The Upstate New York Chapter would like to acknowledge the wonderful showing that Cornell University had in this year’s NCAA Tournament that was held in Kansas City, Missouri. The Big Red finished runner-up to Big Ten Champions Penn State and beat out Michigan by 1.5 points for second.

Cornell had three All-Americans including NCAA champion Vito Arujau who won his second straight NCAA title. Arujau defeated Daton Fix from Oklahoma State in a marathon match of more than 20 minutes. There were numerous challenges and stoppage for bleeding but Vito held on to achieve his repeat performance. Meyer Shapiro, who scored 21 team points for the team in the tourney at 157, took a third place with a very impressive win over Daniel Cardenas of Stanford who had defeated Shapiro in the quarter finals and Jacob Cardenas wrestling at 197 was able to secure a fourth-place finish. Cardenas’ fourth place finish was the second year that he was an All-American. The second place finish highlight a strong finish to Cornell season which included an EIWA Conference Championship, too. Kudos to the Big Red!!!

The West Point team coached by Kevin Ward, this year’s EIWA Coach of the Year, also had a good showing at the “big show” with senior Ben Pasuik placing eighth at the 174 pound weight class. Pasiuk is the first All-American from Army since 2008, when Matt Kyler finished sixth in the 141lb bracket. Concluding, we should give Columbia University a “shout out” for getting an All-American Lennox Wolak who finished 6th. Wolak was Zach Tanelli’s first All-American.

The Upstate New York Chapter is happy to announce those Division III Colleges who had All-Americans at this year’s championship in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Coach Mark Howard’s wrestler out of SUNY Oswego, Charlie Grygas of Duanesburg High School, placed 5th for the Lakers. Mark will also be inducted into the Upstate New York Chapter’s Hall of Fame and will join his father, Jim Howard in the Hall of Fame.

Jack Ryan from Trumbull, Connecticut secured All-American status by placing 7th for the Red Dragons of Oneonta State coached by Duane Ritter. In addition, Isaias Torres, a sophomore from the Ithaca Bombers reached the All-American podium by finishing 7th at the Division III championships. Last year, Ithaca coach Marty Nicholas was named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Mideast Region Coach of the Year. Furthermore, Alex Samson, Victor High School and a former New York state champion, wrestling for St. John Fisher finished 7th and became the first All-American since the 1980’s for the Cardinals. This is the second year of the program at St. John Fisher since it was re-established with Coach Ryne Morrison at the helm. Coach Justin Signorelli, who is coaching his fifth year at Alfred, guided junior Sean Malenfant to the podium with a 5th place finish for the Pioneers at the Division III championships. Malenfant hails from Averill Park in Section II and enjoyed a lofty 32-2 record for the season. Sean was Alfred first All-American since moving to DIII. Additionally, Rochester Institute of Technology obtained an eight place finish at the championship as junior Mike Glynn, Salem High School in New Hampshire, earned eighth place in the 149 pound weight class for head Coach Jason Bovenzi.

A victory in the fifth-place match cemented Zoey Lints place in the records books for the Elmira College women's wrestling program as she becomes the highest-placing member at the NCWWC National Championships for the Soaring Eagles. Lints went 4-2 overall at the tournament and 2-1 on the second day of action at the national tournament for the Purple & Gold. Lints joins teammate Skylah Chakouian as the only All-American wrestler's in program history after Chakouian notched an eighth-place finish during her freshman campaign in 2021-22. This is the third year that Coach Cody Griswold has led the Purple and Gold to record achievements.

Coach Carlene Sluberski’s, D’Youville University, had five wrestlers qualifiy for the NCWWC; Madison Wellen, Alessandra Ellicott, Elizabeth Stricklin, Saniyah Ward and Riley Wentlent became the first qualifiers for the Saints in their historic first year on the mats. This was the inaugural year for women’s wrestling at Alfred State and CoachMaggie Laine Kermoade wrestling team started with a small squad but hopefully the Pioneers will develop into a solid squad in the very near future. Columbia University has developed a women’s wrestling club and Coach Talia Fine is well on her way to get a varsity sport status at Columbia.  Finally, Coach Connor LaPresi’s, Utica College women’s wrestling team, wrestled a full schedule with a small squad but gained a good deal of experience. Hopefully, the team will be at full strength for their second year of competition in the 2024-25 season.