January 16, 2025 Match Night #2 Ranked Iona Prep vs #5 Monsignor Farrell

The NYC League Rivalry between Iona Prep and Monsignor Farrell has not disappointed since it started in 2020. Today’s Dual meet had a lot of great matches that I can’t wait to discuss. The dual meet was very back and forth and came down to the very last bout of the night. So let’s not stall and get right into the News. 

#2 Ranked Iona Prep took on #5 Ranked Monsignor Farrell this evening in the Lion's Den and the Dual Meet did not disappoint. The matches were back and forth and we even had a match of the year contender at 160lbs. The dual meet started at 108lbs after a forfeit after 101lbs. The bout was a fun one that saw Steve Ruggierio (MF) taking on Fotis Koufalis (IP). Ruggierio took the lead with the first takedown but Koufalis managed to take a good lead after putting Ruggierio onto his back for a 3 count. But Ruggierio’s relentlessness had him put up 3 straight takedowns to take the lead and win the match putting the Lions up by 9 in the first 2 matches. Lion standout Brennan Sprague garnered another pin for the Lions at 116lbs, as well as another forfeit for the Lions at 124lbs. Shane Degl got the Gaels going with a pin of their own at 131lbs. At 138lbs Kenneth Keltto (IP) vs Lucas Tait (MF) had a scrap. It was a lot of back and forth action that had Tait up by 1 late into the 3rd period. But it was noticed on the weigh in book that Tait had not had his weight written down on the weigh in sheet, so the match was stopped and the Gaels were awarded the forfeit victory. At 145lbs Vincent Tripaldi, one of Iona Prep’s trio of Bronze Medalists from the Eastern States Classic took on Anthony Taylor of Farrell. Taylor kept the match competitive but Tripaldi had some finesse to show off with a nice misdirection spin behind. Unfortunately in one of their flurries Taylor had hit his head and needed Injury time, and using up all of his Injury time and unable to continue the Lions injury forfeit at 145lbs. 

George Johnson (2nd of the Trio) was next up for the Gaels at 152lbs when he took on Quinn Hunt (MF) getting the fall in just 3:41! The next bout was match of the night Johnny Bonura (MF) taking on Rafael Rodriguez (IP) in an exciting bout. Rodriguez was on fire opening the bout up with a beautiful textbook low single. Rodriguez was able to find his offense very well and got himself rolling up to a 10-3 lead with 20 seconds left in the match. Bonura was undeterred, forcing the upper body attacks on the way out of bounds. Then, in the final 15 seconds Bonura tries to force the upper body position and Rodriguez (aware of this) shoots a textbook double as Bonura gets an underhook and throws Rodriguez to his back, as time expires preventing the pinfall. The ref throws up three takedown, four nearfall, Johnny Bonura steals the win at 160lbs with a 1 point lead in the final second! What a win for the Lions. Sean Foley (IP) got it back for the Gaels with 6-5 victory over Nick Zadvinsky (MF) in an back and forth bout. Iowa Hawkeye commit Paolo Ciatto (IP) put another 6 points on the board for the Gales in dominating fashion with a pin over Mike Gebbia (MF) in just 1:57! JP Deliso (MF) got the Lions back in the win column with a pin of his own for the Lions in just 2:59, putting the Lions within 3 points of the Dual. And, in classic Dual Meet Fashion winning bout comes down to heavyweight. The match features Carlos Malespin (IP) vs William Aguirre (MF), and was a classic heavyweight bout. The match was 1-0 in favor of Malespin with the Lions having choice to start the next period. Aguirre chooses to start the period on bottom in hopes to tie the score, but Malespin had a tough ride on top breaking Aguirre down to get his powerhalf and the dual winning pin in 3:47. 

The Gaels and Lions gave us an awesome preview to the NYC League Championships coming up in February. Most of the matches could be rematches in the League Finals and possibly hold team title implications. The Gaels are now 2-0 against the Lions this season but don’t count them out just yet, as they are notorious for making adjustments in the post season. The Lions are returning League Team Champs and are looking to repeat as they approach the League Championships, but the Gaels might have something to say about that as they look to claim more Individual Titles and bring the League Title back home to New Rochelle. 

