Wrestling: Lower Hudson Valley's breakout juniors for 2023-24 season
This is the third in a four-part midseason wrestling series on 2023-24 breakout wrestlers throughout the Lower Hudson Valley to watch at each grade level.
These wrestlers have stepped things up in their junior year and will hope to capture their first all-section distinction and finish on the podium at sectionals.
They hope join the likes of returning all-section junior wrestlers Henry Martin of Croton-Harmon, Yonkers' Will Miller, North Rockland trio Wesly Guzman, Dylan Shelton and Amari Payton, Clarkstown North's J.T. Roden, Putnam Valley's Jaden Tesher, Byram Hills/Briarcliff/Valhalla/Westlake's Thomas Tsoi, Putnam Valley's Jaden Tesher and Arlington's Aislin Kellner and Dom Bronzi.
Perhaps they can go even further and get their hand raised like returning junior Section 1 champs Ethan Badillo of Nanuet, Hen Hud's Mason Dietz, Fox Lane's Alex Berisha, Scarsdale's Thomas Iasiello, and 2022 winner Byram Hills/Briarcliff/Valhalla/Westlake's Neil Paulercio.
Brewster's Ryan Brace, Edgemont's Jordan Fisher, Mamaroneck's Tatsu Homma and Joe Sullivan, Lakeland/Panas' Dan Hurley, Tappan Zee's Thomas Kivlehan and Parker Trento, Clarkstown North's Jeremy Small continue to wrestle well after being featured as breakout sophomores last season and will look to compete for all-section honors as well.
Part 1: Breakout middle-school, freshmen wrestlers for 2023-24
Sophomores: Breakout sophomore wrestlers for the 2023-24 season
Seniors: Breakout senior wrestlers for the 2023-24 season
Raheem Adebola, Ketcham
Record: 15-5
Injuries dampened some of the season, but there's no downplaying Adebola's solid first impression in his first year ever participating in the sport. Adebola went 4-1 in the pool play portion of the Mid-Hudson Tournament, before going on to take third in the bracketed half during the second day of competition. Along the way, he defeated Ossining's all-section heavyweight contender Marlon Wheatley, twice, in his first ever tournament. Adebola also took third at RCK Mat Wars.
Marvin Alarcon, Fox Lane
Record: 22-6
His commitment has paid off, and he is one of several Fox Lane grapplers enjoying breakout seasons. Alarcon finished 11-15 as a sophomore last season, but he is enjoying a career-best season so far. Alarcon won the 138-pound title at the Hen Hud Sailor Classic, and he took third at the Shoreline Classic.
Luke Amuso, Pawling
Record: 23-10
Amuso has been one of the better Division II middleweights, but this year, he demonstrated more consistency and got to achieve more tournament success. He took second at the Patriot Invitational and Edgemont tournament, went unbeaten at the Pawling Round Robin tournament, and fifth at the Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational. He'll try to follow up with his deepest run yet at sectionals, which may come at 145 or 152.
Jason Ardizone, Clarkstown South
Record: 28-6
The Vikings' 215-pounder has taken the next step forward after going 20-16 in his first full season on varsity last year. Ardizone has amassed 20 pins this season, and he'll be in contention for a podium spot at sectionals. Ardizone only has one loss to Section 1 competition, and he took in third at the Kohl Invitational, Somers' D'Agnese Tournament, and Rockland County championships.
John Brew, Clarkstown South
Record: 29-5
Keep an eye on the Vikings' 285-pounder, who will be in the mix in a competitive weight class. After finishing just below-.500 last season, Brew pinned his way to victory 24 times this year. He won Rockland County and Kohl Invitational titles, and he took fifth at the Battle at the Beach.
Isaac Brightly, Clarkstown North
Record: 28-11
He's taken the next step forward on the mat after a below-.500 sophomore season. Brightly has been able to win some suspenseful matches and remain poised under pressure in dangerous situations, which has helped him scrap to victory. He has 21 pins this season and he placed in the top five at RCK Mat Wars (third), Rockland County championships (third) and Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational (fifth). He took a pair of losses on the final day of regular season competition, which will provide some added fuel for divisionals.
