IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN; A COLLECTION OF THE EMPIRE STATE'S FINEST WILL BATTLE FOR NATIONAL BRAGGING RIGHTS UNDER THE DOME

A 10-YEAR HISTORY

Total All-Americans by Year (202 total):
2013: 24 (CD WM-3, JR WM-9, CD GR-3, JR GR-5, CD FS-4, JR FS-0)
2014: 26 (CD WM-4, JR WM-7, CD GR-0, JR GR-6, CD FS-3, JR FS-6)
2015: 25 (CD WM-5, JR WM-7, CD GR-4, JR GR-3, CD FS-4, JR FS-2)
2016: 31 (CD WM-7, JR WM-6, CD GR-3, JR GR-3, CD FS-10, JR FS-2)
2017: 20 (CD WM-6, JR WM-7, CD GR-1, JR GR-2, CD FS-4, JR FS-0)
2018: 26 (CD WM-13, JR WM-5, CD GR-1, JR GR-4, CD FS-3, JR FS-0)
2019: 15 (CD WM-4, JR WM-5, CD GR-3, JR GR-1, CD FS-1, JR FS-1)
2020: CANCELLED
2021: 18 (CD WM-5, JR WM-5, CD GR-3, JR GR-3, CD FS-1, JR FS-1)
2022: 17 (CD WM-3, JR WM-3, CD GR-0, JR GR-6, CD FS-3, JR FS-2)

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NATIONAL CHAMPIONS (21 in total)
2013:  Rachel Hale (Junior WM 121)
2013:  Alexis Porter (Junior WM 148)
2014:  Alexis Bleau (Cadet WM 154)
2014:  Alexis Porter (Junior WM 148)
2014:  William Koll (Junior GR 132)
2014:  Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (Junior GR 145)
2014:  Burke Paddock (Junior GR 160)
2015:  Monica Mason (Junior WM 198)
2015:  Vito Arujau (Cadet FS 126)
2016:  Hailey Cancelleri (Cadet WM 172)
2016:  Michaela Beck (Junior WM 125)
2016:  Jacori Teemer (Cadet FS 132)
2016:  Frankie Gissendanner (Cadet FS 152)
2018:  Ally Fitzgerald (Cadet WM 112)
2018:  Mia Macaluso (Cadet WM 127)
2019:  Sofia Macaluso (Cadet WM 122)
2021:  Alessandra Elliott (Cadet WM 138)
2021:  Zack Ryder (Cadet FS 152)
2021:  Alex Semenenko (Junior GR 220)
2022:  PJ Duke (Cadet FS 138)
2022:  Mikey Altomer (Junior GR 182)

