BOYS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: Local highlights from NYSPHSAA Championships- Day 1

BHBL

Brody DiCaprio (101 lbs.)- DiCaprio would make a deep run on Day 1 for the Spartans, as the freshman would follow-up his first-round bye with a 2-0 decision in Sweet 16 versus Smithtown’s Tyler Conzo. But a round later, DiCaprio would fall to Auburn’s Brady Maneri, by a 10-3 decision.

Daniel Jones (101 lbs.)- After falling to his teammate, DiCaprio, two weekends ago at the Section 2 Division I Championship meet, Jones would quickly dispatch Chenango Forks’ Maddox Hubbard in the opening round Friday, by fall in 51-seconds. In the Sweet 16 however, Jones would lose to Briarcliff’s Vincezo Mannello, by a 7-0 decision. Moving to the consolation bracket, Jones would beat out Pittsford’s Koray Kocaoglu by a 8-7 decision.

Liam Carlin (145 lbs.)- A season ago, Carlin finished in second place for the 132 lb. weight-class in the State Champions, but Friday, at 145, the junior Spartan came out with a vengeance. After an opening-round bye, Carlin would earn a pin of Tottenville’s David Khodzaev, in 1:11, in the Sweet 16, followed by another quick pin of Scarsdale’s Thomas Iasiello, in 1:04, to advance to Saturday’s semifinal round. In his opening, Final Four matchup, Carlin will meet with Niagara-Wheatfield’s Te’Shaun Matthews (42-2).

Ballston Spa

Ralph Keeney (108 lbs.)- One of the most decorated wrestlers in the Scotties’ program history would see his run at the elusive, State Championship fall short on Friday, after defeating CBA’s Luca Popolizio by pin, in 4:47, in the Sweet 16, Keeney would eliminated from first place contention with a loss to St. Francis’ Cullen Edwards, by a narrow, 8-5 decision.

William O’Connor (152 lbs.)- After capturing his first Section Championship as a junior, O’Connor wouldn’t be able to fully replicate the success at the State Tournament, losing to Grand Street Campus’ Wayne Harris, by pin in 2:45, in the Round of 32. In a chance to wrestle-back to the podium through the consolation bracket, O’Connor would lose by an 8-2 decision to Ossining’s Anthony Lofaro.

Cole Donnelly (285 lbs.)- Donnelly, who took second at the Section Championships, would also suffer defeat in his opening matchup Friday, as Lindenhurst’s Chase Frole would defeat the junior by fall, in 1:42. In his lone consolation match, Donnelly would lose by a razor-thin, 3-2, decision to Islip’s Dominick Albertelli.

CBA

Luca Popolizio (108 lbs.)- The Christian Brothers’ Academy freshman had a good start to his Friday morning, as he’d first nab a Round of 32 win by a 9-4 decision over Washingtonville’s Owen Millmore. After taking second to Keeney at the Section 2 Championships, two weeks ago, Poplizio would again suffer defeat to Keeney, this time by fall in 4:47. In the consolation round, Popolizio would again lose by fall, to Hilton’s Jonathan Testa, in 2:08 to end his 2023-24 season.

Saratoga Springs

Taylor Beaury (131 lbs.)- While losing his opening matchup in the Sweet 16 versus Michael Giugliano, of Miller Place, by a tight, 5-4 decision, Beaury wouldn’t come away winless from Friday’s affairs. In his first wrestle-back contest, Beaury would defeat Jamestown’s Tyler Zwald, by pin, in 1:23. The junior would keep his season and chances to reach the podium alive with another win in his next consolation matchup – beating Horseheads’ Cody Dale by a 6-0 decision.

Luke Stoutenburg (138 lbs.)- Stoutenburg would have a bumpy start in his first ever appearance at the State Tournament, as the sophomore would go down by decision, 11-1, in his Round of 32 bout versus Niagara-Wheatfield’s Garrett Chase. In his consolation match, Stoutenburg would lose by a 5-0 decision to Carthage’s Shay Sinitiere.

Danny Dacey (145 lbs.)- Dacey would also suffer a tough victory in his career match at the State Championships, as the true second winner at Glens Falls would lose his Round of 32 match Friday by sudden victory, 8-6. In the wrestle-back bracket however, Dacey was able to string together back-to-back victories, first with a 5-3, sudden-victory over East Islip’s Anthony Avitable, followed by a 1-0 win over Connetquot’s Jayden Medina.

Gianni Delgado (170 lbs.)- Another first timer at the State dance, Delgado would get a bye in the Round of 32, but would also fall in his first match, in the Sweet 16, to Bayshore’s Chris Reddy, by a 9-6 decision, after trailing 8-1. In his consolation matchup, the junior would also lose by decision, this time even tighter at 3-2, to Suffern’s Vincent DiRenno.

Patrick McKinley (215 lbs.)- The Blue Streaks lone Section Champion in Glens Falls, would power through his opening matchup on Saturday, in the Sweet 16, with a 3-2 win, by decision, over Washingtonville’s Jacob DeJesus. In the quarterfinals, McKinley would lose by a 5-1 decision to Middletown’s Bryson Tibbs.

Shenendehowa

David Ensminger (138 lbs.)- Ensminger would start Friday with a narrow loss to Clarence’s A.J. Didas, by a 10-9 decision. The senior Plainsmen would be able to get his first win since his inaugural Sectional Title at Glens Falls in his first wrest-back bout –versus Christopher Gliaos, of St. Joseph by the Sea, by pin in 3:52. Ensminger would keep his season going with a consolation win, versus Warwick’s Griffin Petzold, by a 4-1 decision.

Joey Losee (152 lbs.)- After a true-second finish in Glens Falls, Losee would keep on winning in Albany, as the sophomore would start his day, Friday, by edging out Fulton’s Bailey Grubb, by a 9-8 decision, in the Round of 32. Against Wantagh’s Jesse Vanorden in the Sweet 16 however, Losee would go down, by pin, in 42-seconds. Losee would beat Warwick’s Michael Accardo in his wrestle-back matchup, but would see his run end to Pine Bush’s Logan Pennell in the following matchup, by a 5-3 decision.

Galway

Kolt Wojtowecz (116 lbs.)- Finishing as the Division-II Section champ in his freshman season, Wojtowecz would get a bye to the Sweet 16 on Friday at MVP Arena. But in his first match of the day on Friday, Wojtowecz would be unable to get past Horace Mann’s Jovanny Nazario – losing by a narrow, 10-8 decision at the wire. The Golden Eagles youngster would keep his first State’s appearance going however, winning his first wrestle-back matchup by fall, in 4:11, over Northern Adirondack’s Hayden Bartlemus. But versus Pleasantville’s Jesse Strauss, Wojtowecz would not be able to keep his visit to MVP going, as he’d lose by fall in 1:58.

Mechanicville-Stillwater

Ben Nania (215 lbs.)- Nania would be unable to follow his inaugural Sectional crown with a second-straight win, on Friday, as the senior would go down, by fall, to South Lewis’ Matthew Marks in 5:35. Waverly’s Matthias Welles would then defeat Nania in the consolation bracket, with a pin in 3:20.

These results are up-to-date as of print deadline.