Today’s Dual Meet did not disappoint in the slightest, with fun exciting matchups for just about every type of wrestling fan and spectator. The Gaels and Lions brought the grit to today's Dual Meet and I can’t wait to see the rematches in February. Who takes home the Gold?

2025 Eastern States Classic Results:

This year’s Eastern States Classic was a memorable one for the CHSAA. We had several teams representing the Red and Black this weekend and oh boy did they show out! We had three teams fall in a Top 15 Team finish as well as 12 Wrestlers collecting a Top 8 Podium Finish. So, let’s not stall and get right into the news! 

Congratulations to the St. Francis Red Raiders who won the Team Title this past weekend at Impact Athletic Center. The Red Raiders fell just short of a team title at last year’s event when Minisink Valley ran away with a 97pt team score over St. Francis’ 83.5pts. Determined to add an ESC Team Title to their list of accolades the Red Raiders went on a roll at this year’s event with a total team points of 146.5 blowing out runner up Minisink Valley’s 99.5 Team Score. Coach Lorenz and Coach Messore are creating something absolutely special in the St. Francis Wrestling Room as they have in a short amount of time made strides into creating a State Wrestling Powerhouse!

The Red Raiders who nabbed podium honors are as follows:

101lbs Tanner Catrabone (3rd Place)

116lbs Cullen Edwards (4th Place) 

152lbs Rory White (7th Place)

160lbs Griffin Laplante (2nd Place) 

215lbs Zachary Caldwell (4th Place)

285lbs William Wortkoetter (1st Place)

The Iona Prep Gaels were not to be counted out of the team race this past weekend. The Gaels were in tight contention with Minisink Valley for a Runner-Up Finish. Ultimately the Gaels fell just 2.5pts short with 97pts to Minisink Valley’s 99.5pts. The Gaels improved from their team finish from last year as well. At last year’s event the Gaels finished in 7th place as a team and improved to a 3rd place finish at this year’s event! Since 2020 Iona Prep has become one of the top programs in the state. Coach Straehle, Coach Degl, Coach Cipriano, and Coach Fama have elevated the program to tremendous heights in their recent tenure and continue to add accolades to their program. 

Three Gaels hold podium honors and are as follows: 

138lbs Vincent Tripaldi (3rd Place) 

145lbs George Johnson (3rd Place) 

170lbs Paolo Ciatto (3rd Place)

The Chaminade Flyers represented Long Island CHSAA very strongly with a Top 15 Team Finish! With 46.5pts the Flyers edged Central Catholic by just .5pts but narrowly fell behind Newtown by 1pt in Team Placement. The Flyers finished up with a 14th Place finish and had 2 Flyers nab Individual Podium Finishes. Congratulations to Coach Cole and Coach Accordino on yet another accomplishment!

The 2 Flyers who hold podium honors are as follows:

131lbs Finnegan O’Brien (8th Place)

138lbs Jake Nieto (5th Place)

Monsignor Farrell represented Staten Island proudly with a 30th Team Place Finish and even had a Lone Lion nab a podium finish. The Farrell Lions have had success on the Eastern States Stage before with a former champion and other place winners. Last year it was Kyle Jacobs who stepped up as first Lion to place at the tournament since Mike Adams in 2020. Congratulations to Coach Hamm and Coach Seitz on such an accolade!

This year the Lone Lion to earn Podium Honors is:

116lbs Brennan Sprague (8th Place)

Brennan Sprague was also awarded the Tournament’s Most Pins Award for having the most pins out of any wrestler in the tournament with 5 pinfalls! What an impressive feat!

This year’s Eastern States Classic was a fun one for the CHSAA indeed. We had 3 Teams finish in the Top 15, 4 Teams fell in the top 50, and 12 Wrestlers earned honors in their respective weights. Our section is growing at a rapid rate and is becoming a state powerhouse. Being able to call yourself one of the best teams not only in your state, but across multiple states in your region and coast is a whole other feat. This tournament features Nationally ranked wrestlers and teams and our wrestlers and programs can call themselves the best of them. Congratulations to all Teams who competed this weekend at Impact Athletic Center. Next stop, post season…February is approaching. 

