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    Wrestling 49: New York

    As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. Between now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce you to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, you will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships.

    Did you miss a Wrestling 49 article? Check out the archives.

    A year removed from what aficionados were hailing as one of the best group of seniors (10 InterMat top 100 recruits) in Empire State history, the Class of 2010 is out to prove that when it comes to wrestling, New York does not rebuild, it reloads! And, if past team performances at events such as the NHSCA National tournament are any indication, it is no exaggeration to say that the current senior class may very well equal, if not surpass, the accomplishments enjoyed by their brethren that have come before them.

    In three trips to Virginia Beach, the young men from New York have never finished out of the medals, finishing third as juniors in 2009, second in 2008, and winning the team title as freshmen. During this time span, they have accounted for eight individual national titles, six national runner-up finishes, and 44 total NHSCA All-Americans. Among the 30 wrestlers who have combined to earn this impressive figure, only 14 are current or former NYS DI or DII state champions. Looking to complete the sweep (All-American honors all four years) is a quartet of the state's top 10 wrestlers: Tyler Beckwith, Stephen Dutton, Angelo Malvestuto, and Anthony Volpe. All four have already made appearances in the national finals, with three of them earning at least one title.

    On the state level, New York welcomes back nine returning state champions (Mike Soria, Kyle McGregor, Nick Arujau, Nick Wilcox, Vinny Digravio, Stephen Dutton, Andy Rodriguez, Tyler Beckwith, and Kyle Colling), as well as four former state champions (Ken Collado, Kyle Crisaulli, Andrew Lenzi, and Cody Ruggirello). In fact, so deep was the Empire State this season that selecting a top 10 proved to be a very daunting task that witnessed me going back and forth on several occasions regarding who should occupy the spots on the list. Five current or former champs did not make the cut.

    Nick Arujau (TheMatSlap.com)
    Two wrestlers who will be seeking their third state title in 2010 are Syosset High School's Nick Arujau and Greene High School's Nick Wilcox. While both are three-time finalists, their paths to the titles have been as different as night and day. Arujau, after losing in the state finals as a freshman to Cody Ruggirello, has rebounded in extremely strong fashion, winning the hardware the last two years (including what many considered to be the most stacked weight class in 2009, the DI 125-pound weight class). Wilcox, on the other hand, tasted his first sip of victory as an eighth-grader when he parlayed a shocking semifinal victory over Ian Paddock into an eventual title effort. However, it would be two years before Wilcox would succeed in returning to the top, losing in the state finals to Paddock as a freshman and then failing to qualify as a sophomore.

    Looking to join Arujau and Wilcox in a rare club of four-time state finalists is Central Valley's Cody Ruggirello. If the name sounds familiar, it should. Cody is the younger brother of current Hofstra University superstar and former three-time NYS champion/2006 NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Lou Ruggirello. When Cody pinned Arujau in the 2007 state finals, he became the third member of his family to hoist the crown, following in the footsteps of his aforementioned brother and his father, Lou Sr., a state titlist in 1989. Similar to Wilcox, Ruggirello would return to the championship match a year later, but would have to endure the agony of watching his opponent (and future college teammate) Steve Bonanno celebrate after dropping a hard fought decision in double overtime. Heartbreak would strike Ruggirello again in 2009, as a shocked audience in Albany watched as eventual state runner-up Joe Grippi (lost to Digravio in the finals) hit a five-point move in the last 10 seconds to upset the heavily-favored Ruggirello in a semifinal bout. Ruggirello would wrestle his way back to claim third place honors.

    While undecided on where he will compete at as a senior (either 135 or 140), Ruggirello can expect to be challenged by a fellow top 10 wrestler at whichever weight class that he ends up. If he elects to move up one weight class from last season to 135 pounds, it is believed that he would be on a collision course with 2008 NYS champion/2009 state runner-up Andrew Lenzi from Fordham Prep. If Ruggirello bumps all of the way up to 140, he will likely be met by the young man who defeated Lenzi for the 135-pound state title last season, Rocky Point's Stephen Dutton. Dutton is himself no stranger to disappointment. As a freshman, Dutton was leading the 119-pound state finals 2-0 before a Devon Brown cement mixer put an end to his title hopes. As a sophomore, Dutton was again the victim of a stroke of bad luck as he inadvertently pinned himself in a first round match that he was leading by a significant margin. He would respond by outscoring his opponents 63-1 to secure a third-place finish. Last season's title performance was said to be the ultimate characteristic of a new and mentally tougher Dutton.

