Each year there are 12 hand-selected teams that make the trip to Elite 8 Duals in what Cliff Fretwell refers to “The Dirty South.” The goal of Elite 8 each year is to get the top talent in the United States together and see who comes out on top when the smoke settles.
This year New York will have Marcarlo Mannello (BBHVW), Will Soto (Newburgh), Colby Houle (NYMA), and Braeden Simoneaux (NYMA) attending the event in Atlanta, Georgia. Simoneaux was also at the event last year.
The wrestling goes down September 12-13 and the live stream is available for free on CMP TV. For more information, head to elite8duals.com.
Marcarlo Mannello (CT Whale, BBHVW)
Marc “The Shark” will be competing at 106lbs for CT Whale. Mannello was recently ranked the #4 ranked wrestler in the country at 106lbs by Sports Illustrated, essentially making him the man to beat in this dual tournament. Every kid he will be up against this weekend is nationally accomplished and recognized in the rankings, and there will be no “off matches” in Atlanta.
Potential Opponents
#5 Bryce Fiore (Minion Legends, Florida)
#6 Ausome Guillermo (Cormier, California)
#9 Carter Smith (Carnage, Ohio)
#13 Sebastian Gutierrez (Dynasty, California)
#14 Cameron Bartlow (Team Thunder, California)
#15 Amir Newman-Winfrey (Black Mambas, Iowa)
#16 Steve Bagocious (Stellar Trained, New Jersey)
#18 Ryder Ream (TriForce Elite, Pennsylvania)
#20 Pete Velardi (NJ Commission, New Jersey)
#28 Derik Kiefer (Diamond Fish, Georgia)
HM Ty Martin (Team Valiant, Iowa)
William Soto (TriForce Elite, Newburgh)
Soto will compete at 113lbs for TriForce Elite and is ranked #9 in the country by MatScouts and #18 in the country by Sports Illustrated. After being denied his third state title this year, Soto bounced back strong and outplaced #3 Evan Restivo at Cadet Worlds earlier this summer to get back on track. He has a shot at wrestling four top five opponents this weekend and further moving up the ranking ladder.
Potential Opponents
#2 Kooper Deputy (Dynasty, Pennsylvania)
#3 Evan Restivo (CT Whale, Pennsylvania)
#3 (106) Brock Humphrey (Carnage, West Virginia)
#5 Cason Craft (Black Mambas, Oklahoma)
#15 Killian Coluccio (Team Thunder, New Jersey)
#21 Hudson Chittum (Minion Legends, Tennessee)
#24 Jha’kai Roller (Diamond Fish, Tennessee)
HM Eli Mendoza (Cormier, California)
HM Patrick Bulger (NJ Commission, Pennsylvania)
NR Shaefer Hoffman (Stellar Trained, Pennsylvania)
NR Jarron Beltran (Team Valiant, Arizona)
Colby Houle (CT Whale, New York Military Academy)
One of the newest additions to the New York Military Academy will wrestle at 157lbs for CT Whale. Houle is a 3x National Prep placer and made the blood round of the Junior Freestyle portion of Fargo earlier this summer. That earned him a spot in the national rankings, currently being ranked #14 by MatScouts and #24 by Sports Illustrated. Almost everyone he will wrestle this weekend will be ranked higher than him, which means he’s got plenty of chances to climb the ranking ladder this weekend.
Potential Opponents
#1 Melvin Meller (Dynasty, Pennsylvania)
#9 Jacob Morris (Team Valiant, Alaska)
#10 Greyson Music (Stellar Trained, Pennsylvania)
#11 Colin Rutlin (Black Mambas, Missouri)
#12 Jake Hughes (Team Thunder, Ohio)
#16 Jaimon Mogard (Minion Legends, Iowa)
#20 Dominic Way (Diamond Fish, West Virginia)
#23 Reid Clausi (NJ Commission, New Jersey)
#26 Wyatt Lewis (Cormier, California)
NR Carnell Davis (Carnage, Rhode Island)
NR Lucas Drake (TriForce Elite, Pennsylvania)
Braeden Simoneaux (Black Mambas, New York Military Academy)
One of the New York Military Academy’s best upperweight wrestlers will make the trip to Atlanta for the second consecutive year. In 2025 he posted a 2-5 record with wins over Josh Piparo and Colby Vital. He also had a 14-10 match with Jay’Den Williams, a top 100 graduated senior who won Fargo, and now wrestles at the University of Michigan.
The Bayou Boogeyman is currently ranked 14th in the country by Sports Illustrated and there will be five opponents ranked higher than him. Simoneaux could also potentially run into A.J. Corp, who beat him 6-5 last year.
A lot of great matches ahead for Simoneaux this weekend, and a solid shot to prove that he is indeed one of the best senior recruits still available.
Potential Opponents
#1 Mario Carini (Team Thunder, California)
#5 Kyle Gallo (Carnage, Florida)
#7 Mario Hutcherson (Dynasty, Pennsylvania)
#8 Noah Tucker (Diamond Fish, Maryland)
#12 Mason Savidan (Cormier, California)
#19 JT Smith (Team Valiant, Nebraska)
#23 Caige Horak (CT Whale, Ohio)
NR Rock Shurette (Minion Legends)
NR Adam Sepulveda (NJ Commission)
NR A.J. Corp (Stellar Trained)
NR Alan Garcia (TriForce Elite)