THE TITLE FAVORITES

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Emily Frost (Tamarac; Junior Women's @132)--The highest ranked NYS woman in the polls regardless of weight class, the soon-to-be University of Iowa Hawkeye is a princess looking to take over the Queen spot as she presently sits in the #2 slot.....A product of the Curby Training Center that put Mikey Altomer on the Junior GR mountaintop last year, there is every reason to believe that "Frosty" can make it back-to-back years that "Joe Ucc" is a happy man!!!...An individual with a love/hate relationship with the Dome, Frost earned All-American honors in 2021 when she finished 6th as a 16U 112-pounder.  However, 2022 witnessed her miss the podium, as she dropped a 127-pound junior blood round bout...So to say that she is wrestling with redemption on her mind is a bit of an understatement!!!....Our confidence in the resident of Section 2 stems from the fact that in one of her most recent outings, Women's Nationals (April 2023), we saw the best version of her that we had ever seen, as she placed a commanding 4th in the U20 age group with all five of her victories being accompanied by some form of bonus points (3 falls, 1 TF, 1 forfeit)!!!
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Emily Sindoni (Tioga; Junior Women's @127)--Ranked as high as 1st in the nation for much of her senior campaign, the future D’Youville University Saint currently finds herself in the #3 spot, but only because she had a disappointing showing at Women's Nationals while not at 100 percent.....When at her best, Sindoni has repeatedly demonstrated her dominance, as not only was among the gold medalists at the inaugural NYSPHSAA Women's Invitational Championships, but also repeated as a NHSCA National titlist during the 2022-2023 season....Pinning and/or teching her way into the 122-pound Fargo Junior National finals a year ago (59-14 margin), Sindoni settled for being a bridesmaid; thus she has unfinished business in what is likely to be her last official scholastic event before moving on to bigger and more grand achievements collegiately!!!
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Casper Stewart (Attica-Batavia; Junior FS/GR @145)---We selected him last season as an emerging king and we refuse to backtrack off of that optimism....The #1 overall prospect on the NYWN 2024 big board, the 3x NYSPHSAA DI medalist (3rd in '20 & '23) is lethal when he brings his "A" game to the mat.....Once regarded as predominantly a Greco-Roman specialist, the Blue Devil rising 12th grader took a big step in proving himself a true 3-style standout when it was FS that yielded him his second Fargo AA distinction (8th) in as many years....That having been said, if he is going to ascend to the pinnacle, our gut still says it happens in GR where in 2021 he was a National semifinalist before making peace with a top-3 showing.....No matter the specific discipline, there is one certainty...Stewart is going to stockpile victories one after another....Even when he fails to secure top-8 status, he never goes quietly as evident by the fact that in both 2021 (FS) and 2022 (GR), he advanced to the blood round before falling just short of the goal!!!....He is already the most complete wrestler donning a NYS singlet this season; now he just needs to check that "champion" box to solidify his legacy!
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Madison Westerberg (Waterloo; 16U Women's @144)--Featured in last year's preview as "the one we have been waiting to see", the rising Tiger Junior did not disappoint in her debut under the Dome in 2022, compiling a 7-1 overall record (only loss to the eventual national runner-up) en route to coming home with a very impressive bronze medal hanging around her neck.....A bonus point machine (4 TFs, 3 pins in July 2022) who hardly ever needs to go the distance, between her "Joe WIlliams" double-leg and the "Joe Heskett" cradle, you never want to blink when the Section V rep is on the mat; because if you do, you are likely to miss something remarkable....Enjoying a 68-23 advantage in terms of points scored versus surrendered in her first trip to Fargo, expect the 2023 NYSPHSAA Girls State Invitational titlist to be even more dominant in the sequel!!!!....Because she is a three-sport superstar capable of playing the the game of her choosing at the next level of any of them, her resume on paper may not standout as much as some of her peers; but make no mistakes about it; she is as dangerous as anybody you will see during the coming week of action....Currently ranked 13th in the nation (has been considerably higher previously), a coronation is not only possible on the evening of July 16th; it is our prediction!!!
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Charlie Wylie (Port Jervis; 16U Women's @106)--While not technically a member of the Empire State contingent (her USA Wrestling Card is NJ affiliated), the simple fact of the matter is that the rising Red Raider sophomore attends high school in NYS, was a 2023 NYSPHSAA DII Boys' State placer (6th), and spend the majority of her life residing in New York....So you can be darn sure we are proud to claim her; even if it must be in an unofficial capacity...A young lady that gives credence to the expression that the best things come in tiny packages, in addition to aforementioned local folkstyle success, Wylie has thrived on the national freestyle circuit throughout her career.....Fresh off of winning a UWW U17 Pan-American Championship gold medal in Mexico City during the waning days of June, the S9er is no stranger to the top of podiums, as she was a USAW Women's Nationals Champion in the 14U division in 2022 (to go along with a runner-up effort at the event in 2021)....Like a mini bulldozer, when she gets in on her shots, she finishes with authority and routinely turns typical 2pt moves into 4pt outcomes!!!  2023 marking her first trip to Fargo, don't call it beginner's luck if she reigns supreme; because there is nothing lucky about being as immensely talented as she is!

THE ESTABLISHED COMMODITIES/RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS

