Led by a pair of InterMat Top 100 recruits, this group of 10 representing the Empire State is unique in the fact that of those being recognized, only three have won individual NYS titles in their respective divisions, including a two-timer in both DI and DII. Therefore, if you were to look at total number of state titles earned, the number five may falsely cause you to believe that this current class is weaker than the ones that came before it. We can assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike some of their ancestors, the "it quality" of the Class of 2013 is the breadth of success they have enjoyed outside the comforts of their own state. Combining for two NHSCA Nationals champions, 12 NHSCA All-Americans, two FloNational All-Americans, four Junior National freestyle All-Americans, and a Junior National Greco-Roman All-American, this dirty dozen knows how to get the job done when the bright lights are shined upon them.
With four of the chosen 10 having already committed to DI schools (oddly enough, they all selected Binghamton), and the six remaining all being heavily recruited by schools in respective NCAA DI power conferences, the proof is in the pudding. These kids are winners and more importantly, they all are leaders and role models for their schools.
The current senior class in New York was so deep than when you look at those who missed the cut and had to settle for honorable mention distinction, you will find a 2012 NHSCA Junior National champion, a 2012 NYS DII champion, as well as several state runners-up.
Note: InterMat No. 85 recruit, Nicky Hall (formerly of Longwood; currently attending Wyoming Seminary) was originally selected to this list. As a two-time NYS DI placewinner/2012 state runner-up, who had earned multiple NHSCA All-American honors, Hall figured to be slotted in the No. 3 or No. 4 spot. Because it has since been announced that Hall will be completing two years at the Scott Green-run prep school powerhouse, the second generation stud will be included in the 2014 edition of this series.
1. Zack Zupan (Canastota/NYS DII)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 182
Projected College Weight Class: 184
College Plans: Committed to Binghamton
Zack Zupan (Photo/Boris Veysman)The No. 87-ranked wrestler in his class per InterMat, Zupan has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with, both state-wide and against the nation's best. A two-time finalist in Virginia Beach at the NHSCA Nationals, Zupan was a national champion in 2010, falling one "w" short of the repeat as a sophomore. His success on the national scene would continue in 2012 when he upended two-time New Jersey state champion Ryan Harrington (now competing for the University of North Carolina) in leading Team New York to the upset victory over the Garden State in the second annual NY/NJ All-Star Charity Challenge. The win snapped Harrington's 84-match winning streak. Zupan would put an emphatic cap on his junior campaign, earning his third career All-American distinction with an eighth-place finish at the 2012 FloNationals. Zupan heads into senior year as the No. 11-ranked wrestler in the land (at 170) per Flowrestling.com.
Words From the Corner: "He has been a true pleasure to coach. He is self motivated and driven. By the time he was 2 you could tell he was different than most kids. He was so focused on what he was doing at any given time that he did not go from one thing to the next like other kids. Case in point, when he was 2-years-old, I would take him bullhead fishing at my assistant coach's house. We would be amazed at how he would focus on those poles for hours. He'd catch one after another, and when I would tell him it was time to go he would beg to stay. Such was also true of his wrestling. He would attend every varsity tournament with me and, by the age of five would ask, 'Dad who is the best three guys in this gym?' I would tell him who I thought were the best and he would go to the mats those kids were wrestling on and study them the entire day. That was when I knew he was going to be something special. He has meant a lot to our program since he was in seventh grade and our starting 135-pounder. He has been a team leader for years and has helped to develop other kids on the team, enabling them to reach their potential. He was pivotal in leading Canastota to an improbable section 3 team title last season, dethroning six-time champ Phoenix." -- Canastota coach (and Zack's father) Nick Zupan, a 1985 NYS placewinner (4th at 138).