2024 CHSAA Sectional Championships Recap: An In Depth Review

The 2024 CHSAA Sectional Championships is one going down in the history books. This year’s tournament felt different in all the best ways. The atmosphere, the electricity, and the value of what it means to be a Catholic State Champion have all increased tremendously. Highs and lows, the moments captured live in infamy in the hearts of the champions. Let’s dive right into this year’s historical event.

Zimmerman Makes History:

Congratulations to Austin Zimmerman on accomplishing the amazing feat of being a 4x CHSAA State Champion. Zimmerman put himself on the map in 2021 when he came into the 2021 CHSAA State Championships and teched his way through his bracket. Since then, he has gone on to dominate at the 2022 and 2023 CHSAA State Championships at 108lbs and rounding out the quartet crown his 2024 CHSAA State Championship win at 116lbs. The Marauder etches his name in CHSAA History as one of the very few wrestlers to win 4 Crowns with the last 4x champion being Terry Adams (Monsignor Farrell) who won his 4th crown in 2019. Zimmerman becomes the first Monsignor Martin wrestler to accomplish the feat of winning 4 Catholic State Championships. Congratulations to Austin Zimmerman on making history!  

Gaels Go Back-to-Back:

Congratulations to the Iona Prep Gaels on winning back-to-back team crowns. The Gaels collected 276pts to win their second consecutive team crown. The Gaels walked away with 4 champs and a runner up finish in the finals. Winning their respective weights are Vincent Tripaldi (131lbs), Justin Shay (138lbs), George Johnson (145lbs), and Kosta Koufalis (160lbs). Tripaldi takes out returning CHSAA Sectional Champ from last year Nik Massaro (St. Joseph’s Collegiate) by fall in just 3:52! Justin Shay won his second crown in fashion, teching Christopher Gliaos (St. Joseph by the Sea) 16-1. George Johnson had a barn burner against Nick Denatale (Chaminade) where Johnson walked away with the 8-7 decision. Kosta Koufalis finally gets it done after being denied in back-to-back finals bouts. He took out Kyle Jacobs (Monsignor Farrell) with a 7-5 decision in their trilogy bout.

St. Francis Wins D2 Team Race:

Congratulations to the St. Francis Red Raiders for winning the 2024 CHSAA Sectional Team Title for Division 2! St. Francis collected 216pts en route to their team title win leading with over 100 points of the runner up team. Their team championships came with 5 individual Golds. Kicking off the Gold Rush for the Raiders was Cullen Edwards (108lbs) 10-4 decision over returning finalist Jack Boroweic (Monsignor Farrell). Griffin LaPlante (152lbs) walked on and off in just 1:18 with a quick pin. Gage LaPLante (170lbs) joins his brother at the top of the podium avenging an earlier season loss at the ESC beating #1 in the state Jonathan Hoffman (Kellenberg) with a 7-0 decision. Zach Caldwell (190lbs) got himself a quick victory against Mike Illuzi (Monsignor Farrell) with a pin in 1:34. And completing the rush was Connor Miller (215lbs) who gutted out a win in the closing seconds of the match after trailing by a point against Frankie Serrano (Iona Prep).

Upsets Upsets Upsets:

In every tournament many weights usually have the top 4 seeds in the semis where if the seeds hold true the #1 and #2 seeded wrestlers meet in the finals. But not every tournament does that occur, and often enough upsets happen. This year we saw plenty of those, either early on or later in the tournament. Here is a look at some of the biggest upsets at this year’s CHSAA Sectional Championships.

