A year removed from watching as their state brethren put forth one of the finest performances at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, the expectation for New York wrestlers runs high. This is especially true of the talented group of young men who will enter the collegiate ranks next season, as the pressure to build off of and continue the line of success will fall directly on their shoulders in the years to come.
However, judging by the credentials that the Class of 2011 will carry into their respective senior seasons, the future looks bright and Empire State enthusiasts need not worry about the ball being fumbled anytime soon. Despite having had the bar set mighty high by the last few senior classes that have come before them, it is our sincere and objective opinion that it will be this core group of upperclassmen, consisting of 37 All-State grapplers that will establish a new standard of excellence for the N-Y.
This Top 10, representing seven different sections (I, II, IV, V, VIII, XI, and the CHSAA) within the Empire State, was drawn from a senior class that has accumulated 39 All-American honors to go along with the aforementioned 37 All-State performances, and truly does succeed in identifying the creme de la creme from both of the state's two divisions (seven from Division I, four from Division II). In evaluating their collective accolades, we were astonished at the statistics that were uncovered: 24 NHSCA All-American distinctions and 17 All-State honors. If not convincing enough, it was also revealed this special group of 11 seniors had combined to win eight state titles among two divisions, finish as the state runner-up six times, and account for six appearances in the finals of various national tournaments, with one of our wrestlers emerging with the championship hardware. Competing in the international styles, two of the selected few have been successful in proving themselves to be three-dimensional (folk, free, Greco) in their wrestling abilities by virtue earning All-American honors on either the Cadet or Junior level while competing under the FARGODOME.
While there are very few certainties in this sport, one guarantee that can be made is that led by this ambitious and talented class of wrestlers, the upcoming season should prove to be another exciting and fun-filled year for anyone who calls themselves a New York wrestling enthusiast.
1. Nick Gwiazdowski
High School: Duanesburg (Division II/Section II)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215
Projected College Weight Class: 197/285
Nick GwiazdowskiNot content to rest on his laurels, the product of the Journeymen Wrestling Club would follow his impressive in-state performance by testing himself against the finest talent in the nation by participating in the inaugural FloNationals. This would be a decision that would pay major dividends as Gwiazdowski utilized his full repertoire of skills in defeating California's highly regarded Tank Knowles, 5-3, in the finals to earn his spot atop the podium. In doing so, he secured his third folkstyle All-American distinction to go along with a runner-up finish at the 2009 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals, and a fifth-place finish at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals. Gwiazdowski would lock up the No. 1 spot in the Top 10 in July when he became the only rising senior in NY to be crowned a double All-American in the International styles in Fargo (finishing third in both freestyle and Greco).
While still keeping his options open, the self described "solid in all three positions" wrestler did say that at the moment he is considering schools such as Binghamton, Penn State, Lehigh, and Virginia, to name only a few.
2. Grant Greene
High School: St. Anthony's (Division I/CHSAA)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Analysis: A household name on the NY wrestling scen since finishing as the DII state runner-up as an eighth-grader, Greene has continued to flourish within the Empire State, making the DI state finals the past two years (winning in 2009 at 112 pounds). Armed with one of the best dumps that we have ever seen in our collective years following the world's oldest and greatest sport, Greene will enter 2011 with the opportunity to lay claim to the title of best wrestler ever to compete in the Catholic League. Should Greene be successful in accomplishing what most NY wrestling aficionados are predicting (a second state title), he would join current University of Pennsylvania freshman/2010 NYS DI champion Andrew Lenzi as the only grapplers in league history to win multiple titles. If this achievement is not enough, it should also be noted that the rising senior from Cold Spring Harbor is on track to surpass the 200 career victories mark, further etching his name into the annals of NY wrestling history. With wins over both the No. 3 and No. 8 (twice) wrestlers in this Top 10 during his run to the title as a sophomore, Greene's selection to the No. 2 spot was justified and indisputable. The scary thing for his foes is that we believe we have not yet seen the best version of this talented student-athlete. In chatting with Greene following his state title loss in 2010, the gentleman was very candid about wanting to compliment his immense physical skills by using the offseason to become a more mentally tough wrestler. Working like a madman with his longtime personal coach, former two-time World freestyle champion Vougar Oroujov, it is more certainty than question that Greene will enjoy a breakout season as senior (which is saying a lot when you consider his already impressive credentials on the mat).
In addition to his success in NYS, the St. Anthony's wrestler is no stranger to national success as well. In fact, much like the student-athlete that precedes him on this list, Greene has been consistent in that he has earned an All-American honor in each of his three seasons competing on the scholastic level. As a freshman, he would enjoy his highest national finish thus far, taking home fourth at the NHSCA Nationals. The following March, he would return to Virginia Beach and emerge with a still impressive fifth-place finish. This past season, Greene would put an exclamation mark on his junior campaign by finishing eighth at the aforementioned FloNationals.