Career Highlights:
2. Nick Kelley (Shenendehowa/NYS DI)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 132/138
Projected College Weight Class: 141
College Plans: Committed to Binghamton
Nick Kelley (Photo/John Carl D'Annibale, Times Union)However, true to his fighting spirit and the passion he feels for the world's oldest and greatest sport, Kelley would never get down on himself, combating defeat with additional hard work. The blood, sweat, and tears shed by the longtime Journeymen WC member would finally pay off in 2011 when Kelley earned his first New York state placement, taking fourth at 130 pounds with his only losses coming at the hands of a pair of eventual NCAA DI wrestlers Steven Rodrigues (the eventual state champion who is currently wrestling for the University of Illinois) and Chris Perez (who finished third in NYS in 2011 and was a NHSCA Senior National runner-up prior to becoming the starting 133-pounder for the Princeton University Tigers). As a junior, Kelley would be the victim of seeding criteria, as facts and figures won out over common sense, resulting in the two best 132-pound wrestlers in the state meeting in the semifinals. Pitted against nationally ranked Jamel Hudson (now a freshman at Hofstra University), Kelley would push the pace and be relentless in his attacks, coming just inches away from a takedown on the edge of the mat in the closing seconds, before having to accept the 8-7 loss. To his credit, the Plainsmen team captain would shake off the loss quickly, dominating his final two matches of the weekend en route to the bronze medal
Ranked by Flo as the No. 6 132-pounder in the country heading into his swan song, if there was one wrestler who really solidified his stock after the high school season had concluded, it was Kelley. A 5-1 winner over New Jersey state champion Scott Delvecchio in the aforementioned Charity Challenge, Kelley would save his best performance to date for the FARGODOME, finishing fourth at the Junior National freestyle competition. This impressive showing marked the third time that the Section II representative would earn All-American accolades, adding it to a resume that also included a fifth-place showing at the 2011 FloNational tournament and a third-place finish as a freshman at NHSCA Nationals.
Words From the Corner: (Speaking on what makes his wrestler effective) "Nick Kelley is an "old-school, throw-back" wrestler. In my 20 years of coaching wrestling, I have not had a wrestler as tenacious as he is. Add into that a work ethic that is off the scale, and you begin to see why Nick is an effective wrestler. Nick is a 12-month-a-year wrestler. Additionally, Nick has spent a lifetime developing a style of wrestling that is very hard to compete with. When most wrestlers concede in a scramble or situation, Nick takes everything to the next level. His style tends to "break" his opponents." -- Shenendehowa head wrestling coach Rob Weeks.
(Speaking on the leadership abilities of his wrestler) "You couldn't ask for a better role model in your room than Nick Kelley. He truly lives the clean life. If Nick isn't wrestling, he's practicing wrestling. If he's not practicing wrestling, he's fishing or hunting or camping. Additionally, he has a strong relationship with his family. They have invested with Nick into the sport of wrestling and they have helped guide him through the process. Nick is adamantly opposed to the "party" lifestyle. He definitely lives his life above the temptations that others succumb to. The other wrestlers on the team know that and aspire to be like Nick. He is definitely a lead-by-example type of captain." -- R. Weeks
(On the overall make-up of his wrestler) "Nick Kelley has the best work ethic I have ever seen. It's just tremendous; off the charts. And, in regards to both him and David [Almaviva], both are incredibly respectful. They are good citizens; they are good wholesome guys. And it translates on the mat; it's great when that happens. It's not always the case where guys have both talent and character. I think that when it does work out that way, it's like seeing the 'good guy' win. Everything kind of feeds off the other and in the end, it just works." -- Shendendehowa assistant wrestling coach/Journeymen Wrestling Club founder & head coach Frank Popolizio
Career Highlights:
3. Nick Tighe (Phoenix/NYS DII)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 132
Projected College Weight Class: 133/141
College Plans: Committed to Binghamton
Nick TigheThis title effort made him the first wrestler in school history to win multiple state crowns. He'll go for his fourth All-State finish (having complemented his two titles with a fifth-place showing in 2010 at 112 pounds) and a third New York state crown in 2013 for Coach "Mean" Gene Mills.