Starting off at 116lbs #6 Seed Flynn McDonald (Xavier) was up 8-2 before pinning #3 seed Justin Stassi (St. Joseph by the Sea) in the quarterfinals in 3:18. At 124lbs #6 seed Michael Smith (St. Joseph by the Sea) takes out #3 seed Eric Polanco (St. Anthony’s) via a 11-10 decision. #7 Seed Quinn Martin (St. Mary’s) later upset Polanco in the consi of 4 after being up 11-4 gathered a fall in just 3:37! At 138lbs #6 seed Christopher Gliaos (St. Joseph by the Sea) runs the gauntlet on his side of the bracket taking out #3 seed and 2021 CHSAA Sectional Champ Jacob Kennedy (St. Anthony’s) via a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals. He then upset #2 seed Jude Bellantoni (Iona Prep) in the semifinals with a 6-5 decision. At 160lbs #7 seed Chris Ferranti had a run in the consolation bouts taking out #4 seed Josh Jorge (St. Anthony’s) with a 6-5 decision in the consolation semifinals where he capped off his run with a fall over #3 seed Brandon Drummond (St. Francis) in 4:48 in the 3rd place bout! In the 170lb consolation we had an upset in the consi of 4 when #9 seed James Brooks (Archbishop Stepinac) pinned #4 seed Roan Anderson (St. John the Baptist) in just 2:18! At 190lbs #11 seed Nate Fabunan (Chaminade) had back-to-back upsets in the consolation rounds when he took out #4 seed Nathan Fromme (GOW) by pin in just 2:34! He then edged a win out against #8 seed Patrick David (Mount St. Michael) with a late stall in the 3rd to make it to the Consi-semifinals. At 215lbs #7 Ronan Smith (Mount St. Michael) picked up an upset of his own against #4 seed Hashley Heriveaux (Holy Trinity) via a 10-2 major decision in the Consi-semifinals. And capping off our long list is 285lbs. #14 seed William Aguirre (Monsignor Farrell) took out #11 Seed Jacob Rodriguez (St. John the Baptist) via a fall in 1:42. #15 Seed Noah Morlock (Canisus) gathered a fall of his own against #10 seed Luke Fifield (Kellenberg) in just :36 seconds! And the biggest upset in the heavyweight consolations is #13 Seed Samuel Richardson’s (Archbishop Stepinac) pin against #6 Seed Javez Caldwell (Canisus) in just 1:52!

The Finals:

The finals of this year’s tournament were highly anticipated. History awaiting, scores to settle, team supremacy, and bragging rights all confined to six minutes. Six minutes to make dreams come true, for dreams to be realized, for all their hard work to come to fruition. Or six minutes to end in heartbreak. Let’s get into this year’s stacked finals matches.

Kicking off the finals at 101lbs Lucas Griffin got the crowd and the finals going in a big way. Griffin fired off a quick shot at the beginning of the match going feet to back on the takedown on his way out of bounds. After the reset he got the wrist and ran the half to stick Albert Lula (Monsignor Farrell) to win his first Catholic State Title.

At 108lbs we had ourselves a scrap when Cullen Edwards (St. Francis) and Jack Boroweic (Monsignor Farrell) stepped up. From the opening seconds this match was exciting as Boroweic fired a beautiful low single to score the first takedown of the bout. Edwards scored an escape and takedown of his own to take the lead and as he was driving Boroweic over his arm he hit a clean switch to get a reversal on the edge. Edwards scored another quick escape with another couple of nice exchanges with no score to end the first period. Edwards started the second on bottom and scored a nice reversal with a switch and rode out tough on top for the remaining second period. Boroweic had a reversal opportunity, but Edwards kept a solid defense and remained in control. Boroweic had another great shot attempt, but Edwards defense proved to be too much as he spun around to get the match ending takedown to ice the match.

Austin Zimmerman (St. Joseph’s Collegiate) was going for his record 4th Catholic State Title against returning Catholic State Champion Brett Crawford (St. Anthony’s) in the 116lb bout. Just under the first minute Zimmerman gets in on a nice double and scores heading out of bounds. Off of the reset Crawford initiates a scramble with a Granby roll and gets an escape. Zimmerman gets in on another clean double to get the takedown right before the buzzer. Zimmerman starts the second on bottom scoring a strong escape early in the second. Crawford gets in on a nice low single to score a takedown on the edge. After getting another escape Crawford fires off another attack but Zimmerman retaliates with a single leg reattack getting a takedown of his own. Zimmerman then cut him to score another takedown to end the match with a statement. He becomes the first wrestler in Monsignor Martin League History to win 4 CHSAA State Titles! Congratulations to Austin Zimmerman on making CHSAA History!