    Despite combining for only three DII finals appearances between them, two wrestlers who find themselves in the top 6 of the list are Tyler Beckwith and Kyle Colling. While separated by approximately 40 pounds, if one were to compare the junior seasons of these two young men, you would find that they are marked by similarity. Both winners of their first state titles in 2009, neither Beckwith nor Colling were content to rest on their laurels. Instead, they headed to Virginia Beach with a mission of further solidifying their respecting wrestling resumes. Mission accomplished ... as each would go on to win Junior National titles by besting former NHSCA champions in the finals (Beckwith over NY teammate Malvestuto; Colling over Pennsylvania's Spencer Myers). Malvestuto, himself a three-time NYS and multiple-time NHSCA placewinner, joins Beckwith as member of the state's top 10.

    Andy Rodriguez (TheMatSlap.com)
    Rounding out the list are a pair of native Long Islanders in the persons of Anthony Volpe and Andy Rodriguez. Volpe, who is still seeking his first state title, made this list by virtue of the success that he has enjoyed nationally. As both a former Cadet Greco-Roman and a three-time returning NHSCA Nationals All-American, Volpe's place on this list was locked up when he received an outpouring of support from the college coaches that I spoke to prior to penning this article. Likewise, when it came time to make my final selections, Rodriguez was someone who found himself on a short list of five wrestlers who I could not decide if they belonged as the final member of the top-10, or if they were better classified as honorable mention selections. Ultimately, what ended up being the deciding factor for me was the fact that Rodriguez was the only one who was both a state champion and a person who lived in my part of the state, thus allowing me to see/evaluate by me on numerous occasions.

    Because I very much want to recognize the immense accomplishments of those not chosen, allow me to list their names now: Kyle McGregor (2009 NYS DII champion, 2009 NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American), Justis Flamio (two-time state runner-up, 2009 NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American), Vinny Digravio (2009 NYS champion, former NHSCA Nationals All-American), Giuseppe Lanzi (2009 NYS third place, two-time NHSCA Nationals All-American, 2007 NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion), and Matt Loew (2009 NYS runner-up, two-time NHSCA Nationals All-American, 2009 FILA Cadet Nationals freestyle champion/third in Greco-Roman).

    One thing is for certain, 2010 should be another exciting and fun filled year for anyone who calls themselves a New York wrestling enthusiast.

    1. Tyler Beckwith

    School: Greene
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 189
    Projected College Weight Class: 174/184

    Tyler Beckwith (TheMatSlap.com)
    Scouting Report: The most versatile wrestler in New York State this season, Beckwith, is a true three-style competitor. The winner of his first DII state title in 2009, Beckwith has been flourishing on the national stage since his freshman year. Already a three-time NHSCA National champion, the multi-sport athlete at Greene High School has a chance to make history in 2010 by becoming the first scholastic wrestler ever to win an NHSCA title at every grade level (he could be joined by New Mexico's Louis Trujillo who also heads into this season as a three-time champion). In the international styles, the native of Syracuse has been every bit as good, earning double Junior All-American honors this past year in Fargo (second in Greco-Roman, eighth in freestyle).

    Rated as the No. 11 recruit in the nation by InterMat, the three-time NYS DII placewinner (second in 2008 at 171, fifth in 2007 at 145) will be reunited with his Shamrock Wrestling Club coach, Scott Green, next fall as he gave a verbal commitment to Binghamton University back in July.

    2. Nick Arujau

    School: Syosset
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125
    Projected College Weight Class: 125

    Scouting Report: The son of former two-time World Freestyle champion/1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Vougar Oroujov, winning is in the blood of Nick Arujau. A state runner-up as a freshman in 2007, Arujau has not tasted defeat the past two years, winning state crowns at 112 and 125 pounds respectively. He enters his senior season with a career record of 148-7 as well as an 85-match winning streak. Considered small for the weight last season, the three-time Nassau County champion has confirmed that it is his intention to compete at 125 again this season.

