Cinderella Stories Emerging On Day #2 of the NYSPHSAA State Championships

DIVISION I:

101: Brady Maneri (So.; Auburn)---Seeded 6th in the bracket, the two-time S3 finalist/2024 Champion reached the winner's round of 4 when he was able to strike for four takedowns (2 in each of the first two periods) and then added a reversal in the 3rd to topple #3 seed/2024 S2 titlist. Brody DiCaprio (Burnt Hills), by a score of 10-3....One of two fellow sectional kinds defeated by the Maroons' 10th grader, one round earlier, he poured it on to the tune of a 20-8 major decision over S5 gold medalist, Lukas Yeager (Hilton)...He will wrestle #2 seed/2024 Section 9 runner-up, EJ Vass (Valley Central) for the spot in the main event!

108: Cullen Edwards (So.; St. Francis)---Up 4-3 as the clock dipped below 1:00 remaining in regulation of his quarterfinal match with third-seeded/2x returning NYS medalist, Ralph Keeney (Ballston Spa), the #6 seeded Red Raider hit a reversal for 2+2 to go up 8-3. This sequence proved to be the difference-maker, as he'd later get reversed back, but was able to hang on for the 8-5 decision..In first outing of Friday, Edwards came away with a 5-1 decision against 2x S5 champ, Jon Testa (Hilton)...To secure the berth in the finale, he will next have to try to conquer defending State Champion, Cooper Merli (Newburgh), to begin day #2!

116: Brayden Kellison (Fr.; Williamsville North/East)---The fab freshman is on fire on behalf of Spartan nation, as he pulled not one but TWO UPSETS on Friday to lock up All-State distinction...Fresh off of an 8-2 round of 16 decision versus 2023 State 8th, #7 Ryan Cieslinski (Spencerport), the 9th grader out of S6 exploded for a counter TD for 2+3 in the last half minute of the 3rd period to turn a 1-1 deadlock into an instant 6-1 steal versus #2 seed/2024 Nassau champ, Carlos Salazar (Hewlett)...The 10th-seeded Kellison will try to keep his run to glory in tact when he clashes with the third-seeded king of Suffolk, Anthony Severino (Lindenhurst)!

145: Jared Spahn (Sr.; Islip)---6th at this tournament a season ago as a junior, the 2024 Suffolk runner-up can officially do no worse than tie his previous achievement, as he punched his ticket to the semifinals when he utilized takedowns in the 1st and 3rd periods, sandwiched around a middle stanza reversal on his way to a 6-3 decision in the quarterfinal against sectional teammate, #19 Jayden Medina (Connetquot), who had previously upset #3 Daniel Parker (Ithaca), in the round of 16...In his only other outing of Friday, the Buccaneer senior squeaked out a 5-4 dub over 2x S3 bridesmaid, Logan Munn (Carthage)...His next stop on what he hopes is a road paved with gold on Saturday night will be former NHSCA All-American/2024 S9 Champion/#2 seed, Mason Ketcham (Washingtonville)

190: Zach Miller (Sr.; Islip)---Turning his return to MVP Arena a productive one was the 2022 State 8th, Miller, who missed the 2023 postseason, but is back on a mission, as he has stormed into the semifinal from #6-line in the bracket, with his marquee triumph coming in the form of a 8-6 decision in the quarters versus 2x Section 9 brass ring owner/#3 seed, Zach Filip (Minisink Valley)...Doing much of his damage during the initial 2:00 feeling out period, Miller exploded for 2 takedowns and a full set of backs to jump out to a 7-1 lead at end of the 1st period before withstanding the Warrior sophomore's rally...Miller actually made it habitual tormenting all of section 9, as his round of 16 appearance witnessed him cruise to a 15-0 TF over the runner-up from FDR-Hyde Park, Chris Herriman!...One win away from the center mat, Miller will need to bring his "A" game tomorrow as he squares off in the semis with #2 seed/2023 NHSCA All-American/2024 CHSAA State champ, Zach Caldwell (St. Francis)!

