Wrestling: Lower Hudson Valley's breakout seniors for 2023-24 season

This is the final installment in a four-part midseason wrestling series on 2023-24 breakout wrestlers throughout the Lower Hudson Valley to watch at each grade level.

These seniors saved their best for last.

They'll look to top their breakout seasons with their first all-section finish or possibly even a section title, joining the likes of the 30-plus returning all-section seniors, a massive group that includes defending Section 1 champions Esuar Ordonez of Putnam Valley, John Jay-Cross River's Cam Wierl, Hen Hud's Kyle Peske, Pearl River's Nick Espinal and Michael Malfitano, Nanuet's Bobby Hardwick, and two-time winners Joe Tornambe of Yorktown and Carmel's Leo Venables.

Perhaps they can join CHSAA state champs Justin Shay and Eric Grant of Iona Prep, or returning all-state seniors Sam Szerlip of Nyack and 2022 Section 1 champ Dillon Arrick of Arlington.

Hen Hud's Ismael Andrade, Somers/North Salem's Justin Daniyan and Robert Vrabel, Sleepy Hollow's Tiernan Fahy, Clarkstown North's Dylan LaRocco, Mamaroneck's Rich Lomonaco, Horace Greeley's Kai Lueckerath, Pawling's Kevin Panzer, Eastchester's Joe Roche, Lakeland/Panas' Alex Ryzy, Pawling's Aiden Soto, and Edgemont's Ryo Yoshida continue to wrestle well after being featured in last season's breakout juniors list and will be in the hunt for their first all-section finishes.

Part 1: Breakout middle-school, freshmen wrestlers for 2023-24

Sophomores: Breakout sophomore wrestlers for the 2023-24 season

Juniors: Breakout high school junior wrestlers for the 2023-24 season

Here are some breakout seniors from the Lower Hudson Valley:

Thomas Anderson, Rye

Record: 24-6

After helping the Garnets' football team win their first state title since 2008, Anderson has carried that winning momentum over to the mat. Last year was a solid one for Anderson, who won a divisional title, but fell short of the podium at sectionals. This year, he took a step forward. He took fifth at the Westchester County championships, but he also placed in the top four at the Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational (second) and Somers' D'Agnese Tournament (fourth). Anderson has a couple of wins over all-section grapplers, and he's tallied 20 pins. While he wrestled at 285 all season, he will be going 215 for the postseason in his hunt for an all-section finish.

Eamon Bagley, Rye

Record: 20-8

After going 21-16 last season, Bagley has found more consistency on the mat this season. He has a few wins against other featured breakout wrestlers this season, but also some close tough losses by decision. Bagley has 15 pins this season wrestling at primarily 138 and 145 and he'll try to put together his deepest postseason run yet, after missing sectionals last year.

Joe Barbuto, Byram Hills/Briarcliff/Valhalla/Westlake

Record: 25-12

His commitment to the sport has resulted in a big senior year transformation, after combining for seven wins over the last two years. A co-captain for the four-team merger, Barbuto hopes to end his career-best season strong. He has 15 pins. He went unbeaten at the Wrangle On the Plains, and placed at the Shoreline Classic (sixth), Westchester County championships (fourth) and Mahopac tournament (fourth).

Michael Bellantoni, White Plains

Record: 26-12

He's only been wrestling for three years, and the Tigers' 124-pounder has saved his best for last. After back-to-back below-.500 seasons, Bellantoni is enjoying a career year, where he's already amassed more wins as a senior than his first two years in the sport combined. Bellantoni has 16 pins and six more wins by major decision. He went unbeaten at the White Plains Tiger Invitational and took sixth at the Edgemont and Scarsdale tournaments.

Zach Cohen, Horace Greeley

Record: 18-8

A complete newcomer to the sport as a senior, it's been a solid first year on the mat for the 285-pounder. Cohen won more than half of his matches by pin. He's on the hunt for his first podium finish before finishing his first foray in the sport.

Deven Comstock, John Jay-Cross River

Record: 24-9

Comstock is clicking on the mat. He's found greater consistency on the mat after an 18-17 junior year, and he already has just as much victories as a senior than his last two seasons combined, showing how far he's come. Half of his wins came by pin, and he also has three more victories by major decision. Comstock went unbeaten at the Wrangle on the Plains, and he took fifth at the Jamie Mormile Invitational and sixth at the Westchester County championships.

Nick DiMichele, Putnam Valley

Record: 26-7

DiMichele has built off of a solid junior season, but is on the search for his deepest postseason run yet. He's gotten better with each year, transforming into one of the top Division II wrestlers at his weight class since going below-.500 two seasons ago. Last year, he finished fourth at Division II sectionals, but is hoping to go even further and gain all-section status. More than half of his wins have been by pin or major decision. The 160-pounder only has three Section 1 losses in a season that includes a Hen Hud Sailor Classic title, runner-up finish at the Putnam Valley Round Robin Challenge and third-place at the Edgemont tournament.

