a darn good night be a part of the Order/Knightage of Copenhagen, as thanks to the valiant efforts of their double dose of decorated seniors, the Section III based program joined Newburgh (DI) as the only schools (among the parade of 24 institutions represented on the top step) to crown multiple individual titlists...Just a short time removed from proudly watching as his teammate [Chase] Nevills thrived in his repeat bid, the moment arrived for 2x returning state medalist (3rd in 2023), Camper, to attempt to pull off the sweep....Finding himself as a modern day, "Ric Flair", the Tennessee-Chattanooga signed gem embodied the "to be the man, you need to beat the man" philosophy, as he'd become just the third Copenhagen wrestler to win State gold (Dempsey Carroll @152 in 2018 being the other) when he got his arm raised in round 3/rubber match of what was an epic three-bout series this season versus 5x State placer/3x finalist/defending champion, Caden Bellis (Tioga)...Handing the multiple-time All-American bound for UPenn his only two losses of 2023-2024, Camper won an 8-6 (sv) decision in the finals of the Windsor; but was then defeated a few weeks later, 1-0, in the semifinals of the Southern Tier to set the stage for the winner take all scenario on South Pearl Street...The final chapter of the rivalry every bit as close and nerve-wrecking as its predecessors, the deciding factor occurred at the onset of the 3rd period, when in the midst of a 2-2 bout (1st period TD; escapes for Bellis in the 1st and 2nd peiods), Camper was able to hit a roll off bottom, and then in the ensuing scramble, doubled-off to secure the reversal to jump in front, 4-3. Bellis' third E1 of the contest drew him to within 4-3 with 1:37 to go in regulation, but the defensive base of the future Moc was simply impenetrable, as the last 97 ticks produced no additional scoring!!!....The triumph over Bellis obviously being the marquee "feather in the cap" for Camper, it ought not be overlooked that just to reach the 152-pound finale, he would need to pull off some magic, as it was a switch/reversal in the last :03 of the 3rd period (after allowing a TD with :07 to go) that enabled him to survive a grueling 5-4 clash with 2x returning State 4th/3rd in 2024, Vandavian Way (Gouverneur), in the semifinals....Friday was not nearly as tense for Camper, as it required just over 2:00 combined in his round of 16 and quarterfinal appearances to elicit sticks versus the sectional champs from 2 and 7---2024 Jacob Schweigard (Duanesburg/Schoharie) and Dominick LaPier (Ausable Valley; Finished 8th in NYS) in times of :38 and 1:23....Camper went 35-2 in his swan song!!!
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160: Ousmane Duncanson (Sr.; Tioga-4)

To quote NBA Hall-of-Famer, Moses Malone, the story of the heralded Tiger senior [Duncanson] was a case of four...four...four under the roof of MVP Arena!!! NEVER tasting defeat in his three trips to the NYSPHSAA State tournament from 2022-2024, the Lock Haven University commit finished his scholastic career on a remarkable 95-match winning streak, as after peeling off 24 straight en route to the 152-pound gold as a sophomore, he added vitae's of 37-0 and 34-0 in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 at 160 pounds...The linchpin/bedrock of a Tioga dynasty that did nothing but win (3 State Dual Championships; 3 NYSPHSAA Team Tournament titles) with him in the line-up, a testament to his ability to not only achieve individual heroics, but to also elevate the efforts of those around him was apparent by the fact that the only person to go the full 6:00 against him last weekend happened to be training partner/Tiger teammate, Drew Macumber (returning state 6th/3rd in '24), who on the strength of four TDs, he was able to defeat, 8-3, in the semifinals...Boasting a reputation as something of a "cradle master", in truth, Duncanson demonstrated the full arsenal in the money match, as he'd build a 5-0 lead via double-leg takedown, followed by his bread-and-butter move in the 1st period; hit a reversal for 2+2 in the waning moments of the 2nd to increase the cushion to 9-0, and then convert a blast double to the back for 2+3, before changing off to a turk for an additional 2NF as a means of coming away with the 16-0 TF versus 2x Section 6 champ/Cinderella Man(#6), Jacob Stephenson (Wilson)...He did not play around on Friday either, as the cradle was his poison in a pair of 1st period falls against S3 runner-up, William Burnell (Phoenix), and S2 champ, Joseph Davis (Greenville), as he stuck the former at the 1:14 mark before wrapping up day #1 with the 31-second gluing of the latter!!!!....Duncanson's three-peat officially puts him on top of the totem pole on 5th Avenue, as he surpassed the legacies of former great, Derak Heyman (2009, 2011) and present-day teammate, Gianni Silvestri (2020, 2022) as the lone three-timer for Tioga!
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170: Braidon Woodward (Sr.; Palmyra Macedon-5)