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Caden Bellis (Tioga; Junior FS @145)--A marathon man if we ever saw one, the 4x NYS medalist/2x finalist ('23 champ) out of Section 4 was the epitome of perseverance in July 2022....Losing his opening-round bout in the 16U FS tourney, Bellis clawed his way back to the top-8 by peeling off SEVEN straight victories to land in 8th...Bound for the University of Pennsylvania, the AA he earned in North Dakota is one of three All-American credits on his resume, as he also claimed bronze in back-to-back seasons in Virginia Beach!!!....Not referenced on any of the Team NY rosters received by NYWN, when it was leaked out that he would in fact be among the participants, an ear-to-ear smile crept across our faces!...
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Ryan Burton (St. Joseph's Montvale; Junior FS @170)--The reverse situation from Wylie, the 2023 NJSIAA State Bronze Medalist lives among the Evil Empire faithful, but crosses over into the Garden State for his educational and athletic pursuits....But once again, we are not going to allow technicalities such as formal affiliations stand in the way of us laying claim to a superstar (LOL)....Hanging his hat in the S9 area (Minisink Valley HS), Burton came into his own at the 2022 NHSCA Nationals (freshman 4th) and has not looked back ever since, earning Fargo 16U FS Bronze a summer ago before following it up with his aforementioned first NJ State placement, as well as a second AA accolade in Virginia Beach (sophomore 3rd)...Without question the caliber of wrestler who would be staring multiple-time NYSPHSAA crowns in the face had he elected to remain in his native home, Burton will be undertaking a big challenge, moving up to the junior division, but possesses the skill set to make serious noise!
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Christopher Crawford (Wyoming Seminary; Junior FS @160)--A 2020 NYS DI 5th on behalf of Section I Beacon before taking his talents to Kingston, PA, Crawford has emerged as one of the most consistent and explosive wrestlers in the Northeast during the course of the past two years....A first-time Prep National AA in 2023, finishing 4th at 150 pounds, the previous year, the Blue Knight earned All-American honors in both folk (NHSCA sophomore 4th) and free (Fargo 16U 4th), but from speaking with pundits who know him well, FS is regarded as his bread-and-butter....A semifinalist at the 2023 NE Regionals before defaulting to 6th, Crawford turned many a head this past April when he prevailed in seven of nine appearances (including a victory over a top-10 ranked foe) en route to a top-5 display at the U.S. Open/U17 World Team Team Trials!  He is lighting quick and can score points in bunches; so as they say at KD Trained, "Let's Win", because that is what we see him doing a lot of!
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Cam Groncki (Mohonasen; Junior FS/GR @285)---A consummate competitor who has the "stones" to take on all comers and never shies away from an obstacle, the Northern Michigan University bound student-athlete seems to subscribe to the "no rest for the wicked" mentality as he seems to go out of his way to pursue blue chip/elite competition in the name of bettering himself....Boasting a banner senior season for the Warriors in 2022-2023, he earned both his first S2  (runner-up) and NYSPHSAA (3rd) placements; but instead of resting on laurels, he opted instead to rev up the intensity, traveling to both Las Vegas (April) and Ohio (June), where he registered respective AA Greco finishes of 7th  and 5th at the U.S. Open (U20 Championships) and the U20 World Team Trials!...Sandwiched in-between these dynamic outings would be double gold at the Northeast Regional!!!!....Now, as he gazes over the horizon and embraces the last chapter of his scholastic tenure, he does so with full intention of closing strong by banking a second Fargo AA in the past three trips....7th in 2021 (16U), Groncki went 4-2 as a junior in 2022, coming just two wins short of top-8 status!!!  We anticipate a much different story next week!
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Alessandra Elliott (Tottenvile; Junior Women @144)--A four-time All-American between free and folkstyle, the graduated senior out of Staten Island brings a lot of big match experience with her as she embarks on one last scholastic hurrah....Rising to prominence in the summer of 2021 when she came out of nowhere to hoist 16U hardware in the 138-pound bracket, the Pirate turned Saint (will join Sindoni at D'youville) was unable to repeat the feat in 2022 as she stepped up to junior, but she still posted a fine resume, winning five matches out of the gate to punch her ticket to the semifinals before ultimately landing in 5th.....Not invited to compete in the NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational, she "got her flowers" when she was a National runner-up in Virginia Beach this past March (7th in 2021)....Ranked 22nd in the country, she is a little over a month removed from picking up an exhibition win at Final X (fall 2:34) against 2023 Massachusetts Girls State Champion/2022 Women's Nationals U17 AA (8th), Ashley Dehney!
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Zoe Griffith (Gouverneur; 16U Women @138)--A living example of the "Jekyll & Hyde" nature of our sport, the 3x NYSPHSAA Boys State qualifier/2023 NYS Girls Invitational runner-up for the Wildcats got her fair share of both famine and feast during her 2022 pilgrimage to North Dakota....Losing in the blood round of the 16U division and then falling in her opening round contest of Juniors, it looked as if the current #21 ranked lady in the nation was not destined to achieve All-American honors....But then a switch flipped and all of sudden, she went on a streak for the record book, getting her arm raised in NINE straight matches (majority over heavily credentialed opponents) before finally tasting defeat again to be a very worthy 4th among the 132-pound junior field....If in 2023, Griffith does not wait until wrestlebacks to catch fire, she can be an absolute spoiler/dark horse to some of the prohibitive favorites....With each subsequent national appearance, she is seeing her stock climb higher and higher, as she enters this weekend with four AA bullet points, with back-to-back medals in Virginia Beach (3rd in 2022, runner-up in 2023) complementing her heroics on North University Drive (FargoDome)!!...She was also 5th at the 2022 Super 32!