Vincent DiRenno, Suffern

Record: 20-5

DiRenno has gotten better with each season, blossoming into one of the top 170-pounders in Section 1. The Mounties senior has 13 pins. He won the MacArthur Holiday Tournament and finished as runner-up at the Kohl Invitational and Rockland County championships. His lone losses to Section 1 opposition were against Nyack star Sam Szerlip, which is nothing to be disappointed about. A scrappy wrestler, DiRenno has never been pinned or teched this season.

Carter Erbelding, Harrison

Record: 24-9

Another wrestler who saved their best for last, the Huskies' 285-pounder is enjoying a career year after finishing below-.500 in each of the last two years. Erbelding has 16 pins so far this season. He went unbeaten at the Vin Nicita and Bernie Miller Duals, and he placed sixth at the Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational.

Cristobal Garcia, North Rockland

Record: 24-8

Garcia's hard work has paid off in a big turnaround season after going 7-11 in his first year of varsity wrestling as a junior. He was crowned Rockland County champion at 190 pounds. Garcia also took third at the Kohl Invitational and fourth at the Shoreline Classic. He's bounced back and forth between 190 and 215 pounds, tallying 17 pins along the way.

Gio JeanPierre, Ossining

Record: 31-16

A first-year wrestler as a senior, JeanPierre went through some growing pains early, but the quick learner has found his footing. After an up-and-down start adjusting to the mat, he is 24-8 since Dec. 20. The Ossining 152-pounder hit a turning point at the Mid-Hudson Tournament, where he took third-place. He also finished in fourth at the Hen Hud Sailor Classic. During this stretch, he's acquired 10 pins and two major decision wins, while only taking four Section 1 losses.

Matt Keneally, Ossining

Record: 24-15

After going 18-18 and getting to experience sectionals last season, Keneally is looking to go even further as a senior. He pinned his way to victory in 17 of 24 wins. He earned three more wins by major decision or technical fall. Don't let the 124-pounder's record fool you, half of his losses came against out-of-section standouts.

Tydel Lee, Mount Vernon

Record: 18-4

Lee got a taste of sectionals in his first-ever wrestling season as a junior last year, but this time, he's aiming for a deeper postseason run. After finishing below-.500 last year, Lee has left it out on the mat as a senior. The second-year wrestler pinned his way to victory in 12 of his 18 wins. He also took fifth at Somers' D'Agnese Tournament.

Austin Omin, John Jay-Cross River

Record: 23-9

After going 24-16 last season, Omin has found more consistency on the mat this year. He just missed the podium last season, but will look to breakthrough this time around. The Wolves' 152-pounder took third at the Jamie Mormile Invitational, Hen Hud Sailor Classic and fifth at the Westchester County championships. Omin has 11 pins and has had a way with staying composed through dramatics. He is 5-1 when matches are decided by one point.

Caleb Plunkett, Arlington

Record: 30-10

Plunkett has returned with a vengeance after an injury-shortened junior year. The Admirals' 190-pounder is one of the section's best at that weight class. Plunkett has racked up 26 pins this season. He landed on the podium at the Jamie Mormile Invitational (second), Shaker King Bison Invitational (fourth), and Mid-Hudson Tournament (fifth). He also went unbeaten at the Highland Round Robin tournament. Plunkett only has two Section 1 losses this year.

Jumal Russ, East Ramapo

Record: 27-3

After missing out on sectionals as a junior last year, Russ has bounced back with a career-best season as a senior. He started the year by rattling off 21-straight victories, before losing to Monroe-Woodbury's state-ranked Kelly Sullivan at the Kohl Invitational. Russ rebounded with a third-place finish at that tournament, and he finished as runner-up at the Rockland County championships and Mahopac tournament. The 101-pounder only has one Section 1 loss, which came against North Rockland's Liam Lin in an overtime county title bout thriller.

Ben Ryan, Suffern

Record: 21-3

The Mounties' heavyweight has shown improvement with each passing year, from 5-5 as a sophomore to 16-10 as a junior, and now, 21-3. He has 16 pins so far. Ryan took second at the Harry McLaughlin Invitational, Kohl Invitational and Rockland County championships, but will be aiming for the top spot for the postseason. His lone Section 1 losses came against Rockland County 285-pound champ and lohud-featured breakout junior, John Brew of Clarkstown South.

Joey Saito, Edgemont

Record: 29-6

Injuries hampered the first half of his junior year, but now fully healthy for his senior season, Saito is striving to reach his fullest potential. It's been an impressive campaign so far for the 145-pound contender. He's beaten returning all-section wrestlers and has a pair of wins against last year's Section 1 Division II champ Bobby Hardwick of Nanuet. Saito has 21 pins. He pinned his way to the Edgemont tournament title, and he took third at the Shoreline Classic.

Khai Sheffield, Eastchester/Tuckahoe

Record: 22-3

The Eagles' senior has taken a big leap since going 12-8 as a junior last year. Sheffield has 11 pins and four more wins by major decision. The 138-pounder won the Scarsdale Wrestling Invitational and he took third at the Westchester County championships. He only has one Section 1 loss this season, while his other two losses came against state-ranked standouts.

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 seniors for 2023-24