285: Michael Mauro (Soph.; John Jay Sr -East Fishkill)---The lowest seeded student-athlete (#13) to reach tomorrow's semifinal round, the 11th grader out of Section 1 threw himself a pin party, as one-by-one-one, he registered sticks in all three of his trips to the mat, with the times of the falls occurring in 5:17 (up 8-0), :58 (2-0 at the time), and 5:49 (tied at 4-4 not including the NF) against the likes of S5 silver, Blaze Waters; as well as both 2024 Section 6 finalists---#4 seed/S6 runner-up, Mike Welsh (Frontier) & #5 seed/S6 titlist, Bryce Hawes (Clarence)...The task will get considerably tougher on Saturday, as Mauro will have to try his hand against 2x ESC Champion/2023 State runner-up/2022 Fargo AA, Stephan Monchery (Middletown)!

285: Kamdyn Dorchester (Carthage)---The 2024 Section 3 champion took care of business among the big boys, as he would record back-to-back wins by fall to reach the semis out of the #6 spot of the bracket...Good fortune on the side of our #6 seed, instead of colliding with third-seeded/Section 5 champ, Gael Sanchez (Churchville Chili) in the quarters, he'd instead tangle with 14th-seeded/S8 runner-up, Brandon Goldstein (Bellmore-JFK), who upset Sanchez in the round of 16...Seizing the opportunity, the Comet junior (already holding a 2-0 edge after a 2nd period reversal), drove the Nassau rep to his back and held him there until the slap of the mat echoed 56 ticks into the 3rd period (4:56)...One round prior, Dorchester transformed what looked like a likely decision into bonus points when up 6-4, he'd shake 2024 Suffolk runner-up, Dominick Albertelli (Islip), off top and trap him on his back for the stick with just :29 to go in the match's duration!...Having already beaten two of Long Island's finest, he will go for the hat trick on Saturday morning when clashes with 2x Nassau titlist/#2 seed Vincent Petzold (Plainedge)!
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DIVISION II:

101: Mason Tanner (Fr.; Jordan-Elbridge-PB-US)---Arriving out of left field, A.K.A. the #14 seed in the bracket was the 2024 bronze medalist for the Eagles, Tanner....Bonus pointing his way through day #1, the fierce frosh notched premier wins in the round of 16 and quarterfinals when he bested #3 and #6 seeded student-athletes by outcomes of 14-6 major and fall in 2:48....Against the former, Dansville 8th grader/S5 champion, Wyatt Sartori, Tanner converted a TD :23 into the bout and never looked back, as he went wire-to-wire, adding a TD + count in the 2nd, as well as two reversals and some additional NF to earn the major...He was even more dominant against another Rochester area star, as up 4-0, he'd run a bar to pin the sectional runner-up, John Winseman (HFL), :48 into the middle stanza...At the onset of the morning, Tanner also logged a 16-0 TF (5 sets of swipes) in the round of 32 versus S2 runner-up, Jonah Stevens (Salem-Cambridge)...One dub away from the finale, Tanner will go hunting for yet another elite triumph when he battles returning State 4th, Jakob Lucinski (Newfane), in the championhip round of 4!

116: Dylan Depew-Cappadonia (Jr.; Canisteo-Greenwood)---From 4th in the section in 2023 to possibly 1st in the state if he has anything to say about it, the Red Raider junior entered with a miraculous 42-2 record and only continued to add to the win total today, as he'd rack up three wins from the #13 line in the bracket, highlighted by respective 5-2 and 11-5 decisions in the round of 16 and quarters over the #4 hailing from S3---Talon Kimball (Camden) & Adam Munz (Vernon Verona Sherril)...In the earlier of his two upset victories, the 2024 Section V gem surrendered the opening TD, but then fought back to tally last five unanswered point (E1 in the 1st, reversal in the 2nd, Takedown in the 3rd) to upend the S3 bridesmaid, Kimball...Versus Munz (S3 3rd in 2024), he came out of the gates like a bat out of hell, scoring a TD in the 1st, complemented by a reversal and NF + a penalty point in the 2nd to carry the 8-2 edge into the final 2:00...Each man had a takedown and escape in the 3rd to account for the aforementioned final score...17 straight points (after giving up the initial TD) between the 2nd and 3rd periods did the trick in the round of 32, as Depew-Cappadonia literally TURNED IT ON, as he racked up countless near-fall to pick up the 17-2 over S2 True 2nd, Jayden Acomb (Ravena Coeymans Selkirk)...There are levels to this sport, and in order to climb the next mountain, it may require the 11th grader to jump to the next one, as his berth in the main event will be determined by whether or not he can slay a dragon in the person of 2x defending State gold medalist/#1 seed, Darren Florance (BGAH)!