At 124lbs Justin Castillo (St. Anthony’s) got one for the Friars when he wrestled Michael Smith (St. Joseph by the Sea). After getting in on a low single, Castillo transitions to a cradle on the edge in his coach’s corner to get the fall in front of his team! At 131lbs Vincent Tripaldi (Iona Prep) got the Gaels going when he took on returning Catholic State Champion Nik Massaro (St. Joseph’s Collegiate). The first period had both wrestlers looking for positioning which ended with Tripaldi firing off a beautiful elbow pass high crotch that was funked by Massaro to prevent the takedown in the closing seconds. It seemed like 2 minutes was all Tripaldi needed to warm up into his match because a switch was flipped in the second. He started the second period on bottom scoring a quick escape,  and got his hands and feet moving with a series of hand fighting and level changes to fire off a clean sweep single to get the takedown. Massaro got a quick escape, but Tripaldi wasn’t going to let Massaro keep a low guard, after a quick level change went with no reaction, he fired off an explosive double to score his second takedown of the bout. After sitting with a half as Massaro stood up Tripaldi hit a mat return into the half to get the pin and win his first Catholic State Title.

At 138lbs it was business as usual for Justin Shay (Iona Prep) who dominated his way through his finals match against Christopher Gliaos (St. Joseph by the Sea).  Shay fires off a quick ankle pick but doesn’t quite get it but transitions into a low double that Gliaos manages to defend. But Shay still determined to get the takedown transitions to a high single and gets the takedown emphatically to open up his second finals appearance. Shay stays tough on top and gets a deep wrist and half to his opponent on his back for the first time in the bout. But Gliaos hits a bridge to his back to prevent the pin as time expires. Shay chooses to start the second period on bottom and gets an escape twenty seconds into the period. Shay gets in on a dump that Gliaos defends but Shay swivels around and punches his arm through to put Gliaos to his back again as he attempts to roll through the attack, Shay drops his hips preventing the roll through and collects another full count of back points to increase his lead to 8-0 locking up a major so far in the bout. Shay rolls through with a cross wrist tilt to collect his third set of back points to get a two count and add to his lead. In the third and final period Gliaos chooses to keep the match on the feet and the intensity doesn’t slow down in the beginning of the period. Gliaos opens up the period with a drag attempt but Shay reattacks with double into a high single to get another takedown and increase his lead to 12-0 a full near fall count away from a techfall. Shay chooses to cut his opponent to try and take him down again. Around the minute twenty mark of the third period Shay fires of a high crotch that Gliaos sits the corner of defending the shot. The ref stops the action and it appears that Shay suffered an injury in the match that looked to be a dislocated shoulder. With the trainer examining him and injury time winding down mere seconds away, the trainer was going to pull him from the bout, the gym starts getting loud protesting the call even breaking out into “let him wrestle” chants, but undeterred they were able to set it back and Shay raised both arms in the air to let everyone know he wasn’t going to stop wrestling. The crowd started getting behind Shay as both wrestlers gathered back in the center to finish the match, and Coach Degl telling Shay, “you need one more takedown, get one more takedown!”. Gliaos picks up the intensity forcing a headlock on the right side but Shay manages to duck under and spin behind even pulling his bad arm away as he drove to finish the takedown and put himself a point away from the techfall. Shay wastes no time as he chops the arm and slides his knee under for a cheap tilt to secure the techfall and his second Catholic State Crown.

George Johnson (Iona Prep) was up at 145lbs taking on Nick Denatale (Chaminade) in a fun bout. After scoring off Denatale’s shot Johnson took the lead halfway through the first. In the last 30 seconds of the first period Denatale gets an escape and takedown on Johnson and almost getting a turn in the last five seconds of the bout. Johnson starts the second period on bottom hitting a Peterson into a switch getting the reversal to take the lead. Johnson gives up a potentially dangerous call giving Denatale a point tying the match at 4-4 with 24 seconds left in the second. Denatale gets another escape but Johnson is right back in on the attack getting the takedown to end the period 6-5. Denatale starts the third and final period on bottom and gets the quick escape tying the match 6-6. Denatale gets in on a deep blast double but Johnson was able to stop the shot and retaliates with his own double to get the takedown and the lead. Johnson gets the rideout and the win for his first Catholic State title.