Our prediction to win the NYSPHSAA State title at this weight class in 2023 before circumstances put a hold on those plans with him sporting a perfect 46-0 record, it was a source of joy last weekend to see the future University of Buffalo Bull relish his spotlight/cash-in moment after the prolonged wait, as he will forever be known as STATE CHAMPION...Culminating a 54-1 swan song in bringing glory to his new home (Pal-Mac), Woodward (previous state placements of 4th in 2019; 3rd in 2022) completed a three-bout sweep of 2023 State 5th, Charlie Foster (Vernon Verona Sherrill), when he was able to strike for takedowns in the 1st and 3rd periods and allowed just a modest 2nd period E1 to emerge as a 5-1 victor on center mat...His dub in the finale being the second straight he registered over a fellow former and/or returning NYS medalist from S3/Syracuse area, in the semis, he established a 4-1 lead (2 TDs) at the end of 2:00 and then added an insurance reversal in the 3rd to upend 2023 8th-place performer/3rd in '24, Jack Lamson (Jordan-Elbridge-PB-US), by a score of 6-2...The 2x Eastern States Classic titlist/2023 NHSCA All-American coasted on day #1, utilizing a tilt (up 4-0 and getting more swipes) to pin Section 2 bridesmaid, Skyler Sturdevant (Glens Falls), in 1:27 of their round of 16 showdown before applying a cross-face (up 8-0) to stick 2x S1 finalist/2024 Sectional champ, Fredrick Smithwick (Croton-Harmon), 67 seconds into the quarterfinals...Woodward's brass ring is the first seized by a Red Raider since 2020 when lightweight extraordinaire, Jace Schafer, put the lasting touches on back-to-back golds at 99 and 106 pounds!!!
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190: Greyson Meak (Jr.; Cold Spring Harbor-8)

:03 is all that separated the Seahawk student-athlete from a state crown a season ago. And you best believe he has thought about those "Mississippis" ever day since!!!...Leading 4-3 in the 172-pound finale in 2023, he'd surrender a takedown at the buzzer to drop a 5-4 decision to then freshman sensation, Tavio Hoose (Southwestern)...With these sentiments in mind, when the opportunity arose for them to "play it back" for a second straight year with the hardware at stake, the Cold Spring Harbor 11th junior was not about to squander his chance to "silence the ghosts" and seek his redemption....Wasting little time in getting on the scoreboard, Meak dove in on a single-leg, went head-wheel finish, and after a brief scramble, was able to convert the TD to go up 2-0 less than half-a-minute into the opening period. From this moment forward, the game plan took shape, as the Nassau County resident threw that "virtue saddle" on his opponent, not only riding out the remaining 1:33 of the 1st period, but the entirety of the middle stanza as well to maintain the 2-0 edge...A free release and his second takedown of the bout increasing the margin to 5-0 with 90 seconds standing in his way of revenge, Meak would be conservative and trust his defense down the stretch, resulting in multiple stall warnings and an escape to be registered against him, thus yielding a  5-3 outcome...The "w", which also served as vengeance from another heartbreaker (6-5) at the 2024 ESC, against the defending king, was the only appearance made by Meak all weekend that did not generate bonus points, as he pinned his way into the 'ship, starting with a 27-second stick of AIS entry, Ivan Dolphan (Horace Mann School) on Friday morning, and growing to include 1:08 (leading 8-0) and 3:23 falls versus 2x S3 champ/2024 State 8th, Trent True (Holland Patent), & Section V runner-up/2024 State 4th, Luke VanGorden (Jr.; Palmyra Macedon), in the quarter and semifinal rounds!!...Just the third state gold medalist in program history, Meak is in the annals now with the likes of Christian Hansen (2020 @152) & Jackson Polo (2022 @145)...Meak's junior campaign came to its thrilling conclusion with him owning a 41-1 resume!!
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215: Matt Trim (Sr.; Maple Grove-6)

