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You've heard about their accomplishments on the mat. Now learn about the 14 wrestlers who won 2026 Section 1 Division I boys wrestling championships representing small schools in the Lower Hudson Valley.
These wrestlers, along with 14 qualifiers from Section 1 large schools and 14 champions from the small schools in Section 1 Division I, local champions from the CHSAA and AIS and 18 girls wrestlers - 13 champions and five qualifiers - will compete at New York State championships. The girls championships take place Feb. 26 at MVP Arena in Albany. The boys championships are Feb. 27-28, also at MVP Arena.
Let's meet the champs.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot and is another tournament under my belt.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Eastern States finals.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Winning the nationals.
Best advice you've received? You can't be the hype and get caught in the hype.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Going Bad," Meek Mill featuring Drake.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Everything. I dreamt about this moment for so long. To succeed in the way I have this year required me to truly find myself and become the best version I could be.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Wrestling with my brother and best friend.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Spending time with my family.
Best advice you've received? It doesn't matter how hard you can hit. What matters is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Lose Yourself," Eminem.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot because this isn't an opportunity everyone has.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Hasn't happened yet. It will be when I win states.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Just being in the room with my teammates and enjoying the time we have.
Best advice you've received? Nothing in life is promised besides death so you need to take what you got and work for it.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Jesus Walks," Kanye West.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It feels awesome, especially for a fourth time in a row.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning my fourth section title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Being able to give advice to my younger teammates and just overall being a good role model.
Best advice you've received? Be the hunter, not the hunted.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Hell & Back"
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Winning a section title means the world to me and I was able to show all the work that I have been putting in all these years.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My top highlight of the season was winning the Westchester County championship as it was a big turning point for my season.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite moments off the mat were shared with my team and coaches since we are always having a good time together and sharing some laughs.
Best advice you've received? The best advice that I have received was from my coaches at New Rochelle who told me after the county tournament that I should use my victory as a stepping stone to greater things.
What song best represents you in 2026? The song that best represents me in 2026 is Figure.09 by Linkin Park.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Great feeling, step in the right direction for states.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My cartwheel takedown
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Late night run to IHOP with the eam.
Best advice you've received? Wrestle like a buzzsaw.
What song best represents you in 2026? TNT by AC/DC
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. It's been a goal of mine for a long time. I came up to varsity as an eighth grader and my coaches and I always talked about standing on top of the podium one day.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My favorite highlight on the mat was early on in the season realizing I cannot only beat good kids, but I dominate them if my mindset is right.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite highlight off the mat was hanging out with my friends and teammates at Tappan Zee and KD Training Center. They mean everything to me.
Best advice you've received? To stay on my offense. Keep scoring points.
What song best represents you in 2026? "No Broke Boys" Disco Lines & Tinashe.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Mat returns.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Being with my mom.
Best advice you've received? Stay in the fight.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Party in the USA," Miley Cyrus
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. I work so much every day with my amazing partners and coaches and it's great to accomplish the next step on my senior year journey.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My top highlight was taking fourth at Eastern States. Even though I had some tough losses, it made me learn and the competition was high level and fun.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite wrestling moments off the mat is every day with Nick Debellis at practice because we scrap and push each other to grow.
Best advice you've received? The best advice I've received is: In 30 years, you won't remember what match you won at sectionals, but you will remember how you compete and the person you became.
What song best represents you in 2026? The song that best represents me is "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Feels great to come back and repeat with the same level of dominance.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Placing at Eastern States.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Practicing with my teammates.
Best advice you've received? Do everything at 100%
What song best represents you in 2026? "Gangnam Style" by PSY.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. There are a lot of mental battles that people don't see when you're wrestling and it feels great to surpass them.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Competing at Eastern States and beating a Fargo All-American.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Wrestling with my friends at DC Trained in New Jersey and wrestling with my dad and brother in my basement.
Best advice you've received? Score points.
What song best represents you in 2026? "You Stole The Show," Sienna Spiro.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? To do this for my friends and family and just knowing they're backing me up is just the best feeling in the world.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Seeing that final 3 from the ref that confirmed the tech was surreal.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Hanging out with my team whether it was dinners or pre-practice walks. Being with them is amazing.
Best advice you've received? Wrestle up to your standards.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Supersonic," Oasis.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Winning a Section 1 title is really awesome and means so much to me. After last year with everything that happened, I didn’t know if I’d ever wrestle again in my life. However, I came back stronger than ever and ready to go. So winning this really means everything to me.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My top highlight this year was teching the No. 1 kid in the state for D2 as my 100th win, that was really awesome.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Honestly just spending time with the team and coaching staff at Yorktown as a whole is my favorite moments. I love the culture.
Best advice you've received? The best advice I’ve ever received is a loss is a lesson and competition breeds success. You shouldn’t be afraid of losing especially early on in your high school career because that’s what makes you better. Going to harder tournaments to wrestle better kids even if you lose is always better than going to local tournaments and beating up competition you know you’ll beat. When you lose, you watch it on film get better and fix the problems.
What song best represents you in 2026? The song that represents me the best is "In Bloom" by Nirvana.
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Feels good, but it's just the start.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Run through doubles.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Training hard.
Best advice you've received? Keep going and be relentless.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Fight Fire With Fire" or "War Ensemble."
Phil Strum is local sports editor for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Meet the Section 1 Div. I high school wrestling champions for 2026
Continue reading...
These wrestlers, along with 14 qualifiers from Section 1 large schools and 14 champions from the small schools in Section 1 Division I, local champions from the CHSAA and AIS and 18 girls wrestlers - 13 champions and five qualifiers - will compete at New York State championships. The girls championships take place Feb. 26 at MVP Arena in Albany. The boys championships are Feb. 27-28, also at MVP Arena.
