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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 II boys wrestling championships representing small schools in the Lower Hudson Valley.
These wrestlers - along with 28 boys wrestlers - 14 champions and 14 qualifiers - from the large 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? Winning another Section 1 title, to me, means so much especially since me and my team faced so much adversity this year.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning my second Section 1 title in the first period. No matter the pressure, I always learned to overcome it and it showed when I won.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite wrestling moment off the mat has to be building connections with my team since they are part of why I succeed.
Best advice you've received? Be grateful for the position you're in because your worst day is someone else's best.
What song best represents you in 2026? "No Comparison," A Boogie Wit The Hoodie.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means the world to be able to be a two-time champion.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? When I pinned my opponent in the Section 1 finals.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? When I enjoy my time with friends.
Best advice you've received? Keep going.
What song best represents you in 2026? "New York State of Mind," Billy Joel
What's it mean to you to win the Section 1 title this season? Everything. I put in so much work to be here.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going to double practices at GPS.
Best advice you've received? Surrender to the outcome.
What song best represents you in 2026? House music
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. It's a great accomplishment, but it's not the main goal. The main goal is making a name for myself at states.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning another Section 1 title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going to county finals.
Best advice you ever received? Block the outside noise.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Dreams and Nightmares," Meek Mill
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot to win my third section title. It feels good that I'll get another experience in Albany and hopefully place.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My favorite highlight on the mat this season was probably when I won my home O'Connell tournament. It felt good winning at my own school.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? My favorite moment of this season was winning sections with my brother Liam, I'm happy we can both go to states together.
Best advice you've received? The best advice I'd ever received was from my coaches on staying calm under pressure and just chasing the next point.
What song best represents you in 2026? My favorite song this year would be "Hate It Or Love It," The Game & 50 Cent.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means everything and I'm looking forward to making a statement up in Albany.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 dual meet title again against Pearl River at home was amazing.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going up to Syracuse with all my friends.
Best advice you've received? Everything happens for a reason and to trust God's path.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Animal I Have Become," Three Days Grace.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Everything. Been working so much harder.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 title because it was a comeback after I lost to him (Pawling's Edison Garbarino).
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Goofing off at the beginning of practice.
Best advice you've received? Hard work pays off.
What song best represents you in 2026? House music.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means the world to me. I've wanted to win this for so long.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? This match (the Section 1 final).
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Seeing my brother win counties (the Rockland County tournament).
Best advice you've received? Wrestle and have fun with no stress.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Love Yours," J. Cole
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. Many hours of training paid off in the end.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Getting a pin in the Section 1 finals.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Training extra time with my brothers (Victor and Christian).
Best advice you've received? Odd numbers in tournament are the next best thing: First, third, fifth.
What song best represents you in 2025? "Style Rare," Gunna.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Awesome, but it's not my main goal. I want a state title.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning sectionals and getting my 100th win.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Sleeping.
Best advice you've received? Just try.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Trophies," Drake.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means I have to work harder.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Pinning people.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Playing video games while eating cake.
Best advice you've received? Life is hard.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Marche Slav," Tchaikovsky.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Not knowing how much work and time I put into winning.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Probably hanging out with my teammates. They really mean a lot to me.
What was your favorite wrestling mat off the mat this season? Getting Dairy Queen with my teammates.
Best advice you've received? Pray, hope and don't worry.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Bad," Michael Jackson.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It feels very good. Makes all the work feel worth it.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Buffalo Wild Wings with the team.
Best advice you've received: No goal is too hard to chase.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Kill Too Hard," Wu-Tang Clan.
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot being able to get this opportunity to have a section title.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Going from placing fourth last season to winning sections this season.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going out with the team.
Best advice you've received? No goal too hard to chase.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Hate It or Love It," The Game and 50 Cent.
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. II high school wrestling champions for 2026
Continue reading...
These wrestlers - along with 28 boys wrestlers - 14 champions and 14 qualifiers - from the large 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.
Mason Sampilo, Nanuet, 103 pounds
What does it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Winning another Section 1 title, to me, means so much especially since me and my team faced so much adversity this year.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning my second Section 1 title in the first period. No matter the pressure, I always learned to overcome it and it showed when I won.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this year? My favorite wrestling moment off the mat has to be building connections with my team since they are part of why I succeed.