Griffin LaPlante (St. Francis) took on Jack Barkley (Kellenberg) in the 152lb final.  LaPlante hit a series of level changes and fakes that went unreacted firing off a high crotch. Barkley defends as LaPlante looks to peak out the back door for the finish. Barkley hangs onto the leg trying to go funk roll but LaPlante lifts the leg for the finish. LaPlante gets a tight hammerlock that he transitions to a half that he runs for the finish getting nearfall as Barkley fights off his back. LaPlante hangs on tight as Barkley fights the other direction still managing to hold his opponent down as the ref calls for the pin. LaPlante get’s the job done in just 1:18 getting the pin for the Red Raiders and adding another Catholic State Champ for the team.

The next bout was a featured bout of the night as it’s a match that gets settled in the trilogy. Although your normal trilogy typically exchanges wins between the rivals this one was different as mentioned in our previous article and had some controversy surrounding the ending calls. Kosta Koufalis (Iona Prep) vs Kyle Jacobs (Monsignor Farrell) III gets settled in the CHSAA Sectional Finals! This match was a clear difference between the first two bouts. You can tell there were a lot of adjustments made and that both wrestlers really studied each other heading in. Kosta needed to be quick, technical, and explosive. And Jacobs needed to force his reach and length to disrupt his opponents’ positions. Jacobs hits a shot that Kosta reattacks into a high single which Jacobs defends really well, but Kosta adjusted into the high crotch-double to run his opponent to the mat and lock around the body to collect the first points and takedown just under a minute in. Kosta immediately cuts Jacobs knowing how dangerous he can be on bottom making it a 3-1 match. Kosta chooses to take bottom starting the second to try and get another point on the board and Jacobs really makes it a challenge. Kosta nearly gets one on the edge, but Jacobs takes a swift dive to get back in on the legs going out of bounds that kept him on top. After continuing to keep moving on bottom Koufalis manages to switch his hips and almost locking up a Peterson, gets the escape to extend his lead. Jacobs manages to get in on a high single, but time expires in the second.  Jacobs gets the decision on the third choosing to keep the match on the feet, and they get right into it in the final period. Jacobs was the heavy aggressor in the third period firing off consecutive shots. On one of his shots Koufalis reads the spin behind, and when Jacobs fires off his second shot Koufalis takes the spin behind into the high single, which he finishes into a huge double lift getting his second takedown.  He chooses to cut Jacobs, narrowing his lead to two.  Jacobs manages to get a stall point against Koufalis bringing the match to a one-point lead but Koufalis spins behind on the shot getting another takedown extending his lead 7-4 with a minute to go in the third. Jacobs gets another escape to bring the match back within a takedown. Jacobs gets in on a deep shot, but Koufalis keeps his hips low and manages to prevent the takedown. Both wrestlers keep firing off shots, stopping, and reattacking until the final second. Kosta Koufalis is your 160lb CHSAA State Champion.

We get another ESC rematch at 170lbs between Jonathan Hoffman (Kellenberg) and Gage LaPlante (St. Francis). Earlier in the season at the ESC Hoffman beat LaPlante in the 3rd place bout 7-1. Now we get the rematch with a Sectional Title and a trip to Albany on the line. This match gets going right away with a series of handfighting and a tight front headlock from LaPlante resulting in a stalemate. After a snapdown LaPlante spins behind trying to sneak in a boot as Hoffman rolls through. LaPlante almost gets stuck underneath but raises his hips to get on top and behind for the takedown. Hoffman chooses to go bottom and try to get a point on the board, but LaPlante keeps a tough ride on top and gets a mean mat return to stay on top the remainder of the period. LaPlante chooses neutral to start the final period and look to ice the match on the feet. Hoffman looks to get a shot of his own but LaPlante cuts the corner on a low single reattack getting his second takedown. As Hoffman hits a sitout LaPlante was able to punch him through to his back and collect a full count for nearfall and extend his lead to 7-0 and get the rideout to end the match and get his revenge to become the 170lbs CHSAA State Champ. We move on to 190lbs where Zach Caldwell (St. Francis) takes on Michael Illuzi (Monsignor Farrell). It was a short bout with Caldwell getting in on a low single on the edge, Illuzi fights hard but gives up the takedown on the edge. Illuzi gets a quick escape but Caldwell gets right back on the offensive passing Illuzi by into another low single to get another takedown. As Illuzi looks to build up he hits a sit out but Caldwell chins him back to collect a near fall and puts Illuzi in danger of being pinned. Illuzi fights hard escaping the initial threat but Caldwell transitions and adjusts getting the pin in his corner in front of his team and claiming the Catholic State Crown at 190lbs.