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Owen Hicks (Fonda/Johnstown; Junior FS/GR @152)--One of the breakout stars of the Empire when he last ventured to Fargo, the 2x NYS medalist (runner-up in '23) shocked the wrestling world when he ignited for nine quick points in a span of just 0:51 to knock off returning Double champion, Zach Hanson (Minnesota), in a round of 16 bout, via 9-0 TF, on his way to an eventual 8th place display....Another member of the Curby stable, history has shown us that when Uccellini is in your corner (both literally and figuratively), magic seems to ensure, especially when the focus is Greco-Roman....In April, Hicks took the journey out to Sin City and while the trip did not generate AA, he more than proved that July 2022 was no fluke, as he earned dubs in three of five contests before bowing out in the blood round of the U20 age group at the U.S. Open!!!....Because he has that knack for scoring on command, no matter the deficit he might face, you can never count out Hicks until the final tick has been exhausted....We believe that with a fair draw, his second All-American award in as many tries is very much in the cards for him....In 2021, he came just a pair of wins short of the podium; so you can clearly see that pattern of always being in contention!!!!
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Adriana Palumbo (Pleasantville; Junior Women @152)--A unicorn in her ability to elevate the quality of her performance when stakes are at their highest, Palumbo comes alive when she is on the grand stage facing creme de la creme opponents....A bronze medalist in 2023 within the confines of NYS at the NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational, the bulk of the body of work she has assembled has occurred on a regional and/or national setting.....Putting herself on our radar at the 2022 Portuese when she outscored her three foes by a tally of 27-6 to hoist hardware, the ferocious Panther rising 11th grader followed it up splitting her six matches under the Dome to register an 8th place showing in the 16U division....In the year since, all she has done was lock up finale berths at both NHSCA Nationals and the NE Regionals, taking home silver on each occasion....Palumbo is #27 in the national rankings!
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Sophia Pollack (Canandaigua Academy; Junior Women @180)--A mainstay in the Women's National polls for much of her decorated high school career as a Brave, Pollack has vaulted herself into the top-6 in the latest installment of the rankings as she has done nothing but win, win, and win some more in 2022-2023....Never extended beyond 47 seconds in any of her bouts on her way to making history as part of the "golden sisterhood" (the 13 ladies who won inaugural NYSPHSAA Invitational State crowns) in January, Pollack was equally spectacular in April, as he stuck a pair of fellow top-10s to seize the brass ring at the U.S. Open Girls HS Showcase....A natural pinner who makes tossing the enemy to their backs habitual, even on occasions where she has to accept less than gold, she still shines, as she showed when she was the 2022 Super 32 runner-up.....A Fargo 16U semifinalist back in 2021, coming just two points shy of being in the 'ship (went on to finish 5th), the only blemish on an otherwise darn impressive vitae for the Section Ver would be the modest 3-2 exhibit she emerged with last summer....But alas, we are ALL IN on betting that she has a major bounce back this weekend!!!  With all this momentum on her side, the "stop sign" is not out of the question!!!
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Ragan Retell (Tamarac; Junior Women @127)---A winner of 14 matches combined (14-7 record) in her previous two trips to the Dome in 2021 and 2022, the Bengals' rising senior is considerably better than her stat line might suggest....A victim of circumstance and bad draws seemingly every time she steps onto a wrestling mat, Retell had the misfortune of being in a bracket with both Sindoni and Griffith at the '23 NYSPHSAA Invitational, thus resulting in a 3rd place outcome.....Someone who easily should have two or three AAs to her name at this stage of her career, admittedly there has been some disappointing losses, including a blood round defeat last July; but instead of concentrating on that, we choose instead to pinpoint the breadth of her repertoire when she is firing on all cylinders, as was the case in 2021 when she accumulated a 6-1 record to grab 16U bronze....If the version from two summers ago reappears, she is a nasty draw for anyone who crosses her path!!!...Retell split four matches at Women's Nationals (U17 division) in April, but is overdue for a resurgence!
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Alexandra Viera (Rocky Point; Junior Women's @127)---An All-American in 2021 (16U 5th at 127 pounds), the Eagle was denied the opportunity to soar again in 2022 when an unfortunate injury sidelines her for the 2021-2022 season....Thankfully, since making her return to action, she has more than made up for lost time, as she earned runner-up distinction at the 2023 Eastern States Classic (losing only to Frost) and then ascended to the acme later that month (January) by pinning her way through the 126-pound bracket at the NYSPHSAA Girls State Invitational....Viera went winless in her two matches at Women's Nationals (U20) in April, but is not to be slept on as a serious All-American candidate during the opening weekend of the festivities!!!  As she illustrated in the already cited loss to Frost in the ESC finals, she can put anybody on their back without notice, as she did to the nation's #2 ranked filly before eventually get tossed and pinned!