Best advice you've received? Be grateful for the position you're in because your worst day is someone else's best.
What song best represents you in 2026? "No Comparison," A Boogie Wit The Hoodie.
Jack Gallagher, Nanuet, 110 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means the world to be able to be a two-time champion.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? When I pinned my opponent in the Section 1 finals.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? When I enjoy my time with friends.
Best advice you've received? Keep going.
What song best represents you in 2026? "New York State of Mind," Billy Joel
Alex Wish, Pleasantville, 118 pounds
What's it mean to you to win the Section 1 title this season? Everything. I put in so much work to be here.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going to double practices at GPS.
Best advice you've received? Surrender to the outcome.
What song best represents you in 2026? House music
Kelvin Jimenez, Sleepy Hollow, 126 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. It's a great accomplishment, but it's not the main goal. The main goal is making a name for myself at states.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning another Section 1 title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going to county finals.
Best advice you ever received? Block the outside noise.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Dreams and Nightmares," Meek Mill
Brendan O'Sullivan, Pearl River, 132 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot to win my third section title. It feels good that I'll get another experience in Albany and hopefully place.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? My favorite highlight on the mat this season was probably when I won my home O'Connell tournament. It felt good winning at my own school.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? My favorite moment of this season was winning sections with my brother Liam, I'm happy we can both go to states together.
Best advice you've received? The best advice I'd ever received was from my coaches on staying calm under pressure and just chasing the next point.
What song best represents you in 2026? My favorite song this year would be "Hate It Or Love It," The Game & 50 Cent.
John Parisi, Nanuet, 138 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means everything and I'm looking forward to making a statement up in Albany.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 dual meet title again against Pearl River at home was amazing.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going up to Syracuse with all my friends.
Best advice you've received? Everything happens for a reason and to trust God's path.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Animal I Have Become," Three Days Grace.
Ciaran Egan, Pleasantville, 144 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Everything. Been working so much harder.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 title because it was a comeback after I lost to him (Pawling's Edison Garbarino).
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Goofing off at the beginning of practice.
Best advice you've received? Hard work pays off.
What song best represents you in 2026? House music.
Liam O'Sullivan, Pearl River, 150 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means the world to me. I've wanted to win this for so long.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? This match (the Section 1 final).
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Seeing my brother win counties (the Rockland County tournament).
Best advice you've received? Wrestle and have fun with no stress.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Love Yours," J. Cole
Frank Perlleshi, Pleasantville, 157 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot. Many hours of training paid off in the end.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Getting a pin in the Section 1 finals.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Training extra time with my brothers (Victor and Christian).
Best advice you've received? Odd numbers in tournament are the next best thing: First, third, fifth.
What song best represents you in 2025? "Style Rare," Gunna.
Miles Sheridan, Sleepy Hollow, 165 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Awesome, but it's not my main goal. I want a state title.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning sectionals and getting my 100th win.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Sleeping.
Best advice you've received? Just try.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Trophies," Drake.
Ethan Mitev, Ardsley, 175 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means I have to work harder.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Pinning people.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Playing video games while eating cake.
Best advice you've received? Life is hard.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Marche Slav," Tchaikovsky.
Ryan Darcy, Pearl River, 190 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? Not knowing how much work and time I put into winning.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Probably hanging out with my teammates. They really mean a lot to me.
What was your favorite wrestling mat off the mat this season? Getting Dairy Queen with my teammates.
Best advice you've received? Pray, hope and don't worry.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Bad," Michael Jackson.
Hudson Garbarino, Pawling, 215 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It feels very good. Makes all the work feel worth it.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Winning the Section 1 title.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Buffalo Wild Wings with the team.
Best advice you've received: No goal is too hard to chase.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Kill Too Hard," Wu-Tang Clan.
Brian Lennon, Nanuet, 285 pounds
What's it mean to you to win a Section 1 title this season? It means a lot being able to get this opportunity to have a section title.
What was your top highlight on the mat this season? Going from placing fourth last season to winning sections this season.
What was your favorite wrestling moment off the mat this season? Going out with the team.
Best advice you've received? No goal too hard to chase.
What song best represents you in 2026? "Hate It or Love It," The Game and 50 Cent.
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. II high school wrestling champions for 2026
Continue reading...
