Within the top flight, there were fifteen weight brackets contested. Each - actually all but one - featured wrestlers getting three matches within one of two round-robin pools and then a crossover match against the wrestler in the same placing position of the other pool. When all was done by the late afternoon, two juniors from the Empire State shined above all others, Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton) and Vitali Arujau (Syosset).
Diakomihalis dominated his way to the title at the 135-pound weight class with three major decisions in pool competition, and then a pin over top 100 senior Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.) in the championship match. In pool competition for Diakomihalis, it was a 12-1 major decision over state champion John Arceri (Huntington, N.Y.), a 10-1 major decision over Junior Greco All-American Corey Shie (LaSalle, Ohio), and then a 14-4 major decision over top 100 senior Kellen Devlin (Amherst, N.Y.)
Arujau came home with the 125-pound title as he upset Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) 2-1 in the championship match; Suriano is ranked as the No. 2 overall wrestler in the Class of 2016. The three preliminary pool matches for Arujau were all major decision victories.
Two other New York natives also won Journeymen Fall Classic titles, Kevin Parker (Shenendehowa) at 182 and Christian Araneo (Ward Melville) at 225.
Those four titles won by Empire State natives was tied for the most with the four won by natives of New Jersey. Champions from the Garden State included Joe Heilmann (South Plainfield) at 106, Patrick Glory (Delbarton) at 113, Sebastian Rivera (Christian Brothers) at 120, and Anthony Porcaro (Sayreville) at 285. Highlighting the results among that group of champions was a 5-4 win for Rivera in his championship match over three-time state champion Tyler Warner (Claymont, Ohio), who is ranked No. 45 in the Class of 2016.
Another of the day's stars was Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.), who is ranked No. 14 in the Class of 2016, and earned the title at the 152-pound weight class. Hidlay's championship match victory came by 3-1 decision over Mason Manville (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), ranked No. 15 overall in the senior class. Other wins for Hidlay came 1-0 over three-time state placer Nick Monico (Saegertown, Pa.), 4-3 over two-time state champion Foster Karmon (Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Mich.) and 10-3 over top 50 junior Mekhi Lewis (Bound Brook, N.J.)
The two other champions from the Keystone State were a pair of Bethlehem Catholic teammates in Luke Karam and Michael Labriola. The grade level ranked wrestlers took care of business in their respective weight classes. Karam, ranked No. 28 in the senior class, was champion at 130; while Labriola, ranked No. 20 in the junior class, was champion at 160.
Rounding out the day's weight class champions were Charles Kane (Fairfield Warde, Ct.) at 140, Ryan Peters (Timberlane, N.H.) at 145, Anthony Falbo (Newtown, Ct.) at 170, and Blake Rypel (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.) at 195.
Link: Results
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