READY TO MAKE THEIR MARK/IN THE HUNT FOR THEIR 1ST FARGO AA

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Christopher Belmonte (New Hartford; 16U GR @285)---A blood rounder as a 285-pound freshman at NYSPHSAA Large School States in 2023, we have been adamantly on the Belmonte train for close to two seasons....A 2023 NHSCA Freshman National runner-up (after winning the MS gold the prior year), the extraordinary student-athlete out of S3 permanently affixed out attention onto himself when at the 2022 USAW 14U National Duals, he was a swept All-Tournament accolades behind a 15-0 record (8-0 in GR, 7-0 in FS)....The roster provided to NYWN identifies him as only participating in GR; but we are hoping he ends up engaging in both styles, since he is a realistic double-AA candidate if he wrestles up to his own standards!
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Alex Berisha (Fox Lane; 16U FS @182)--Leaping into the top-10 (#6) of his graduating class in the latest edition of the NYWN polls, the 2023 Section I Champion/NYSPHSAA DI State Qualifier for the Foxes found himself on the cusp of being a Fargo All-American in 2022, as he accrued a 4-2 record, reaching the blood round in the 16U division before bowing out one victory short of the mark....With the added year of experience and some momentum (repeated as a NYS FS Champion; took 3rd at the NE Regionals), he should feel encouraged about the prospects of clearing that last hurdle in 2023!
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Eric Bocanegra, Jr. (Blair Academy; 16U FS @94)--Perhaps a name you are not overly familiar with, all you need to know is that it is not by accident that the #1 HS program in the country wanted him....The namesake/son of a former Prep National Bronze medalist/NCAA DI wrestler (Drexel), Bocanegra is an individual that we have followed closely throughout his youth career and thus far, we have been impressed with the collection of wins he has assembled on the circuit....Battle-tested beyond his age because of his willingness to take the occasional "L" against an upper-echelon opponent, the young Gotham gem was a national runner-up at the 2022 NHSCA Middle School Nationals and is fresh off of an immaculate record at the 2023 Beat the Street Duals, where he defeated opponents from PA, IL, etc....BIG for the 94-pound weight class, his size is going to be very imposing for anyone who steps on the mat with him!
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Rebecca Brennan (Homeschooled; 16U Women's @ 138)--Out of sight, out of mind is not an expression we adhere to when thinking about the  talented young lady hailing from the Section 9 area....Per the USA Wrestling database, it has been a few years since Brennan last tested herself against the best of the best; but her youth resume was so outstanding that when we saw her name on among the list of entries, it immediately incited flashbacks of yesteryear where in 2019 (12U) and 2021 (14U), she was a Women's National finalist, winning the prize during the latter outing....Because we have not seen her at this level in quite some time, Brennan might best be described as a wildcard.  However, natural ability does not just vanish; so we are going to put our faith in the belief that she is still that same phenom!    
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Anthony & Joseph Clem (Wantagh; Junior FS @126/132)---With five total NYS State placements between them (including double runner-up status in 2023), the Twin sensation out of Wantagh are both starring top-10 NYWN grade status in the face, as the former [Anthony] sits at #11, and the latter [Joseph] is on his heels at #13....It goes without saying that AA honors in Fargo would be a "cheat code" towards the top of the polls....By their own admission, raw and/or unrefined as freestylers when they stormed the Dome last summer, despite their inexperience, both held their own, with Anthony winning 6 of 8 bouts (one of his losses coming to the eventual runner-up), while Joseph turned in a 3-2 showing.....Whether it is Jamie Franco, Justin Accordino, or Paul Gillespie, etc, the twins have been exposed to nothing but the finest coaching from their peewees days on up; hence, now that they have had a full year to get aquainted with the nuances of freestyle, we are anticipating a breakout....Anthony was a 2023 NYS FS runner-up, and Joseph brought home bronze (lone loss being to 2023 NYS DII champ, Jordan Joslyn)!
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Mia Collins (Ballston Spa; 16U Women's @132)-Commanding attention and demanding respect when she boasted a 41-0 advantage in winning the 2022 Northeast Regional Championships, the girls from S2 followed it up with a strong 4-2 showing under the Dome, winning her first three matches to advance to the round of 16 before ultimately dropping two of her final three appearances to just miss the podium (blood round)....Competing last year in the junior division, the Scotties rising 11th grader will actually drop down to the 16U age group this time around, which ought to mean that the potential will be there to be the bully that she showed herself to be in May 2022...She was a 2023 NE Regional Jr. Bronze medalist!
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Elijah Diakomihalis (Hilton; 16U FS @182)---Cutting right to the chase, when your last name is Diakomihalis, there is always going to be expectations placed on your back....After all, he is the third of a lineage that has generated nine NYSPHSAA States titles, 4x NCAA DI crowns, a pair of UWW Cadet/U17 World FS golds, a 2022 UWW Senior FS world silver, and so forth....Heavy is the head that has to wear that hat, and the Cadet rising junior has quite the strong neck since he has more than done his part to enhance the "family business"....A two-time NYSPHSAA DI placer (runner-up to Zack Ryder in 2023), 'Lij" proved his worth in 2022 when he was a U.S. Open runner-up in the U15 division, losing only to 2023 Iowa State Champion/2023 UWW U17 World GR Team member, Dreshaun Ross, in the finale....Clearly not himself when he returned to Vegas this past April, he went winless (0-2), but we are going to overlook that because it was such an out of character showing....While it occurred in folk, not free, Diakomihalis recently pushed national top-10 ranked, Harvey Ludington, to the brink before dropping a 1pt decision at the Tyrant Bison HS Duals.  In defeat, he left no doubt that be belongs among the elite!  