Seeded 5th among the field after an 8th place showing last season, thanks to the 215-pound senior Red Dragon, when you look at the record book, next to Maple Grove, you will now see TWO names, as Trim put himself in the company of 2016 State champion at 138 pounds, Brad Bihler, when he went a perfect 4-for-4 last weekend in the state capital to raise his seasonal body of work to an astounding 45-2....His finals' match with sixth-seeded Mason Maring (JChautauqua Lake), serving as a rematch of their Section 6 finale weeks earlier (won by fall in 3:39 by Trim), the level of control did not deviate much on Saturday night, as Trim was able to turn his Eagles' nemesis twice (tilt + arm bar) in the 2nd period to establish a 6-0 lead, before an E1 and a takedown to the back for 2+2 (defended a lat drop in the last :10) in 3rd propelled him to an 11-0 major decision....The ease at which he was able to prevail in the finals was far contrary to the battle he found himself one round earlier, as he worked overtime in the semifinals, converting a TD for 2+2 (snapped down and eventually locked a cradle) with :30 remaining in sudden victory to upset top-seeded/returning State 4th, Sean Kelly (Lowville), 5-1...His lone stick of the tourney occurred in the quarterfinals, as already up 4-2 (surrendered initial TD, but then had a reversal + turk for 2+2 in the last :25 of the 1st period), he made 2x State medalist, Christian Solano (Eagle Academy), pay for trying to go big, as he stuffed the lat drop try for the TD and smothered the PSAL rep until the slap of the mat echoed at 2:21 mark....Takedowns in the 1st and 3rd periods was a recipe for his 4-0 round of 16 conquest over 2x State Qualifier/2024 S5 runner-up, Jared Haers (Palmyra Macedon)!!
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285: Troy Beeman (Soph.; Waverly-4)

Lowering the curtain on the Small School State finals in the same way the session begun, it was the #5 seeds claiming the bookends, as it was the ferocious Wolverines super sophomore, Beeman, becoming the third #5 seed of the night to hoist hardware (joining Juliano at 108 and Trim at 215), as a year removed from going 1-2 in his South Pearl Street debut, the big daddy went all the way, knocking off the #1, #2, and #4 seeds en route to snatching the spoils!!!....His title contest all knotted at 4-4 at the end of regulation (each man with a TD + escape in the 1st; exchange of E1s in the 2nd and 3rd), Beeman would squash a lat drop attempt with :25 to go in sudden victory for 2+3 to take the "precious" by a score of 9-4, over previously unbeaten (26-0 heading into the 'ship)/2024 S6 Champion, William Wortkoetter (Wilson)...His second-seeded finals foe being the second of the [Wilson] Lakemen double 285 dandies he faced, the biggest threat to Beeman's coronation actually ended up being returning State 8th/2024 bronze medalist, Hamza Merrick, who led their quarterfinal match 2-1 (reversal in the 3rd), before an escape by Beeman extended the match...After a scoreless SV period, the S4 rep would escape in the first :10 of the alternating rideouts, and then held his way down from top to steal the 3-2 decision...The counter/defensive game was the secret of his success in his most significant victory on paper, as three of his four takedowns (including the clincher in the last :10 of a then 8-6 match) came in the capacity of scoring off of his opposition's attacks, as he toppled top-seed/Eventual State 4th, Landon Andrade (Sherburne-Earlville), 10-6, to commence day #2...Beeman, who emphatically capped off a 22-3 sophomore year, also registered a fall (via bundle) in 1:33 versus 2024 S3 3rd, Mason Sturtevant (Adirondack), in the round of 16 to account for all four of his arm-raising efforts...Beeman's title at 285 made him his school's first NYSPHSAA champion since 2015 (A.J. Burkhart @99)!!

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SCHOOL TEAM CHAMPION: TIOGA

Turning winning state titles into as routine a task as taking out the trash, the now five-times and counting State Team champs from Tioga put on perhaps their finest collective exhibition ever, as they brought 10 men to Albany....AND ALL10 LEFT WITH STATE MEDALS AROUND THEIR NECKS!!!

Accumulating a sum of 210 pts to blow away their closest rival, Palmyra-Macedon (80pts), the Kris Harrington mentored cohort certainly benefitted immensely from the title win from Ousmane Duncanson, as well as the runner-up finishes from Jayden Duncanson, Gianni Silvestri, and Caden Bellis...However if none of them had even showed up last weekend, the program still would been the team champs as they combined for less than half (103) of the total production...

When you reflect upon the 2023-2024 juggernaut that was Tioga wrestling, be sure to think fondly and give much due respect to J. Duncanson's 1:21 fall in the semis over returning 2x State medalist/#2 seed, Carmine Calimeri (Southwestern); Silvestri's 5-2 revenge victory in a semifinal rematch of the 2023 state finals over Jordan Joslyn (Chautauqua Lake); and C. Bellis making a third straight trip to the main event behind a 31-second semifinal stick of TJ O`Connor (Cooperstown-Milford)...

But also give equal praise to the "second pride"---Declan McKee (4th @101), Kadin Cole (3rd @108), Logan Bellis (3rd @116), Tyler Roe (4th @145), Deakon Bailey (6th @145), and Drew Macumber (3rd @160)....

Seeded 1st at the lightest weight class, McKee contributed 15.5 points, as he compiled a 3-2 record with a win by TF over 2024 S9 champ, Matteo Walsh (Rondout Valley) in the round of 16; a 7-4 decision over Nassau champ/eventual state 8th, Colton Schmiesing (Oyster Bay), in the quarters; and a 3-2 consolation semifinal dub versus Section 5 runner-up, John WInseman (HFL)!