 We get an exciting match at 215lbs with the last Iona Prep vs St. Francis showdown when Connor Miller (St. Francis) takes on Frankie Serrano (Iona Prep). Miller was the clear aggressor at the start of the bout taking a series of shots one of which he got to the leg but Serrano whizzered hard and hip into Miller trying to throw him over, taking both wrestlers out of bounds. On the next shot off the reset Serrano gets hit for stalling as Miller gets in on the leg, Serrano sprawls and spins behind for the first takedown of the match. Miller explodes out right away to get an escape and his first point on the board. Miller pressures forward hitting a nice duck under into a high crotch and as he drives for the finish he looks to backtrip in which Serrano notices and tries to roll through almost getting Miller on his back, but Miller manages to get his hips up in time as they go out of bounds.  Serrano chooses to start the match on bottom and manages to get a quick escape. Miller hand fights pretty hard almost getting in on Serrano’s legs a couple of times. Keeping with his aggressive offense Miller manages to get another stall call against Serrano adding another point and narrowing the lead to 3-2. Knowing this Miller picks up the pace and perhaps gets a little overzealous taking a flurry of attacks, one of which was a little further out resulting in Serrano blocking and spinning behind in the final seconds of the second period to add to his lead. Knowing he has to have a bit more urgency Miller chooses to start the third and final period on bottom and gets up in just 5 seconds! Only down by two Miller stays aggressive but wrestles a bit more cautiously. Miller passes by the elbow into a sweep single to get the clean takedown to tie the match 5-5. Serrano explodes up for a quick escape to take back the lead 6-5. Miller gets in on a deep double but Serrano manages to get his hips back and stop the takedown. Serrano hits a double of his own but Miller manages to stop his shot. Both wrestlers are exhausted but still wrestling as the final 15 seconds wind down Miller fires off one last shot, as Serrano sprawls Miller hooks the back leg and pops his head out of the side the get behind and score the takedown with 10 seconds left to go in the match! But too exhausted to continue both wrestlers submit to their current position as Connor Miller becomes the 215lb Catholic State Champion and completes the Gold Rush for the Red Raiders.

Our last bout of the night is between Hopeton James (Holy Trinity) vs Thomas Tyndorf (St. Joseph by the Sea) in the 285lb bout. And right away James was going at it with fast level changes looking to fire off his attacks but Tyndorf seems to be there to match his speed. Tyndorf puts pressure on James as they go towards out of bounds but that doesn’t make much of a difference to James as he fires off an explosive double to a clean takedown and open up the bout in a big way as both wrestlers make their way out of bounds. James off the rest manages to catch Tyndorf’s arm and hang on to a tight hammerlock until time expires. Tyndorf gets the choice in the second and he chooses to take bottom and get an escape in which he does twenty five seconds into the second period. But James keeps on with his level changes and manages to fire off another explosive double to get his second takedown and increase his lead to 4-1. Tyndorf fights off a bar from James before getting an escape to be within a takedown with twenty seconds to go as both wrestlers go out of bounds. But Tyndorf gets overzealous off the reset and pressures heavy into James trying to rush him out of bounds but James pops Tyndorf’s arms up to hit his third double and get his third takedown of the match driving his opponent out of bounds.  We enter our third and final period where James decides to choose top and maybe turn his opponent. And that he does after breaking Tyndorf down he manages to get a hammerlock and a half to get his opponent on his back for the first time this match to collect nearfall. After hopping out to the side and making some adjustments Hopeton James secures the fall to bring the 285lb Catholic State Crown back home to the Titans. This was the first Catholic State Champ Holy Trinty has had since 2020 when Brian Holder won at 220lbs.