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Jayden & Ousmane Duncanson (Tioga; 16U/Junior FS @126/160)--The second set of brothers featured, like the Clems, the Duncansons are the personification of excellence....Jayden a rising sophomore and Ousmane headed into his swan song for the Tigers,  together they have earned four All-State placements (Ousmane being a 2x defending DII titlist; Jayden a 2x Bronze medalist) and a pair 2023 NHSCA All-American honors (the elder 5th in the Junior Division; the younger 7th among frosh)....Making the trip to North Dakota for the third straight summer, Ousmane (#8 on the NYWN 2024 Big Board) has yet to make the podium, but has banked both experience and wins, as he gotten his arm raised on 11 separation occasions (11-8) between 2021 (6-4) and 2022 (5-4)....ODunc was a NYS Triple-Crown recipient, as he complemented his NYSPHSAA crown by later earning double gold at the Blatnick up at 170 pounds.  He finished 4th in FS at the NE Regionals!!!......Jayden on the other hand will be making his debut next week and has reason to feel confident as built off of a double-medal effort at NYS FS/GR States (Champ in GR, 3rd in FS) by earning freestyle silver at the Portuese....JDunc went 11-3 at the 2022 USAW 14U FS/GR National Duals, as further evidence that he sternly belongs in any AA debate!
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Yianna Foufas (Mepham; Junior Women's @112)---A winner of six bouts (4-2 in 16U, 2-2 in Junior) between two age groups in her Fargo debut last summer, the truth of the matter is that if not for a brutal draw (losses coming to the eventual 4th and 6th place finishers), we feel that the Nassau County rep could have/should have been on the 16U podium in 2022....Currently ranked 23rd in the nation, Foufas has flourished during her junior campaign for the Pirates, winning the brass ring at both the Eastern States Classic and the NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational.....To boot, she'd add the "All-American" tag to her name when she finished 5th in Virginia Beach at NHSCA Nationals!!....All of that having been said and respected, if there was one dub though that really gave us goosebumps, it was her performance in the finale of the 2023 NYS FS Championships, where she and Angie Dill treated the audience to a firefight (24 combined points), with Fougas emerging as a 14-10 winner over the 2021 UWW U17 World Bronze medalist!
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Jordan Joslyn (Chautauqua Lake; Junior FS @138)--Splitting four matches in Fargo in July 2022, quite simply, this is a beast of a different breed over the course of the past 8-10 months.....Ascending to the NYSPHSAA DII throne in February as a #7 seed and then earning a bronze medal in Virginia Beach as a complement [beating 2x NYS champion, Gianni Silvestri, during the course of each), the United States' Military Academy/West Point verbal commit out of S6 is on a tear and there seems to be no sign of him slowing down anytime soon....Joslyn was a state freestyle runner-up in May [lost to Trevor Bishop], but that loss seems to be an exception to the rule that he has established!!!
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Anthony LaGala-Ryan (Longwood; 16U FS/GR @100)---The headliner among NYWN's class of 2027, the soon-to-be Lion 9th grader gets the job done each and every time he steps on a wrestling mat....5th at the NYSPHSAA DI State tournament as an undersized middle schooler, the VHW/Savage trained youngster showed his true capabilities when he hoisted hardware in Virginia Beach at the NHSCA Nationals this past May (after taking 5th in 2022)...Amassing a 30-2 point cushion in doubling up at the Blatnick FS/GR State Championships, LaGala-Ryan added another feather to his cap the following weekend in May by earning a pair of medals at the Portuese (2nd in GR, 3rd in FS)!!!....
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Griffin LaPlante (Starpoint; 16U FS/GR @145)---Carrying the endorsement of the Team NY coaches after turning in an outstanding effort at the training camp, betting on LaPlante is not exactly "risky business" as the kid has been the definition of a consistent winner at every stage of his youth and scholastic career....Top-5 at the NYSPHSAA Championships as an 8th grader in 2022, due to matters outside of his control, he was deprived of the chance to show what he could do in Albany this past February...However, he did succeed in shaking off some mat rust to take 4th in Virginia Beach at NHSCA Freshman Nationals....Splitting four outings last year as a 1st year Cadet/16U entry, we are anticipating witnessing a much deeper run in 2023 now that he has much needed experience under his belt....A Double titlist at the NYS FS/GR Tournament in May, he did not surrender a single point in either style, racking up a 52-0 edge as part of a 6-0 weekend!!
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Zoey Lints (Duanesburg/Schoharie; Junior Women @152)---A 2023 NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational titlist, not to mention the Eastern States Classic bridesmaid (only loss to Westerberg), the graduated Eagles' senior will be looking to put an exclamation on a banner 2022-2023 by cinching the All-American plaque that alluded her a season ago....Registering a TF and two pins to reach the Junior Quarterfinals at 138 pounds, Lints would unfortunately have to deal with heartbreak as she dropped her next two matches to the eventual runner-up and 7th place finisher to come just a single win short of top-8.....Now up at 152 pounds, The Elmira College commit is on a crusade to write a proper storybook ending....She certainly looked the part of an All-American in May, as she boasted a 30-1 cushion that yielded 3 sticks + TF as she delivered a double-gold exhibit at the Northeast Regional Championships!!!
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Matt Marlow (Northport; Junior FS @126)---The Tiger rising senior has achieved pretty much all that can be achieved as a folkstyler...A 2x defending NYS DI champion, as well as a three-time NHSCA All-American!...What is missing though from his resume is that one signature moment as a FSer that could take his already high stock and blow it through the horizon!!!.....The victim of a bad draw in 2022, Marlow was immediately trying to dig himself out of a hole, as he lost a tight match to 4x Fargo AA/3x UWW Pan-American Age-group gold medalist, Kael Lauridsen (Nebraska)...He'd string together four consecutive wins in the consolation bracket before ultimately being knocked out....With such a distinguished folk abstract, our feeling is the Suffolk stud is plenty capable of etching out top-8 placement.  Perhaps with a more favorable opening-round opponent, he will get a fairer shake at chasing the glory!...Marlow was 6th at the 2023 NE Regionals; so he will need to be crisper next week!