    While small on quantity, Arujau's national resume is high on quality. In 2008 was a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals runner-up, finishing third with his only loss coming at the hands of eventual champion, California's Jesse Delgado. That same year, Arujau earned All-American honors in Fargo, finishing seventh at the Cadet National Freestyle tournament.

    Pursued by a number of institutions, Arujau narrowed down his list to a trio of schools -- American, Lehigh, and Hofstra -- before ultimately deciding to continue his career at the latter.
    Having spent considerable time training in Russia this summer, it will be exciting to see how much the No. 46 national recruit has progressed from one year to the next.

    3. Stephen Dutton

    School: Rocky Point
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 140
    Projected College Weight Class: 141

    Stephen Dutton (TheMatSlap.com)
    Scouting Report: Heading into his junior season, many considered Dutton to be the best wrestler in NYS without a title (second in 2007, third in 2008). This is a tag that fortunately will not follow him into his grand finale. In 2009, Dutton practically ran over everybody in his path. Going undefeated along the way, the 2007 NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion (fourth in 2008, National runner-up in 2009) claimed his first state title in high fashion by defeating defending state champion/fellow top 10 honoree Andrew Lenzi by major decision in the finals. Earlier in the season, he defeated former two-time NYS champion Paul Liquori in a dual meet.

    In addition to being a three-time NHSCA All-American, Dutton really solidified his name on the national scene last November when he finished a respectable sixth in a stacked 135-pound class at the Super 32 tournament. In doing so, Dutton defeated a pair of Virginia state champions (Both current DI wrestlers) in the persons of Andrew Williams and Ian Squires.

    With another year of working alongside former Hofstra University two-time All-American Charles Griffin (an assistant coach at Rocky Point), available to him, there is no telling how developed he will be when he heads off to college. Having given Coach Pat Santoro a verbal commitment in July, Dutton is Bethlehem, PA bound, as he will continue his athletic/academic career at perennial EIWA powerhouse Lehigh University. Dutton is the No. 68 ranked recruit in the nation.

    4. Nick Wilcox

    School: Greene
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 130
    Projected College Weight Class: 125/133

    Scouting Report: Already a two-time Junior Greco-Roman All-American in Fargo, it might be easy to brand Wilcox a Greco-Roman specialist and overlook his folkstyle skills. Doing so would be very bad for any potential opponents. Despite being slightly overshadowed by his teammate, Beckwith, it will actually be Wilcox who will take to the mat in 2010 as his school's most accomplished in-state wrestler. A two-time DII state champion (2006 and 2009), Wilcox finished as the runner-up in 2007.

    Another member of the famed Shamrock Wrestling Club, if Wilcox is able to have even half of the success enjoyed by former Shamrock lightweight, 2009 NCAA champion Troy Nickerson, he will make Bloomsburg (where he recently committed) very happy.

    5. Kyle Colling

    School: Pioneer
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 215
    Projected College Weight Class: 285

    Scouting Report: The brother of 2008 NHSCA Senior Nationals runner-up (at 285), Randy Colling, Kyle is following a similar path as his older brother. The only difference is that last season, Kyle was able to secure the DII state title that eluded the grasp of his big brother. Expected to compete at 215 for the second consecutive year, Colling has to be considered a sizeable (no pun intended) favorite to repeat his 2009 success.

    Nationally, Colling has been equally impressive. As a junior, he followed up his hardware winning performance in Albany by winning the NHSCA Junior Nationals title, defeating Pennsylvania state runner-up/recent Maryland committee Spencer Myers by injury default in the title match. This was the second All-American finish for Colling, who previously finished fourth as a freshman.

    Originally, Colling was not as high up on this list as he currently stands. However, in speaking with several college coaches in the New York area, I was surprised to learn how much respect he had garnered. Considered a definitive top 5 wrestler in state, the plethora of support that Colling received was enough for me to give him a second look and reconsider my original list.

    As of today, Colling, who like his big brother is a two-sport athlete, remains on the open market. If the response from the coaches I spoke to are any indication, this young man will have more than his fair share of programs to choose from when he decides to do so.