Matches of the Tournament:

Jack Boroweic (Monsignor Farrell) vs Niason DaCosta (St. John the Baptist) 106lb Semifinal

Cullen Edwards (St. Francis) vs Jack Boroweic (Monsignor Farrell) 106lb Final

Michael Smith (St. Joseph by the Sea) vs Eric Polanco (St. Anthony’s) 124lb Quarterfinal

Christopher Gliaos (St. Joseph by the Sea) vs Jude Bellantoni (Iona Prep) 138lb Semifinal

Nick Denatale (Chaminade) vs Rory White (St. Francis) 145lb Semifinal

George Johnson (Iona Prep) vs Nick Denatale (Chaminade) 145lb Final

Kosta Koufalis (Iona Prep) vs Joshua Jorge (St. Anthony’s) 160lb Semifinal

Kyle Jacobs (Monsignor Farrell) vs Brandon Drummond (St. Francis) 160lb Semifinal

Kosta Koufalis (Iona Prep) vs Kyle Jacobs (Monsignor Farrell) 160lb Final

Mike Gebbia (Monsignor Farrell) vs Roan Anderson (St. John the Baptist) 170lb Quarterfinal

Mike Illuzi (Monsignor Farrell) vs Logan Donato (Iona Prep) 190lb Semifinal

Connor Miller (St. Francis) vs Frankie Serrano (Iona Prep) 215lb Semifinal

Results:

101lbs: Lucas Griffin (Chaminade) F Albert Lula (Monsignor Farrell), 1:31

108lbs: Cullen Edwards (St. Francis) DEC Jack Borowiec (Monsignor Farrell), 10-4

116lbs: Austin Zimmerman (St. Joeseph's Collegiate) DEC Brett Crawford (St. Anthony'S), 10-4

124lbs: Justin Castillo (St. Anthony'S) F Michael Smith (St. Joseph By The Sea), 1:00

131lbs: Vincent Tripaldi (Iona Prep) F Nik Massaro (St. Joeseph's Collegiate), 3:52

138lbs: Justin Shay (Iona Prep) TF Christopher Gliaos (St. Joseph By The Sea), 16-1 5:19

145lbs: George Johnson (Iona Prep) DEC Nick Denatale (Chaminade), 8-7

152lbs: Griffin Laplante (St. Francis) F Jack Barkley (Kellenberg), 1:18

160lbs: Kosta Koufalis (Iona Prep) DEC Kyle Jacobs (Monsignor Farrell), 7-5

170lbs: Gage Laplante (St. Francis) DEC Jonathan Hoffman (Kellenberg), 7-0

190lbs: Zach Caldwell (St. Francis) F Michael Illuzzi (Monsignor Farrell), 1:34

215lbs: Connor Miller (St. Francis) DEC Frankie Serrano (Iona Prep), 7-6

285lbs: Hopeton James (Holy Trinity) F Thomas Tyndorf (St. Joseph By the Sea), 4:46

Division 1 Most Outstanding Wrestler: Justin Shay (Iona Prep)

Division 2 Most Outstanding Wrestler: Gage LaPlante (St. Francis)

Ironman Award Recipients: Austin Zimmerman (St. Joseph Collegiate), Kyle Jacobs (Monsignor Farrell)

Quickest Pin: Hopeton James (Holy Trinity)

Team Results:

Iona Prep-274pts

St. Francis-216pts

Kellenberg-207pts

Chaminade-201.5pts

Monsignor Farrell-173.5pts

St. Joseph’s Collegiate-117pts

St. Joseph by the Sea-112pts

St. John the Baptist-105pts

St. Anthony’s-87.5

Holy Trinity-47pts

Mount St. Michael-26pts

Archbishop Stepinac-24pts

Xavier-24pts

St. Mary’s-19pts

St. Peter’s-16pts

Canisus-13pts

Fordham Prep-10pts

 Conclusion:

This year’s CHSAA Sectional Championships were one to remember and it won’t be forgotten any time soon. We had memorable bouts throughout the entire tournament across all weights. From continued rivalries to reinvigorating new ones, from history made to history continuing. The CHSAA Sectional Championships continue to get better and better with each and every passing year. And although it just concluded I already can’t wait for next year’s tournament!