Before recently giving a verbal commitment to Northwestern University, Greene was also considering Cornell, North Carolina, and Virginia.
3. Bob Dierna
High School: Wayne (Division I/Section V)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135
Projected College Weight Class: 133/141
Analysis: One of, if not the most reliable/steady wrestlers in NY State, Dierna will come into his senior season with the opportunity to become a five-time state placewinner. He is one of two wrestlers on this list that will have the ability to accomplish such (joining No. 6 Casey Lanave). As an eighth-grader, the Wayne High School product, despite being slightly undersized, counted on his supreme talent to aid him in finishing fifth in the 2007 DI tournament � 2008 would be a banner year for Dierna as he would go on to win the first of what hopefully will end up being a pair of NYS DI crown, defeating the likes of Damon McQueen (2010 NYS DI champion/NHSCA Senior Nationals bronze medalist) and Sean McCormick (2010 NHSCA Junior Nationals champion) in ascending to the top spot at the 96-pound weight class. Dierna would enter 2009 as the favorite to repeat as a titlist and seemed well on his way to doing just that until he ran into a man on a hot streak, the No. 2 wrestler Greene, who came out possessed, locking up a cradle and getting the fall to dash Dierna's goal of repeating. To his credit, Dierna would show great perseverance, shaking off the loss to finish third at 112 pounds. Last season, competing in what was arguably the deepest weight class in NYS (the only weight class with two selections on this Top 10 list), Dierna would again have to settle for less than a title, finishing fourth with his losses coming to eventual champion Nick Meinsen (freshman at Binghamton) and Lanave.
As impressive as the Wayne High School wrestler has been on the NY scene, it was his national credentials, coupled with the opinions of several prominent NY wrestling experts that ultimately landed him in the No. 3 spot on this list. Winning an NHSCA Junior Nationals championship last season to go along with a third -place finish as a sophomore, Dierna has repeatedly proven time and time again that he can hang with the nation's elite.
While we were unable to reach him for comment regarding his future plans, we are confident in stating that we believe him to be a top-caliber recruit who will be an asset to whichever respective program he ends up representing at the collegiate level.
4. Nigel McNeil
High School: Huntington (Division I/Section XI)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 119
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Nigel McNeil (Photo/TheMatSlap.com)McNeil's success would carry over to the national stage as well, as he would go on to finish as the NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up (with his loss coming in the closing seconds to fellow NYer, the previously mentioned McCormick).
Despite not possessing as collective a list of accolades as other members of this list, McNeil's selection was based as much on his ceiling as it was on his scholastic career thus far. In fact, one trusted individual who is familiar with the world of DI college wrestling assessed McNeil as having perhaps the biggest upside of any wrestler in the Class of 2011. His ability to blend strength and quickness with polished technique makes him the prototypical hot commodity. McNeil is one of only two New York wrestlers to land in the InterMat Top 100 recruits in the country (currently No. 97).
Similar to Dierna, McNeil was unavailable for comment. However, with an endless ceiling like his, perhaps one of the reasons he was unable to respond to our inquiry was that he was too busy answering the phone from all of the calls he is seemingly receiving from coaches hungry to land a natural athlete such as himself.
5. Joe Kavanagh
High School: Wantagh (Division I/Section VIII)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 189
Projected College Weight Class: 174/184
Joe KavanaghEager to put the loss behind him, it had been Kavanagh's intention to compete at the NHSCA Junior Nationals in an attempt to the show the country just how dynamic a grappler he can be when pitted against the nation's elite. However, an injury during trailing derailed that plan, leaving Kavanagh temporarily concerned how his absence might affect his stock on the recruiting market.
Fortunately for the young man, hometown school Hofstra University, who have had the pleasure of watching him develop the past three years, had seen enough and offered him a scholarship. Kavanagh, whose dream has always been to compete for the Gold and Blue of the HU Pride, gladly accepted, giving the Hempstead, NY-based school a verbal commitment in early July. Having previously earned All-American honors as a sophomore by placing fourth at NHSCA Nationals, Kavanagh, who along with Greene also trains with the Russian legend Oroujov, will step onto the mat in 2011 as a heavy favorite to win the state title that has thus far escaped his determined grasp.
