Newsday's All-Long Island boys wrestling team 2026

Newsday Wrestler of the Year: Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez, Long Beach, 118, Sr., 46-3, 209-17

Sibomana-Rodriguez capped his spectacular high school career by capturing a third Division I state title. He won a 7-1 decision over Manhasset’s Will Russell to become Long Beach’s second three-time state champ, joining Al Palacio (1980-82). He earned his 200th career win in the second round of the state tournament, of which he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler.

He joined Long Beach’s Jacori Teemer and Syosset’s Vito Arujau as the only wrestlers to win five Nassau Division I titles when he defeated Russell by 1-0 decision.

Sibomana-Rodriguez, who is committed to North Carolina, has persevered throughout his life. When he was 6, he survived an attack by a troop of chimpanzees while playing with family outside his village near the Virunga National Park in the Congo. While his brother and cousin were killed in the attack, he survived with traumatic injuries to his lips, face and right ear and has had 21 surgeries to reconstruct his face.

Suffolk Wrestler of the Year: Camryn Howard, Bellport, 157, So., 48-0, 190-7

Howard has cemented himself as one of the top wrestlers in the country. He won the 157-pound title at the USA Wrestling National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, widely considered the toughest wrestling tournament in the nation.

Howard continued to dominate once the high school season rolled around. Howard defeated George Johnson of Iona Prep, 21-6, by technical fall in 4:33 for his second straight Division I state title. He bulldozed his way through the tournament with a pin and three technical falls in 11:05. He is Bellport’s first two-time state champion.

Of his 48 wins this season, two were pins and 46 were technical falls, 44 of which came in the first period. Howard was not taken down or reversed all season. Howard and Jesse Jantzen of Shoreham-Wading River are the only wrestlers to win four Suffolk titles by their sophomore season.

FIRST TEAM

Ethan Andreula, Long Beach, 110, So., 28-3, 150-17

He won the 110-pound title at the Eastern States Classic in January with a 3-1 decision over North Babylon’s Xavier Seabury. Andreula was the Division I state runner-up losing a 1-0 decision to Seabury. A two-time Nassau champion, he took second in the county.

Ayden Delgado, Division, 103, Fr., 31-3, 57-12

Delgado won a 10-0 major decision over Oceanside’s Luis Estevez for the Nassau Division I title. He was the state runner-up, losing a 7-2 decision to Marcarlo Mannello (Briarcliff/Byram Hills).

Rocco DeStefano, East Islip, 132, Sr. 46-4, 175-38

After placing third and sixth the last two years, DeStefano won his first Suffolk title with a 5-4 decision over Islip’s Matthew Peterson. He lost a heartbreaking 10-7 decision to Marco Futia (Wallkill) in the state final.

Devin Downes, Plainedge, 215, Sr., 43-4, 208-30

The Maryland commit pinned Minisink Valley’s Zach Filip in 2:43 for his third straight state title. He picked up four pins in 9:45 in the state tournament. Downes won a 9-3 decision over Filip for the Eastern States Classic championship in January. He pinned Justin DePietro of Sewanhaka East for his third straight Nassau title.

Matthew McDermott, Smithtown East, 144, So., 44-3, 126-12

McDermott pinned Sachem North’s Joshua Thomas in 1:08 for his second straight Suffolk Division I title. He lost, 4-1, in sudden victory to Ryan Munn of Carthage in the state final. He is a two-time state finalist.

Gavin Mangano, Shoreham-Wading River, 144, Jr., 47-2, 214-5

After committing to Penn State in the fall, the target on Mangano’s back only grew. He rose to the occasion. Mangano defeated Ashten Haley (Cobleskill-Richmondville) by 7-5 decision for his third straight Division II state title. He joined Long Beach’s Jacori Teemer and Syosset’s Vito Arujau as the only wrestlers to win four Eastern States Classic titles. He also claimed his fourth straight Suffolk title.

Jake Nieto, Massapequa, 138, Jr., 44-1, 150-15

Nieto was dominant all season. He won a 6-4 decision over Lindenhurst’s Anthony Severino for the Division I state title. He won a 12-2 major decision over Joe Scott (Letchworth) for the Eastern States Classic title. Nieto won his first Nassau crown and helped Massapequa win the dual meet state title.

Will Russell, Manhasset, 118, Sr., 44-7, 169-25

Russell reached the state finals for the first time in his career. The No. 6 seed pinned No. 3 Vincenzo Mannello (Briarcliff/Byram Hills) in 4:31 to advance to the semifinals. After having two seasons cut short due to injury, he ends his career as a two-time Nassau Division I finalist.

Xavier Seabury, North Babylon, 110, So., 47-1, 123-9

Seabury navigated through the 110-pound gauntlet to win his first state title. He won a 1-0 decision over Long Beach’s Ethan Andreula, who handed Seabury his only loss of the season in the Eastern States Classic final. He won a 7-0 decision over Connetquot’s Ethan Hauser for his first Suffolk title.

Anthony Severino, Lindenhurst, 138, Sr., 44-3, 138-22

After a rough freshman year, Severino turned himself into one of the best wrestlers in the state. He pinned Bellport’s Jayden Tyson in 5:36 for his second Suffolk title. He is a two-time state finalist and three-time state placewinner.

Newsday Coach of the Year: Ray Adams, Long Beach

In 29 years at Long Beach, Adams owns a dual meet record of 343–114–1. Ahead of the state finals, Adams was inducted into the New York State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Adams’ teams have won 17 conference titles, 21 qualifying tournament titles, including the last 12, three Nassau dual meet titles, two Nassau tournament titles and two state team titles. He has coached 45 individual Nassau champions and 13 state champions.

Nassau Coach of the Year: Mike McCann, Massapequa

In his fourth year as coach, McCann (68-19) led Massapequa to the Division I state dual meet title, defeating Shenendehowa, 41-21, in the final. Massapequa also won the Conference 1A championship and Nassau dual meet title and tied the school record for dual meet wins with a record of 26-1. Massapequa claimed the team title at the Nassau individual championships.

Suffolk Coach of the Year: Matt Kaszubski, Miller Place

He led the Panthers to the best season in their 52-year history. The Panthers defeated Shoreham-Wading River, 45-24, to win the state Division II dual meet title. Miller Place (24-4) won the League VIII and Suffolk Division II dual meet titles. The Panthers won the team title at the Suffolk Division II individual tournament. Kaszubski has a 14-year record of 230-71.

SECOND TEAM 

Carmine Catapano, Sayville, 110, So., 42-9, 77-16

Justin D’Arce, Center Moriches, 138, Sr., 43-6, 112-25

Chase Davis, Port Jefferson, 118, Sr., 38-4. 120-22

Justin DePietro, Sewanhaka East, 215, Jr., 22-3, 89-21

Brody Franklin, Long Beach, 132, Sr., 36-6, 133-42

Aidan Lee, Glenn, 126, Sr., 42-3, 114-7

Michael McGuinness, Walt Whitman, 150, Jr., 38-4, 138-21

Niko Marnika, Commack, 150, Jr., 32-2, 140-26

Santino Pascarella, Half Hollow Hills East, 103, So., 41-3, 78-7

Eliezer Sanchez, Central Islip, 132, Sr., 43-3, 119-24

Joshua Thomas, Sachem North, 144, Jr., 47-4 119-39

Luca Turano, North Babylon, 190, So., 49-4, 80-15

Thomas Vecchio, Sachem North, 175, Sr., 49-2, 103-37