Lucas Cardella, Arlington
Record: 31-14
He got his first taste of sectionals last season, earning a spot before finishing 20-22 overall. Cardella has continued to improve since then, and he's gotten better as the season has unfolded. Cardella has 24 wins by major decision or pin. Cardella took third at the Jamie Mormile Invitational, fifth at the Mid-Hudson Tournament and sixth at the Shaker King Bison Invitational. He is battle-tested and only six of his losses came against Section 1 competition, while the rest came from out-of-section and out-of-state hammers.
Matthew Cascione, Ossining
Record: 29-13
He may be a bracket-buster come sectionals. Cascione has 17 pins this season and is looking to go further after qualifying for sectionals last year. Cascione took third at the Westchester County championships and he has a couple of wins this season over returning all-section finishers. Eight of his 13 losses came against out-of-area wrestlers, including some state-ranked talents, so don't let the 145-pounder's record fool you.
Sam Cavanna, Eastchester/Tuckahoe
Record: 21-10
Cavanna has shown improvement with each year. This season, he's found more consistency on the mat, since going 13-12 and going two-and-out at sectionals. Cavanna is primed for a deeper run this year. He finished as runner-up at the Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational, and he took fifth at the Westchester County championships.
Ryan Chung, White Plains
Record: 24-12
It's been a nice turnaround season for the White Plains junior, who has started landing on podiums at tournaments after back-to-back below-.500 seasons. The 131-pounder took third at the Westchester County championships and fourth at the Edgemont tournament. He also went unbeaten at the White Plains Tiger Invitational and Irvington Dual Meet tournament wrestling at 138 pounds.
Jayden Dastine, East Ramapo
Record: 21-9
After going 18-13 in his first season of wrestling last year, Dastine has become an emerging force at 108 pounds. He won the Rockland County title, and he's finished in the top four at three other tournaments: Kohl Invitational (third), RCK Mat Wars (second) and Mahopac tournament (fourth).
Thiago DeCarvalho, Eastchester/Tuckahoe
Record: 27-8
DeCarvalho is looking forward to making his mark in the postseason, after missing out last year. It's been a career year for the Eagles' 215-pounder, one that includes his first few varsity tournament podium finishes. DeCarvalho earned half of his wins by pin, and he placed at the RCK Mat Wars (third), Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational (third), Westchester County championships (sixth) and Edgemont tournament (second).
Brandon DellaPia, John Jay-East Fishkill
Record: 26-11
He'll be in the running in a competitive 152-pound weight class. Although he went 19-22 last season, he started to build momentum towards the end his sophomore year, before falling in the blood round at sectionals. DellaPia built off of that and is enjoying a career year that includes a fourth-place finish at the Mid-Hudson Tournament, third-place at RCK Mat Wars and runner-up at the Edgemont tournament.
Robert DeMauro, Mahopac
Record: 23-5
DeMauro has come a long way since missing out on sectionals last year. Not only should he make this year's tournament, but he'll be in the hunt to place high. It's been an incredible turnaround season for DeMauro, who only has one Section 1 loss after going below-.500 last season. He won more than half of his matches by pin, and he won the Shoreline Classic and took third at the Mahopac tournament. He also went unbeaten at the Kings Park and Ossining Duals.
Sal DiSenso, Ossining
Record: 23-14
For someone who was running with the basketball team last winter, it's been a solid first full season of wrestling for DiSenso. 17 of his wins came by major decision, technical fall or pin. He's also been a key member the Pride's dual meet lineup, providing flexibility and a willingness to bump up if needed, even if it may affect his record. A few of his losses came from moving up to 190, but he is primarily a 170-pounder.
Corey Fitzsimmons, Horace Greeley
Record: 19-5
After a couple of steady steps of gradual improvement over the last two years, Fitzsimmons has taken a big leap forward in his junior year. Fitzsimmons has 16 pins this season, and the Quakers' 138-pounder placed fourth at the Patchogue-Medford Raider Invitational, and fifth at the Westchester County championships.