6. Casey Lanave
High School: Chenango Forks (Division I/Section IV)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135
Projected College Weight Class: 133/141
Analysis: Once hailed as the possible second coming of Troy Nickerson, a comparison that has to do as much with the fact that both attended the same high school as it did with Lanave's unmatched early success (state finalist as a seventh-grader), the Chenango Fork's rising senior has yet to land on the top step of the podium, making him perhaps one of the most decorated grapplers in state history not to have won the "big one." This is a label that the four-time All-State wrestler hopes to remove by the end of his scholastic career. With the aforementioned Dierna expected to be in his weight class for a second consecutive season, this will be an objective that is, as the expression goes, easier said than done. However, working in Lanave's favor is the fact that the last time these two blue-chippers met in Albany, it was he and not the 2010 NHSCA Junior Nationals champion emerging with the "w" in the third-place match. Hence, he would seemingly own the mental edge should these two be opposite each other in the 2011 NYS finals. A bronze medalist the past two years at the DI tournament, Lanave also has a fifth-place finish as a freshman to his name. Making these accomplishments jump off the page is the notion that in each instance, Lanave may have been competing in the toughest weight class in the state (96 as a seventh-grader, 119 as a freshman, 125 as a sophomore, 130 as a junior).
Cultivated/groomed by 2009 USA Wrestling Developmental Coach of the Year Rich Gumble, as well as the famed staff at the Shamrock Wrestling Club, Lanave would have been much higher on this list if not for the fact that the majority of his national success has occurred in the international styles. A four-time Cadet Nationals placewinner, with his highest finish being fourth place in freestyle in 2008, Lanave has more than proven that the potential is there to hang with and get the best of the nation's cr�me de la cr�me. However, before he can elevated on this list, we felt it was necessary that he first compile an equally valid resume as a folkstyle wrestler.
Lanave did not respond to inquiries regarding his plans for 2012 and beyond.
7. Craig Scott & Owen Scott
High School: Palmyra-Macedon (Division II/Section V)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160 (O) & 171 (C)
Projected College Weight Class: 174 (O) & 184/197 (C)
Analysis: Without fear of sounding clich�, let us say that to separate one Scott brother from the other would be like separating the hydrogen atoms from the oxygen atom in water, the yin from the yang, and for you soap opera watching mothers reading this article, Luke from Laura (a reference to infamous couple on General Hospital). Craig and Owen are a dynamic duo and deserve to be recognized together (like any twin combination), because above all else, they are the ones who have pushed each other to a greater level of greatness. In fact, so influential is this tag team that last season they led their high school to the unofficial DII team title in Albany. They are expected to do it again in 2011. As the closest thing that New York has to the Alton brothers, both enter the upcoming season with an individual state title to defend. For Craig, in addition to making it 2-for-2 in respective year, 2011 will mark his opportunity to go 4-for-4 in NYS tournament placement. As a freshman he finished fourth, with his only loss in the championship bracket suffered at the hands of four-time NYS DII champion Alex Ekstrom (entering his second year at the University of Oklahoma). A year later he would wrestle his way into the spotlight, earning a berth in the state finals, before having to settle for a runner-up finish. Last season, all of the stars aligned properly for this future Ivy Leaguer as he pinned one of his opponents and outscored the other three by a margin of 27-4 to seize the 160-pound DII title. He did this only minutes after walking brother, Owen, win the hardware at 152 pounds.
Owen ScottIf it is Craig with a slight edge with regard to NYS credentials, it would be Owen leading the way on the national scene. With both having earned a pair of NHSCA All-American finishes, it is Owen's national runner-up finish as a freshman and third-place finish as a sophomore just barely edging out Craig's sixth-place finish as a sophomore and fifth-place performance last season.
While yet to be finalized, both brothers indicated that they are in the process of verbally committing to Coach Rob Koll and his Cornell Big Red. Stay tuned for the official announcement.
8. Steven Rodrigues
High School: Fox Lane (Division I/Section I)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130
Projected College Weight Class: 133/141
Steven RodriguesTaking his talents to the big stage, Rodrigues was a runner-up at the inaugural FloNationals last season. This, when added to the NHSCA Sophomore All-American honor (sixth) he earned the previous year, is a testament to the potential that this young man possesses.
Entertaining a wide variety of collegiate options, Rodrigues shared with us that at the moment, he was considering offers from schools in the Big Ten (Iowa, Ohio State, and Indiana), Big 12 (Oklahoma), and ACC (Maryland) conferences. With his "tenacious trying to physically, mentally, emotionally break my opponents every time I step on the mat," mentality, whichever program is fortunate enough to land his services will be getting a diamond in the rough. He's the kind of gentleman who will not only make himself better, but will make his teammates better by virtue of setting a positive example in the wrestling room.
9. Derak Heyman
High School: Tioga Central (Division II/Section IV)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 140
Projected College Weight Class: 141
Analysis: A two-time DII state finalist/2009 champion, Heyman, who referred to himself as a scrambler, has some unfinished business at 140 pounds and will stay at this weight for the second consecutive season with the hopes of claiming the state title that slipped through his fingers by the narrowest of margins (a 6-5 loss in the finals). With the wrestler that defeated him in the title match having graduated, Heyman, who capped off his junior season with an overall record of 45-2, will be a heavy favorite in 2011 to wrap up his much heralded high school career with yet another DII crown.