Cole, who like McKee, is a first-time State medalist, exceeded his #4 seed, after losing in the quarterfinals, he stormed back to close out the weekend on a four-match winning streak, including paying back the man who knocked off one day earlier, when he pinned defending State Champion, Tommy Aiello (John Glenn), in a time of 2:47 of the bronze medal bout...All five of his wins being met with a slap of the mat, Cole also had a 5:27 stick of #3 seed/S6 champ/2024 State 5th, Jaron Barrientos (Lewiston-Porter), in the consol semis!

Logan Bellis overcame the devastation of being denied a second straight finals berth (2023 State silver) when he lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Frederick; but rebounded quickly, upending the #5 and #7 seeded wrestlers---Adam Munz (Vernon Verona Sherril) & Lucas Hoffman (Odessa Montour-Watkinslorance) by scores of 2-1 and fall in 3:19, in the consol semis and 3rd-place bout...Bellis also had a 2-1 quarterfinal triumph over his sectional teammate/2022 State Qualifier/2024 State 4th, Hoffman, one day earlier in the quarterfinals!

While Roe was as consistent as expected (just missed matching his seed) with a 15-13 over former State 6th, Kyle Barber (BBP) in the quarters, and a 5-4 decision in the consolation semis versus 2x returning placer, Colton Havens (Canisteo-Greenwood), it would be the lower-seeded/low-placing Bailey that especially delivered on the grand stage, as he willed his way from a #12 seed to 6th in the state by stringing together a four-match streak in the outbracket, highlighted by a 2:43 stick of the aforementioned Barber in the blood round, complemented by a 3-2 decision over 2x returning medalist, Cooper Reed (Central Valley Academy), in the consolation quarters...Roe's 4th surpasses the 5th he earned in 2022; while Bailey matched the 6th he banked in 2023!!

5th-seeded Macumber gave his farewells to MVP Arena by besting #4 seed/2024 Section 5 champ, Noah Leitten (Perry), on two different occasions (once per day), as he was a 10-3 winner in the quarterfinals and then later pitched the 6-0 shutout in the 3rd-place match...Macumber was also impressive in his 11-0 consolation semifinal triumph over 3x S9 tilist/2024 State 6th, Ryan Ross (Port Jervis)!...Macumber's bronze in 2024 tops the 6th he secured as a junior!

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SECTIONAL: S4

Back on top of the standing for the first time since 2013, 218 of the winning sum of 263 came courtesy of the four champions (Beckwith, Florance, O. Duncanson, and Beeman), the three Tioga runners-up (J. Duncanson, Silvestri, and C. Bellis), not to mention a few other select Tigers (McKee & Roe)!!!

But alas, with 21 of 30 representatives achieving top-8 distinction, there were most certainly no shortage of invaluable some priceless benefactors, as 6th and 8th place performers at 124---Landyn Shaffer (Deposit/Hancock) & Caleb Cole (Unatego/Unadilla Valley/Franklin) tied with 9pts each....

Windsor senior, Mason McCombs made noise to the tune of 16 points by way of a 5th place showing at 190....

Matthias Welles (Waverly) went from not even being the sectional champion at 215, to being their white knight in the scoring column, as his 6th-place weekend was responsible for tossing another 15 on top of the pile!!!

Unsung heroes at 170 proved to be Mark Winchell (Maine-Endwell) & Bobby Struble (Owego Free Academy), who tied with 5pts each!

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COMPLETE LIST OF SECTION 4 PLACE-WINNERS:

101: Declan McKee (Tioga)---4th
108: Maverick Beckwith (Norwich)---Champion
108: Anthony Valls (Chenango Valley)---Runner-up
108: Kadin Cole (Tioga)---3rd
116: Darren Florance (BGAH)---Champion
116: Logan Bellis (Tioga)---3rd
116: Lucas Hoffman (Odessa Montour/Watkins Glen)---4th
124:  Landyn Shaffer (Deposit/Hancock---6th
124: Caleb Cole (Unatego/Unadilla Valley/Franklin)---8th
131: Jayden Duncanson (Tioga)---Runner-up
138: Gianni Silvestri (Tioga)----Runner-up
145: Tyler Roe (Tioga)---4th
145: Deakon Bailey (Tioga)---6th
152:  Caden Bellis (Tioga)---Runner-up
160: Ousmane Duncanson (Tioga)---Champion
160: Drew Macumber (Tioga)---3rd
190: Mason McCombs (Windsor)---5th
215: Matthias Welles (Waverly)---6th
215: Dominick Weaver (Windsor)---7th
285: Troy Beeman (Waverly)---Champion
285: Gabe Soundararaj (Windsor)---6th

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