The coronavirus pandemic may have impacted the 2020-21 wrestling season, but it looks like things are getting back to normal for the sport. All Lower Hudson Valley teams are eligible to compete.
As they prepare for their first encounters of the season, here’s a look at the top returning wrestling talent in Section 1 and the region.
This year, Journal News/lohud Mean 15 spotlights stars from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.
Wrestlers are chosen based on past performance, talent, and projected development. Here are this year’s selections.
Officials: Section 1 and winter sports officials could fight over COVID-19 mandates
Last year: Meet the average 15 of section 1 2020-21
The 2021-22 average 15
Noah Bernstein
The school: Edgemont
Year: Senior
What does Noah mean? Bernstein finished second in Section 1 Division II at 138 pounds as a sophomore, finishing the 2019-20 season with a 22-10 record. He has grown a lot since then. Bernstein placed fifth at the New York State Journeymen Wrestling Championships last April, which merged wrestlers from major and minor school divisions into the same category, unlike the traditional NYSPHSAA tournament.
steven burell
The school: New Rochelle
Year: Senior
What does Steven mean? He returns to the Mean 15 for the second consecutive year. Two years ago, he was the Section 1 Division I runner-up at 160 pounds, got a wildcard offer to play in the NYSPHSAA tournament and finished with a 35-11 record. Although wrestling was limited last season, he continued his rise with a fifth-place finish at the New York State Journeymen Wrestling Championships. Burrell will be firmly in pursuit of a Section 1 title and all-state honors.
Angelo Centrone
The school: mahopac
Year: Senior
What does Angelo mean? Centrone is back on the Mean 15 for the third straight year. As impressive as he has been throughout his career at Mahopac, he is set for his biggest season yet. A two-time all-state wrestler, 2020 Eastern States Classic place finisher and Section 1 champion, Centrone dominated as a sophomore two years ago, racking up a 44-4 record. He went undefeated against opposition in section, winning every match by pinfall, technical pinfall, or major decision. He likely would have achieved all-state honors again last season, as evidenced by his runner-up finish at the New York State Journeymen Wrestling Championships.
Sean Degl
The school: Iona Preparation
Year: Junior
What does Sean mean? The son of John Degl, a former 1991 Mahopac State Champion who became a star at the University of Iowa, it’s safe to say wrestling is in his blood. Young Degl went 33-15 as a freshman at Iona Prep two years ago. He continued his development and made the most of a condensed season as a sophomore, going 17-2. He won another CHSAA league crown and finished second in the CHSAA State Tournament.
Robert DePolito
The school: North Rockland
Year: Junior
What does Robert mean? A two-time Rockland County champion and all-sections wrestler, DePolito didn’t have a chance to build on his strong 36-13 freshman season from 2019-20. He was a consistent player throughout his time in North Rockland, posting consecutive 30-win seasons. He had success at county level and started to go even further as a division champion and section finisher as a rookie, but this may be the year he can break out and enjoy. a deeper run in the playoffs.
Owen Deutsch
The school: Mamaroneck
Year: Senior
What does Owen mean? After making a big leap forward as a sophomore in 2019-20, Deutsch made the most of the COVID-affected year and continued to develop as a wrestler. His hard work resulted in podium finishes at the New York State Journeymen Wrestling Championships (eighth) and the New York State Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships (fourth). He went 22-6 as a sophomore, finishing as the division champion and Division I Section 1 runner-up to eventual all-state finisher Chris Crawford of Beacon. This loss to Crawford was his only against sectional competition.
Justin Fortugno
The school: Byram Hills/Briarcliff/Valhalla/Westlake
Year: Senior
What does Justin mean? A three-time all-sections wrestler, Fortugno is destined to do more this season. He earned his best sophomore sections ranking in 2020, finishing second to Centrone at 113 pounds. Fortugno was able to get a taste of the NYSPHSAA tournament as a wildcard offer, and he finished with a 35-12 record that year. He’ll be determined to leave it all behind as he strives for his first division title and all-state finish in his final season.