In addition to his incredibly distinguished performance within the borders of the Empire State, it is perhaps the resume that he has compiled in Virginia Beach that has us the most excited to see what this student-athlete will do at the next level. With All-American honors in each of his first three seasons, Heyman is the only member of this 2011 class with the chance to become a four-time NHSCA Nationals All-American. The journey to accomplish such a feat commenced in 2008 when he finished with the bronze medal as a freshman. One year later, Heyman would put forth his best effort, advancing all the way to the national finals before coming up a little short in the title match. As a junior last season, Heyman continued to show why he is on the radar of all of the DI college coaches in NYS, finishing a respectable fourth. With a third, second, and fourth already to his name, might it be the Tioga HS product's destiny to conclude his career with the only spot that he has thus far not earned? Heyman certainly is prepared to do all that is required to make the answer an emphatic YES!
While still officially on the market, when we chatted with him a few weeks ago, Heyman did suggest that he is leaning towards committing to defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Binghamton University.
10. Kyle Wade
High School: Islip (Division I/Section XI)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152/160
Projected College Weight Class: 157
Analysis: To say that state titles run in the Wade family would be the understatement of the year. Having watched his two older brothers, Chris and Lance, both reach the pinnacle in 2005 and 2007 respectively, little brother has witnessed firsthand what it takes to go all the way. In fact, in what might closely resemble a case of d�j� vu, Kyle's path to NYS glory bares a striking resemblance to that of his middle brother. Like Lance, Kyle was successful in earning his spot in the DI finals as a junior, only to drop the title match to a fellow blue-chipper (Lance lost to former UVA wrestler Michael Chaires; Kyle was defeated by Brown University freshman Giuseppe Lanzi). The good news is that if history means anything, Wade would be the most confident individual in NYS in 2011. After all, as proven on two occasions, there are three certainties in life -- death, taxes, and a Wade winning the state title as a senior. While still undecided whether he will return to the 152-pound weight class for a second straight year or make the move up to 160, it is likely that regardless of his choice, the Islip High School product will be the preseason No. 1.
Despite not being someone who participates in a plethora of national tournaments, as a freshman, Wade did demonstrate an ability to challenge and defeat his national counterparts, finishing as the NHSCA Nationals runner-up in 2008.
Projected as a 157-pounder at the next level, Wade admitted to having serious interest in top programs -- hometown favorite Hofstra and perennial EIWA contender Lehigh. He would be an asset to both programs.
Honorable Mention:
Joe Barbato (Wantagh): Two-time NYS DI All-State (sixth in 2009, second in 2010), 2010 NHSCA Junior National All-American (third)
Abdulgawi Mohamed (Lackawanna): 2010 NYS DII champion, 2010 NHSCA Junior Nationals champion
Arik Robinson (Peru): Three-time NYS DII champion (2008-2010), 2010 NHSCA Junior Nationals placewinner (fourth)
Colton Perry (Windsor): Three-time NYS DII placewinner (third in 2008, third in 2009, fourth in 2010)
Chris Perez (Levittown-MacArthur): Two-time NHSCA All-American (2009-sixth, 2010- seventh)
Sean McCormick (Johnson City): Three-time NYS DI placewinner (2008-second, 2009-fourth, 2010-fifth), two-time NHSCA All-American (2010-champion, 2008-fourth)
Vin Fischetti (Monsignor Farrell): 2010 NYS DI place-winner (fifth), 2010 NHSCA Junior National All-American (eighth)
Matt Ross (Rocky Point): 2009 NHSCA Sophomore National All-American (eighth), 2008 NYS DI placewinner (fifth)
Pat Hogan (Peru): Two-time NYS DII placewinner (sixth in 2009, fourth in 2010)
Lewis Cucchiara (Gates-Chili): 2010 NYS placewinner (third), 2010 NHSCA Junior National All-American (seventh)
Andy Lyman (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk): Two-time NYS DII placewinner (sixth in 2009, third in 2010), 2009 NHSCA Sophomore National All-American (eighth)
Louis Puca (Huntington): 2010 NYS DI finalist at 160
Nick Lalone (Cato-Meridian): Two-time NYS DII placewinner (sixth in 2008, second in 2010), 2009 NHSCA Sophomore National All-American (fourth)
Chanse Menendez (Hauppauge): Two-time NHSCA All-American (2008-second, 2010-sixth)
Michael Almaviva (Shenendehowa): Two-time NHSCA All-American (2008-champion, 2009-fifth)
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