Peter Hinze, Byram Hills/Briarcliff/Valhalla/Westlake
Record: 29-8
Hinze is another wrestler who's regrouped and bounced back strong after missing out on sectionals last season. He won 15 of his matches by major decision, technical fall or fall. Hinze took fifth at the Shoreline Classic and sixth at the Westchester County championships. He also went unbeaten at the Wrangle on the Plains, and at the Nardone and Carlucci Duals.
Cameron Keeperman, Tappan Zee
Record: 16-4
Keeperman has improved with each passing year, but he's found much more consistency on the mat after a 14-13 sophomore season last year. He got tangible proof of his improvement, when he captured gold at the Rockland County championships, winning the 215-pound title in major decision fashion. He also took fifth at the Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational earlier in the year. Keeperman only has two Section 1 losses so far.
Craig Holm-Joergensen, John Jay-Cross River
Record: 23-10
After winning a total of 13 matches through his first two years, Holm-Joergensen is on pace to double that amount in this season alone. The Wolves' 215-pound junior has 16 pins and he earned his first varsity career podium finishes at the Jamie Mormile Invitational in Ravena (sixth) and Westchester County championships (fifth).
Logan Mohl, John Jay-East Fishkill
Record: 32-5
It's been quite the journey for Mohl. Two years ago, despite wrestling in only a handful of matches, he managed to win a divisional title at 118 pounds and qualify for sectionals. He didn't compete at the Section 1 tournament that year and later quit the sport for his sophomore season. Now, he's back and making noise as a 190-pounder. Mohl won RCK Mat Wars, Beacon and Edgemont tournament titles. He also placed second at the Mid-Hudson and Patriot tournaments. He has 26 pins this season.
Oscar O'Donnell-Powell, Fox Lane
Record: 19-9
Since returning home after previously wrestling at Stepinac, O'Donnell-Powell has improved on the mat. He only has three Section 1 losses on the year. O'Donnell-Powell has won 12 matches by major decision or pin, including one over returning Section 1 Division II champ Kyle Peske of Hen Hud. The Foxes' 190-pounder took third at the Hen Hud Sailor Classic and sixth at the Shoreline Classic.
Mehki Pinkey, Mount Vernon
Record: 21-9
After finishing 12-10 last season, Pinkey has taken the next step in his second year ever wrestling. Pinkey has 13 pins this season and since dropping down to 131, he was also able to land on the podium at the Westchester County championships, where he took fourth.
Eduar Polanco, Port Chester
Record: 24-9
After going 25-14 last season, Polanco has found greater consistency on the mat. 17 of his 24 wins came by major decision, technical fall or fall. He took fifth at the Shoreline Classic and fourth at the Edgemont tournament. The 116-pounder will aim to put together his deepest postseason run yet, after missing out on sectionals last season.
Barron Ransom, Fox Lane
Record: 25-5
It's been a career year for Ransom, who went from finishing below-.500 last year to becoming a podium contender a season later. The Foxes' 190-pounder has 18 pins, and he won the Hen Hud Sailor Classic title, and enjoyed top three finishes at the Westchester County championships (second) and Shoreline Classic (third).
Xavier Realmuto, Arlington
Record: 21-10
Realmuto has put together a solid season in his first year on the varsity lineup. A grinder on the mat, Realmuto won the Highland Round Robin title, and he also placed at the Mid-Hudson Tournament (fifth), King Bison Invitational (eighth).
Vincent Tripaldi, Iona Prep
Record: 36-2
Although he built a name for himself in Connecticut, it took a while for others to catch on once he moved over to New York. Tripaldi only recently cracked the Division I state rankings, after a runner-up finish at the Eastern States Classic a couple of weeks ago. The standout 131-pounder also won O'Connell Memorial Tournament and Westchester County titles. His New York debut includes 28 wins by major decision, technical fall or fall.
Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lohud wrestling: Lower Hudson Valley's breakout juniors for 2023-24
