lohud wrestling all-stars
The best from Westchester/Putnam in 2018-19
99 pounds
First-team: Jake Hoffman, Fox Lane— After losing to rival Angelo Centrone in the regular season, the Foxes’ freshman avenged that loss with a 10-6 win in the Division I sectional final.
Second-team: Angelo Centrone, Fr., Mahopac
Honorable mention: Justin Fortugno, Fr., Byram Hills
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR:East Ramapo's Jhordyn Innocent is 2018-19 Rockland pick
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR:New Rochelle's Jake Logan is 2018-19 Westchester/Putnam pick
ALL STARS:Wrestling: The Journal News/lohud 2018-19 Rockland all-stars
106 pounds
First-team: Matt Schreiber, Horace Greeley— The Binghamton-bound senior finished his stellar career as a two-time All-State performer after placing fifth in Albany last month.
Second-team: John Fortugno, Jr., Byram Hills
Honorable mention: Quinn Egan, Fr., Pleasantville; Jason Salton, Sr., John Jay-Cross River
113 pounds
First-team: Rob Horan, Hackley— The junior pinned his way to a Westchester County championship and later won his second NYSAIS title.
Second-team: Joey Rodas, Jr., Mamaroneck
Honorable mention: Frankie Scauzillo, Sr., Mahopac
120 pounds
First-team: Ivan Garcia, Port Chester— One of the most competitive weights in the area featured three All-State performers, but the Rams’ junior gets a slight nod over Balducci thanks to a 3-1 win on Dec. 14.
Second-team: Len Balducci, Jr., Pleasantville
Honorable mention: Jack Bosco, Jr., Hackley; Tommy Dell’Aera, Jr., Eastchester; Amos Rivera, Sr., Fox Lane
126 pounds
First-team: Chris Cook, John Jay-Cross River— Even though the senior came up short in his bid for an elusive state title, he more than made up for it by earning a wild card to states and placing sixth.
Second-team: Brayan Mendez, Sr., Port Chester
Honorable mention: Cris D’Amelio, Sr., Irvington
132 pounds
First-team: Victor Perlleshi, Pleasantville— The senior put it all together for arguably the most successful season in program history, reaching both the Eastern States and New York state finals.
Second-team: Beckett Herman, Jr., Hen Hud
Honorable mention: Tyler Joseph, So., Harrison
138 pounds
First-team: Aidan Canfield, Pleasantville— The junior had a breakout season, winning his first Westchester County and Division II sectional titles.
Second-team: Steven Burrell, Fr., New Rochelle
Honorable mention: Jaydon Boscia, Sr., Carmel
145 pounds
First-team: A.J. Kovacs, Iona Prep— The junior avenged his only loss by beating the same opponent in the New York state finals, becoming the first wrestler to ever win state titles in both New York and Connecticut.
Second-team: Will Carano, So., Putnam Valley
Honorable mention: Cameron Burrell, Jr., New Rochelle; Tyler Roa, Jr., Mahopac
152 pounds
First-team: Dean Appell, Putnam Valley— The senior went out on top, winning his first Division II sectional title while earning regular season wins over his top Division I counterparts.
Second-team: Luca Friedman, So., Fox Lane
Honorable mention: Justin Sarmiento, Sr., White Plains
160 pounds
First-team: Quincy Downes, Fox Lane— The junior’s blend of quickness and athleticism came together and led to his first Division I sectional title, and the best may be yet to come.
Second-team: Gavin Fiacco, Jr., John Jay-Cross River
Honorable mention: Josh Manning, Sr., Ossining
170 pounds
First-team: Aaron Wolk, Horace Greeley— The Brown-bound senior finished as the Quakers’ all-time wins leader and captured the program’s first state title since 1995.
Second-team: Ben Rivera, Sr., Carmel
Honorable mention: Nathan Parker, Sr., Croton-Harmon
182 pounds
First-team: Jake Logan, New Rochelle— The 2018-19 Journal News/lohud wrestler of the year
Second-team: Nick Meglino, Sr., Edgemont
Honorable mention: Alex Behar, Jr., Byram Hills; Jadan Kammer, Sr., Pleasantville
195 pounds
First-team: Matt Kelly, Iona Prep— While Kovacs garnered most of the headlines for the Gaels, Kelly quietly placed third in the state with a win over Rockland wrestler of the year Jhordyn Innocent of East Ramapo.
Second-team: Sebastian Garibaldi, So., White Plains
Honorable mention: Dustin Koskinen-Falls, Sr., Putnam Valley
220 pounds
First-team: Zach Finn, Harrison— The decision to bump up to 220 at midseason turned out to be a wise one, as the senior won his first Division I sectional title and became the first Huskies’ wrestler to reach the state semis since 1994.
Second-team: Cameron Coleman, Sr., Rye Country Day
Honorable mention: Rolando Lopez, Sr., Putnam Valley; Ben Robinson, Jr., Yorktown
285 pounds
First-team: Joe Nolan, Ossining— The junior came up short of a Division I sectional title against North Rockland’s Manny Mena, but won a Westchester County championship and defeated D-II champ George Lebberes of Ardsley.
Second-team: Jimaar Edwards, Jr., Iona Prep
Honorable mention: George Lebberes, Jr., Ardsley
Coach of the year
Dennis DiSanto, Mahopac — His eighth and final season with the Indians turned out to be his best. DiSanto led Mahopac to a runner-up finish in the Section 1 Dual Meet Championships and a fourth place finish at the Division I sectional tournament. He was voted Section 1 Coach of the Year by his peers and broke the section's all-time dual meet wins record, which includes 27 years as the head coach at Somers.
Twitter: @vzmercogliano