Gabriel Garibaldi
The school: Iona Preparation
Year: Junior
What does Gabriel mean? The younger brother of recent White Plains graduate and standout Sebastian Garibaldi, Gabriel is ready to forge his own name at Iona Prep. He’s come a long way since his 22-17 debut season in 2019-20 with the Tigers. White Plains was one of several school districts to retire from wrestling last winter, so it had to show its growth in offseason club tournaments. He won a few matches at the prestigious Super 32 tournament, won a NUWAY Summer Nationals title in Wildwood, NJ, and defeated a few non-New York State champions along the way.
Justin Gierum
The school: way of the fox
Year: Junior
What does Justin mean? Injuries forced him to miss the first half of his rookie season, but once back on the mat he didn’t miss his stride. Gierum went 18-6 and finished fourth at the Section 1 Division I championships at 132 pounds, winning every section in a tough weight class. Gierum has only grown since then and is set for a big breakout campaign as a junior.
Eric Grant
The school: Iona Preparation
Year: Second year
What does Eric mean? He made a solid first impression in the CHSAA, going 17-1 as a freshman last season. As wrestling returns to normal for the rest of the lower Hudson Valley, expect Grant to generate even more buzz. He will look to build on his college debut which included a CHSAA championship title and a third-place finish in the CHSAA State Tournament.
Jake Hoffman
The school: way of the fox
Year: Senior
What does Jake mean? The only other three-time Mean 15 wrestler on this list, Hoffmann is looking to pick up where he left off two seasons ago. He won consecutive Section 1 titles in first and second year. He earned all-state honors for the first time in an impressive 2019-20 campaign where he was the only Section 1 wrestler to reach the 50-win mark, finishing with a 50-7 record.
John McGowan
The school: Mamaroneck
Year: Senior
What does John mean? A two-time all-section wrestler, McGowan is looking forward to finally getting the chance to build on his 29-8 sophomore season from a few years ago. The Tigers senior has been on the mat since then, finishing third at the New York State Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships in May. He will look to assemble his deepest run to date at Sections and qualify for his first NYSPHSAA tournament.
Zander Miller
The school: Edgemont
Year: Senior
What does Sander mean? Miller won his first Section 1 Division II title at 132 pounds as a sophomore in 2020, finishing that season with a 22-8 record. His time in Albany was brief, but he got a taste of the state tournament. Miller was younger then, but he’s more seasoned now and those experiences will fuel him on his quest for another section title and perhaps a deeper run at the NYSPHSAA tournament.
Christian Perlleshi
The school: Pleasantville
Year: Junior
What does Christian mean? One of three remaining Division II Section 1 champions of 2020, Perlleshi won the Westchester County and Section titles en route to his first-ever trip to Albany for the NYSPHSAA Tournament. He finished 27-5 as a freshman this season. Pleasantville wasn’t given the green light to wrestle last year, but Perlleshi got busy. He finished second at the New York State Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships.
Joseph Tornambe
The school: Yorktown
Year: Second year
What does Joseph mean? He made his eighth grade college debut two years ago and finished 26-14. There were a few highlights, growing pains and lessons learned, which helped Tornambe find the podium at the Journeymen Wrestling New York State Championships in April. Tornambe is in a prime position to continue progressing on the mat as he targets his best season yet in his young career.
Others to watch
Shane Acheson, Jr., Tappan Zee
Jonathan Benitez, Sr., Ossining
Marc Berisha, Sr., Fox Lane
Nicholas Bolanos, Sr., Port Chester
Luis Diaz-Giron, Sr., Fox Lane
Seth Frendel, Jr., Clarkstown North
Nick Greco, So., Mahopac
Spencer Hadlock, Jr., John Jay-Cross River
Cole Joseph, Jr., Hackley
Jake Kern, Sr., John Jay-Cross River
Kevin McCarvill, Jr., Iona Prep
Dhilan Patel, Sr., Edgemont
Tristan Robinson-July, Jr., Ossining
Ian Sutherland, So., Brewster
Leo Venables, Sr., Carmel
Terrance Walden, Jr., Iona Prep
Follow Eugène Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.
