Minisink Valley had a dominating performance in capturing the 2019 Section IX Tournament Championship, League Title and Team Duals Title!

“Our team finished with 292 points, which was 65 points ahead of second place Monroe-Woodbury High School,” said Athletic Director Tim Bult, about the recent match.

The Warriors had eight finalists, crowned five “champions” and had 15 wrestlers place in the “Top 6!”

Crowned “champions” were:

Seventh-grader Zak Ryder, the first seventh-grader grader to win a D1 Section title  (106 lbs.)

Junior Nick Picarello (120 lbs.)

Junior Jordan Suarez  (126 lbs.)

Junior Sean Savacool (138 lbs.)

Sophomore Adam Fenner (285 lbs.)

“The ‘fab five’ now have the opportunity to move on and represent Minisink Valley and Section IX at the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships on Feb. 22 and 23 at the Times Union Arena in Albany,” he added.

Champion Nick Picarello also won “Most Outstanding Wrestler” of the tournament-and “Most Exciting Match of the Night” with his impressive win over a three-time Section IX champion.

Finalists placing second were:

Senior Joe Habert

Senior Nick Albornoz

Eighth-grader Ethan Gallo

Freshman Sofia Macaluso was the first female to place on the podium in a D1 boys varsity Championship, placing third.

Other place finishers were:

4th place: Eighth-grader Andrew Filip

Sophomore Brian Lombardi

5th place: Junior Chris McLaughin

Sophomore Scotty Geysen

Sophomore Carson Henry

6th place: Senior Tyler Castro

“Congratulations to all our wrestlers on a fantastic season,” Mr. Bult added.