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Cooper Merli (Newburgh; 16U FS @106)---The titlist at both the 2023 Eastern States Classic and the '23 NYSPHSAA Large School State tournament, Merli has been a marquee name on the national scene since earning back-to-back NHSCA runner-up finishes on the middle school level in 2021 & 2022.....Rated as our #2 2026 prospect, Team NY coaches have universally sung his praises and said he was 100% stoked and prepared to make quiet the racket in his second voyage to the Dome....Winless in 2022 (0-2), what is past is forgotten.   He cannot/should not be overlooked by anybody....This past April, he advanced to the blood round of at the U.S. Open (U17 Trials), so it is easily seen that he is right there on the brink of ultimate stardom!
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Selina Moore (Sherburne/Earlville-3; Junior Women @152)---Someone we are surprised was not included in latest release of the USA Women's National polls, the 2023 NYSPHSAA Girls Invitational State runner-up is poised for a revolution in Fargo after earning a split with #18 ranked/2022 Pan-American U17 Silver medalist, Marissa Rumsey (Pennsylvania) in the finals of MAWA Eastern Nationals (7-6 Moore) & the Northeast Regionals (13-8 Rumsey)....On the brink of AA two seasons ago (2021), Moore was a five-bout victor (5-4) between age groups, losing in the blood round of the 16U tournament, and falling two victories short among the junior field!!!....She was absent in 2022, so here's hoping her return is met with the utmost prosperity!
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Luke Satriano (Valley Central; 16U FS @126)---A relative neophyte to the freestyle game, up to this point, the 2x NYSPHSAA DI State placer (2023 DI Champion) out of Section 9 does not have many bullet points in the international style columns....That having been said, the kid is a worker and we know that he has been surrounding himself with the right people (trains at West Point)...Renowned for his top work in folkstyle (kid is a leech), if that prowess translates into par terre, then he is without question a very dangerous draw.....Riding the tidal wave of a monster 2022-2023 season, in addition to coronation on South Pearl Street in February, Satriano earned All-American distinction in Virginia Beach, finishing 4th in the sophomore division...This past May, he blitzed the field at the NYS FS Championships, racking up a 43-3 edge to seize the gold!!!
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Teegan Sibble (Bolivar-Richburg; 16U Women's @106)---The younger half of one of, if not the most dynamic brother/sister combo in the Evil Empire, together, Teegan and older brother, Trent (headed to Binghamton) combined for two NYSPHSAA State finals appearances and a sweep of NHSCA National crowns during the 2022-2023 season....A runner-up at both the Eastern States Classic and the Girls State Invitational (both losses coming to Foufas), the current #25 lady in the land wasn't too far off the medal stand last summer, as she reached the 16U quarterfinals before dropping her next two matches to come a single dub short of top-8 distinction....There is no debating that she will find herself in a very deep bracket; but she has the stuff in her arsenal to beat anyone on any given day!
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Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez (Long Beach; 16U FS/GR @113)---Mr. Numero Uno in the New York Wrestling News Class of 2026 polls, the 2x NYSPHSAA DI State medalist (2022 Champion) may not have "secured the bag" last July, but he more than made a fair accounting of himself, as he tallied six wins (three per) between the two international styles, with all four of his losses coming at the hands of a nemesis that claimed AA honors in either FS or GR....Yet another NYer who never rests on laurels, the Marine rising sophomore is due for an All-American finish after the frustration fo losing in the blood round in Virginia Beach and then coming two dubs short of the podium at the U.S. Open (U17 Trials)....When you see the laundry list of nationally credentialed names that Sibomana-Rodriguez has wrestled over the course of the past two years, you know that he is not going to be intimidated by anybody; if he makes just a few small corrections, he is definitely going to be in the hunt for some hardware!!  We featured him in our 2022 preview following his 3rd place display in the U15 division of the U.S. Open and are going to stick by his side until he makes us look smart!!....While not exactly a hot streak, double titles at the NYS FS/GR Championships, followed up by double medals (2nd in GR, 5th in FS) at the NE Regionals does point at a person who is well polished and brings a buzz with him to the Dome!
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Braidon Woodward (Canisteo-Greenwood; Junior FS @182)---If there was a bigger buzzsaw over the course of the past season in New York, we'd like to meet him/her.....Woodward entered his junior season with some darn fine credentials; and yet, he still managed to blow his previous body of work out of the water!!!....Undefeated during the regular season, a champion at the Eastern States Classic, and all indications suggestions he was going to cruise to his first NYSPHSAA DII crown (after previous finishes of 4th in 2019, 3rd in 2022), it took bureaucracy, not fellow man to deny him his place at the table when a ruling was made that deemed him ineligible just prior to the commencement of the postseason....Rather than sulk at the opportunity lost, Woodward continued to trust the process, bust his butt, and found his salvation the following month when despite mat rust, he earned All-American honors at Virginia Beach, taking 4th.....Armed with a "no days off" philosophy, the rising 12th grader out of the Rochester area has mowed down countless state champions/nationally ranked foes, highlighted by a perfect 10-0 record at NHSCA National Duals in May and a 8-0 showing just last week at the Tyrant Bison HS Duals....Giving FS a shot at the Blatnick State Champions, Woodward had a few close calls, but still walked out of the gymnasium with gold hanging proudly his neck....In the weeks that have passed since, we have no doubt he has continued to hone his craft....Because he does not yet possess that national pedigree, the seeding committee may not give him the respect he deserves; and if that happens, we weep for the opponents that are going to feel his wrath!