    6. Angelo Malvestuto

    School: Niagara-Wheatfield
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 189
    Projected College Weight Class: 174/184

    Scouting Report: If Dutton was the best wrestler in NYS without a title in 2009, the honor has to belong to Malvestuto this season. A three-time NHSCA All-American, the Niagara Wheatfield senior has never failed to finish out the money in Virginia Beach. As a freshman, he won the 160-pound national title. The following season, he finished third in a very strong weight class eventually won by Beckwith. Malvestuto would split the difference as a junior, finishing as the national runner-up with his only coming at the hands of Beckwith.

    As impressive as he has been on the national scene, Malvestuto has been no slouch statewide either. He comes into his senior season with the opportunity to be a four-time NYS DI placewinner. This is not too shabby when you consider that he began his scholastic career at a weight usually populated by upperclassmen. In 2007, he finished fourth at160. The last two years must have had a certain “Groundhog Day” feeling to it as Malvestuto has found himself as the third-place finisher back-to-back years at 171. If he is to succeed in finding himself on the top step of the podium this season, it is likely that he will have to best returning state finalist Matt Loew.

    The No. 79-rated recruit in the country, Malvestuto has been very private regarding his future collegiate plans. However, with a resume like his, one would have to think that colleges/universities are in the process of beating down his door.

    7. Cody Ruggirello

    School: Valley Central
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 135/140
    Projected College Weight Class: 141

    Cody Ruggirello
    Scouting Report: While not regarded as the flashiest of wrestlers, Cody Ruggirello is something of a cerebral assassin. He is excellent at studying his opponents, learning their shot patterns, and than using those patterns against them to score. Much like older brother Lou (three-time NYS champion, 2006 NHSCA Senior Nationals champion, three-time CAA champion/NCAA qualifier), Ruggirello's length can be something of a problem for his shorter foes. The similarities do not end there. As was the case with his older brother, Cody is a beast on the mat, utilizing the now famous “Ruggirello double bars” to put away many an opponent. As a junior last season, Ruggirello established a sectional record for victories in a single season with 54. He will be looking to equal or break that record this coming season.

    As freshman, Ruggirello appeared that he would be well on his way toward becoming a four-time NYS champion. In fact, he earned his only state title up to this point in 2007 when he pinned Arujau in the 103-pound championship bout. The last two years have not been as fortunate for Ruggirello as he has had to settle for runner-up (2008 at119) and third place (2009 at 130) honors. If he succeeds in placing in 2010, which barring injury should be a near certainty, Ruggirello will join a very exclusive club of wrestlers who finish their careers as five time state placewinners (third in 2006, first in 2007, second in 2008, third in 2009).

    Demonstrating that he far from a big fish in a little pond, Ruggirello won over the respect of a lot of non-NYers this past March when he placed fourth at the NHSCA Junior National tournament. While not able to pull off the upset, one of the things that caught the eyes of most spectators was how hard Ruggirello was able to push New Mexico's three-time NHSCA Nationals champion, Louis Trujillo, in their quarterfinal bout.

    In July, Ruggirello announced that he would be joining his brother at Hofstra University. While it is too early to know for sure, the speculation is that Cody will compete as a true freshman so as to allow the brothers one season to wrestle together. Starting for the same team is something that they have not done since 2006 at Central Valley High School.

    8. Andrew Lenzi

    School: Fordham Prep
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 135
    Projected College Weight Class: 141

    Scouting Report: A state champion in 2008, Lenzi might have the highest level of untapped potential of anyone on this list. A product of the predominantly weak Catholic League, it is likely that the two-time NYS finalist (runner-up last season at 135) has not been exposed to the same caliber of workout partner as has been other members of this top 10. However, despite not having a steady person in the Rams' wrestling room to push him, Lenzi has continually gotten the job done when it mattered most. He possesses an amazing sweep single that has at times seemed to be unstoppable. He is also an above average rider who when given the opportunity has showcased a talent for tilting his opponent.

    A 2008 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals All-American (finishing sixth at135), it is the opinion of many CHSAA fans that heading into his senior season, Lenzi has the potential to become the greatest wrestler ever to represent the New York Catholic League. A state title in 2010 will make him the only wrestler in league history to be a multiple-time champion. A third finals appearance will tie him with former University of Iowa wrestler/NCAA qualifier Lucas Magnani, who accomplished the feat for St. Anthony's from 2000-2002.