Let's meet the champs.
Marcarlo Mannello, BBHVW (Westlake), 103 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot and is another tournament under my belt.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Eastern States finals.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Winning the nationals.
Best advice you've received? You can't be the hype and get caught in the hype.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Going Bad," Meek Mill featuring Drake.
Ethan Steuber, Somers, 110 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Everything. I dreamt about this moment for so long. To succeed in the way I have this year required me to truly find myself and become the best version I could be.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Wrestling with my brother and best friend.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Spending time with my family.
Best advice you've received? It doesn't matter how hard you can hit. What matters is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Lose Yourself," Eminem.
Vincenzo Mannello, BBHVW (Westlake), 118 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot because this isn't an opportunity everyone has.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Hasn't happened yet. It will be when I win states.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Just being in the room with my teammates and enjoying the time we have.
Best advice you've received? Nothing in life is promised besides death so you need to take what you got and work for it.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Jesus Walks," Kanye West.
Nick Fortugno, BBHVW (Byram Hills), 126 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It feels awesome, especially for a fourth time in a row.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning my fourth section title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Being able to give advice to my younger teammates and just overall being a good role model.
Best advice you've received? Be the hunter, not the hunted.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Hell & Back"
Matteo Crino, New Rochelle, 132 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Winning a section title means the world to me and I was able to show all the work that I have been putting in all these years.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My top highlight of the season was winning the Westchester County championship as it was a big turning point for my season.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite moments off the mat were shared with my team and coaches since we are always having a good time together and sharing some laughs.
Best advice you've received? The best advice that I have received was from my coaches at New Rochelle who told me after the county tournament that I should use my victory as a stepping stone to greater things.
What song best represents you in 2026? The song that best represents me in 2026 is Figure.09 by Linkin Park.
Charles Przymylski, Mahopac, 138 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Great feeling, step in the right direction for states.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My cartwheel takedown
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Late night run to IHOP with the eam.
Best advice you've received? Wrestle like a buzzsaw.
What song best represents you in 2026? TNT by AC/DC
Justin Reiss, Tappan Zee, 144 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. It's been a goal of mine for a long time. I came up to varsity as an eighth grader and my coaches and I always talked about standing on top of the podium one day.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My favorite highlight on the mat was early on in the season realizing I cannot only beat good kids, but I dominate them if my mindset is right.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite highlight off the mat was hanging out with my friends and teammates at Tappan Zee and KD Training Center. They mean everything to me.
Best advice you've received? To stay on my offense. Keep scoring points.
What song best represents you in 2026? "No Broke Boys" Disco Lines & Tinashe.
Nick Debellis, Horace Greeley, 150 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Mat returns.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Being with my mom.
Best advice you've received? Stay in the fight.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Party in the USA," Miley Cyrus
Chris Nocca, Horace Greeley, 157 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. I work so much every day with my amazing partners and coaches and it's great to accomplish the next step on my senior year journey.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My top highlight was taking fourth at Eastern States. Even though I had some tough losses, it made me learn and the competition was high level and fun.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite wrestling moments off the mat is every day with Nick Debellis at practice because we scrap and push each other to grow.
Best advice you've received? The best advice I've received is: In 30 years, you won't remember what match you won at sectionals, but you will remember how you compete and the person you became.
What song best represents you in 2026? The song that best represents me is "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House.
Luke Ryan, Fox Lane, 165 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Feels great to come back and repeat with the same level of dominance.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Placing at Eastern States.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Practicing with my teammates.
Best advice you've received? Do everything at 100%
What song best represents you in 2026? "Gangnam Style" by PSY.
Will Roden, Clarkstown North, 175 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. There are a lot of mental battles that people don't see when you're wrestling and it feels great to surpass them.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Competing at Eastern States and beating a Fargo All-American.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Wrestling with my friends at DC Trained in New Jersey and wrestling with my dad and brother in my basement.
Best advice you've received? Score points.
What song best represents you in 2026? "You Stole The Show," Sienna Spiro.
Devin Bierfeldt, Nyack, 190 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? To do this for my friends and family and just knowing they're backing me up is just the best feeling in the world.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Seeing that final 3 from the ref that confirmed the tech was surreal.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Hanging out with my team whether it was dinners or pre-practice walks. Being with them is amazing.
Best advice you've received? Wrestle up to your standards.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Supersonic," Oasis.
Rocco Lore, Yorktown, 215 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Winning a Section 1 title is really awesome and means so much to me. After last year with everything that happened, I didn’t know if I’d ever wrestle again in my life. However, I came back stronger than ever and ready to go. So winning this really means everything to me.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My top highlight this year was teching the No. 1 kid in the state for D2 as my 100th win, that was really awesome.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Honestly just spending time with the team and coaching staff at Yorktown as a whole is my favorite moments. I love the culture.
Best advice you've received? The best advice I’ve ever received is a loss is a lesson and competition breeds success. You shouldn’t be afraid of losing especially early on in your high school career because that’s what makes you better. Going to harder tournaments to wrestle better kids even if you lose is always better than going to local tournaments and beating up competition you know you’ll beat. When you lose, you watch it on film get better and fix the problems.
What song best represents you in 2026? The song that represents me the best is "In Bloom" by Nirvana.
Michael Mauro, John Jay-East Fishkill, 285 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Feels good, but it's just the start.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Run through doubles.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? Training hard.
Best advice you've received? Keep going and be relentless.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Fight Fire With Fire" or "War Ensemble."
Phil Strum is local sports editor for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Meet the Section 1 Div. I high school wrestling champions for 2026
Continue reading...