ROSTERS

16U/CADET WOMEN (25)

16U/CADET FREESTYLE (40)

JUNIOR FREESTYLE (39)

JUNIOR WOMEN (30)

16U/CADET GRECO-ROMAN (26)

JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN (30)

FARGO SCHEDULE (ET):

Saturday, July 15
11:00 am - 3:00 pm - 16U/Junior Girls: Championship and Consolation
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm - 16U/Junior Girls: Championship & Quarterfinals  and Consolation

Sunday, July 16
10:00 am - 1:00 pm - 16U/Junior Girls: Semifinals; Consolation and Consolation Semifinals
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM- 16U/Junior Girls: 3rd-8th Medal Matches
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM- 16U/Junior Girls: Parade of Champions and Championship Finals

Monday, July 17
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship and Consolation
4:00 PM to 9:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship and Consolation

Tuesday, July 18
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship and Consolation
4:00 PM to 9:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship & Quarterfinals and Consolation  

Wednesday, July 19
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Semifinals and Consolation
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Consolation Semifinals, and 3rd-8th Medal Matches
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Parade of Champions and Championship Finals

Thursday, July 20----OFF DAY

Friday, July 21
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Championship and Consolation
4:00 PM to 8:30 PM- 16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Championship and Consolation

Saturday, July 22
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM- 16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Consolation
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM-6U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Consolations, Consolation Semifinals, and 3rd-8th Medal Matches
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM-16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Parade of Champions and Finals

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