    As gifted in the classroom as he is on the wrestling mat, the two-time Catholic state tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler has drawn the attention of most Ivy League institutions. In speaking with him recently, I have learned that he has narrowed down his college choices to the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University.

    9. Anthony Volpe

    School: Rocky Point
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 152/160
    Projected College Weight Class: 157

    Anthony Volpe (TheMatSlap.com)
    Scouting Report: Only the second wrestler on this list to not have won at least one NYS title, Volpe's inclusion on this list is a combination of his strong national performances along with the incredible amount of praise that he received from the college coaches that I polled. A third-place finisher in his only appearance at the DI tournament in 2009, it is quite possible that the Rocky Point wrestler could have a state champion if not for a person named Zach Clemente. Clemente, a two-time NYS champion, who is currently on scholarship at the University of Virginia, was the only wrestler to defeat Volpe at the state tournament last season.

    Competing on the national level, Volpe joins his high school teammate Dutton as well as Beckwith and Malvestuto as wrestlers who find themselves in a position to go 4-for-4 in placing at the NHSCA national tournament. A national runner-up in 2007 (lost to Dutton in NHSCA Freshman National finals), Volpe has made a solid showing of himself the past two seasons, finishing third and seventh respectively in 2008 and 2009.

    In addition, while not altogether pursued, Volpe has shown a slight talent in the international styles, finishing seventh in Greco-Roman at the 2007 National Cadet Nationals.
    In late July, Volpe announced that he had given a verbal commitment to Scott Goodale's quickly emerging Rutgers program.

    10. Andy Rodriguez

    School: Central Islip
    09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 145
    Projected College Weight Class: 149

    Scouting Report: The 2009 NYS DI champion at 140 pounds, Rodriguez has been considered a phenom since his schoolboy days. As an eighth-grader, Rodriguez was a Schoolboy Nationals champion while competing as a part of the well respected Sayville Youth Wrestling Program. While he has not compiled as distinguished a national resume as his fellow members on this list, statewide Rodriguez has been about as good as one could ask.

    A three-time Suffolk County (considered one of the hotbeds of Long Island wrestling) finalist, Rodriguez would likely have been a three-time state qualifier had the wildcard system been in place when he was a freshman. Instead, he had to stay home and watch as Dutton, who defeated him in the sectional finals, went on to place second at the state tournament. Transferring from Sayville to Central Islip between his freshman and sophomore seasons, Rodriguez made the most of it when presented with the opportunity to compete in the 2008 state tournament, finishing fourth behind three wrestlers who would all go on to compete on the Division I level. This past season, all of his potential was realized when he defeated Nick Terdick (Honorable Mention) not once, but twice on his way to his second Suffolk title and his first NYS title.

    Blessed with great explosiveness and athleticism, Rodriguez should make the transition to collegiate wrestling rather smoothly. However, where his career will continue remains unknown at this time.

    Honorable Mention:
    Mike Soria (Kings Park)*
    Max Soria (Kings Park) **
    Damon McQueen (Huntington)
    Colton Dalberth (Marion)**
    Kenny Collado (Hauppauge)*
    Kyle McGregor (Tonawanda***
    Kyle Crisafulli (Phoenix)*
    Justis Flamio (Mahopac)**
    Adam Troy (Walt Whitman)**
    Vinny Digravio (Wayne)***
    Bucky Hendrickson (Letchworth)
    Giuseppi Lanzi (Amsterdam)**
    Nick Terdick (John Glenn)**
    Ryan Tompkins (Beacon)
    Paul Morabito (Spencerport)**
    Billy Coggins (Rocky Point)**
    Ryan Darch (Batavia)**
    Vinny Gallo (Schalmont)
    Matt Loew (Wantagh)**
    Zeal McGrew (Burnt Hills)**
    Elijah Graham (Corcoran)

    * Former/Returning New York state champion (DI & DII)
    ** Former NHSCA or Junior/Cadet Nationals All-American
    *** Both Former/Current New York state champion & NHSCA or Junior/Cadet Nationals All-American
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