160: Jacob Stephenson (Jr.; Wilson)---Raising his resume to 46-4 during his junior campaign was the 2024 Section 6 champion for the Lakemen, who did the deed of launching himself into the semifinals via a fall in 1:45 against #3 seed/2023 NYS 5th, Beau Zeh (Canisteo-Greenwood)...The match scoreless as we dipped below :30 to go in the 1st period, it was the defensive prowess of Stephenson that enabled him to cash in, as he'd counter a shot attempt from Zeh by locking up a Schalles to whip his opponent straight to his back for 2+3 before the slap of the mat bellowed throughout MVP Arena...The second of a pair of sticks earning by the 11th grader, in his only other appearance, Stephenson build a 13-0 cushion before gluing Franklin Academy senior/S10 champ, Chase White, at the 3:44 mark...It will be a war of Buffalo and Syracuse in the semis, as up next will be a matinee date with 2x sectional champion/#2 seed/George Mason commit, Mason Rowley (Little Falls)!!!

215: Dominic Jones (Sr.; Mount Markham)---He gave the glory to God because that is exactly where he has had his opponents staring all day (the heavens) as the Mustang delivered a thoroughbred effort on Friday, pinning three straight oppositions (all in the 1st period) to emphatically take his place in the semifinals after entering the festivities as a modest #18 seed....His signature triumph transpiring in the round of 16, the 2024 S3 silver medalist pulled off some magic, as he tossed #2 seed/2x returning State medalist, Matthew Oosterom (Port Jervis), from bottom to turn a 2-0 deficit into a buzzer-beating 1:59 stick...His quarterfinal match proved less dramatic, but not the least bit uneventful as it took him a mere :47 to secure the fall over 7th-seeded/2023 State 5th, Caden Allen (Bolivar Richburg), when he got to a double-hooks position and hurled the 2x S5 champ from feet to back....Jones kicked off his Friday when he "chose violence" to overwhelm 2024 S2 true silver, Violence Sturdevant (Glens Falls) by finishing a TD, tossing in legs, and then scrambling on top for the :59 fall!!...With two wins over state placers under his belt, Jones has to be feeling the immense confidence as he rides into tomorrow's showdown with another surprise semifinalist, #6 seed Mason Maring (Chautauqua Lake)!

215: Mason Maring (Jr.; Chautauqua Lake)---As noted above, a student-athlete seeded 6th or lower is now ensured to be bound for the 215-pound small school finale thanks to the heroics of both Jones and the 2x S6 runner-up, Maring....Benefiting from #3 seed/2022 State 4th, Dominick Weaver (Windsor), getting upset in the round of 16, the Eagle 11th grader simply beat the man in front of him, as a takedown, turn, and exchange of R2s allowed him to jump out to a 7-2 1st period lead against 19th-seeded/2024 S3 3rd, Matthew Marks (South Lewis)...The cushion having been cut to 10-7 after 4:00, Maring solidified his quarterfinal conquest behind a reversal and rideout in the last 90 ticks of the 3rd period to hang on for the 12-7 decision...In the round of 16, he was playing wrestling bingo, stamping the TD box (1st), turn box (2nd), and reversal box (3rd) en route to the 6-2 decision versus 11th-seeded/3x Section 7 titlist, Trey McGee (Northern Adirondack)!

285: Gabe Soundararaj (Jr.; Windsor)---After settling for 5th at the sectional level last season, there was no stopping the 2024 S4 silver medalist on day #1 of his Siuth Pearl Street debut...Inducing a second stall warning, not to mention earning the E1 in the last :05 of the alternating :30 overtime rideouts, the sixth-seeded Black Knight had the luxury of allowing an escape when it was his turn on top, as he'd still emerge as a 3-2 quarterfinal victor against #3 seed/2024 S5 champ, Luke Herendeen (Palmyra Macedon)...The 11th greater from the Binghamton area had a much easier round of 16 outing, as he relished a 13-2 advantage before ultimately pinning Nassau Champ/11th-seeded Daniel Harooon (Wheatley), in the last 25 seconds of the 3rd period!...If he wishes to bring his dreams to fruition, the next step will require that he do something that no one before him as accomplished in 2023-2023; and that is get the better of a head-to-head with undefeated (25-0)/Section 6 titlist, (William Wortkoetter (Wilson)!