Tighe has proven time and time again that his achievements aren't limited to the Empire State borders. Nationally, he has twice placed at the NHSCA Nationals, taking fourth at 112 as a freshman and seventh at 119 as a sophomore. Just last month, Tighe posted an unblemished 7-0 record at the inaugural National Hall of Fame Duals. He enters his senior season currently ranked 15th in the nation per Flo.
Words From the Corner: (On what makes his wrestler successful on the mat) "Nick (Tigi Monster) puts a lot of time on the mat and wants to make sure his technique is perfect so he can't be countered. He works hard on his setups and tries to finish almost every move taking his opponent to their backs. Nick is a high-intensity competitor and makes many of his opponents want to quit in the middle of a match due to the intense pressure he imposes on his opponents." -- Phoenix head wrestling coach, Gene Mills
(On the leadership qualified possessed by Tighe) "Nick is a great leader by example, always focusing on the task at hand and encouraging others. Nick's leadership elevates everyone on the team, especially the ones who work out with him on the mat. After wrestling with his partners, he always tries to offer words of encouragement and help them try to be better also. Nick is one in a billion and the Phoenix Wrestling program is blessed to have such a great role model." -- G. Mills
Career Highlights:
4. Tyler Grimaldi (Half Hollow Hills West/NYS DI)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 157/165
College Plans: Considering Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, Penn, Hofstra, Virginia, Arizona State, Bucknell, and North Carolina State
Tyler GrimaldiEqually outstanding is the job Grimaldi does in the classroom, making him nothing if not the true embodiment of what it means to be a student-athlete. It is this double-barreled weaponry of brains and brawn that makes Tyler such a dream recruit for interested college coaches. The lucky school that lands him will know that they are getting that .5-percent gentleman who will always handle his responsibilities and who will never fail to represent his school and sport with utter class and honor.
A force on the national scene the past few months, Grimaldi became the first member of the 2013 Top 10 to earn multiple All-American distinctions as a junior. A testament to his versatility, Grimaldi proved just how quick his learning curve was when a few months removed from placing fourth at the NHSCA Junior National tournament, he made the journey to Fargo to compete in freestyle, a discipline in which he had only recently begun serious training. However, just like Roy Hobbs took to baseball, Grimaldi would show himself to be a natural, finishing sixth in Junior freestyle in a very deep weight class consisting of the creme de la creme of upperclassmen, including the No. 3 overall prospect from the current senior class Isaiah Martinez (California) and the No. 27 ranked member of the class of 2013 Nick Wanzek (Minnesota; committed to the University of Minnesota). Grimaldi will begin his quest for the state title that escaped him as the 15th-ranked wrestler in the land at his weight.
Words From the Corner: (On speaking about what makes his wrestler so successful) "Tyler is the whole package. He has all of the talents needed to be a successful wrestler. What he has that many kids do not is a tenacious desire to be the best at whatever he is doing. Being that Tyler only started wrestling in the eighth grade, he had a lot of catching up to do. He has put in more work over the past two years then most wrestlers do in a lifetime." -- Hills West head wrestling coach/former two-time NCAA All-American Mike Patrovich
(On what makes Tyler Grimaldi a great leader/example for the team) "I have built my program around Tyler Grimaldi. He is the best example of what every student-athlete should strive to be like. He is a natural leader and the kids flock to him. He is a great example of what a wrestler should be like both on and off the mat. Tyler is already the most accomplished wrestler in the history Hills West High School and still has one more year to go! Tyler has lifted our program from one of the worst in Suffolk County to a top ten program!" -- M. Patrovich
Career Highlights:
5. Tim Schaefer (Warsaw/NYS DII)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 182/195
Projected College Weight Class: 184/197
Tim Schaefer (Photo/Pete Rao & Pete Roetzer)Words From the Corner: (On what makes his wrestler a winner) "Tim Schaefer is extremely humble and hard working, but what sets him apart from the rest is that his tenacity and the way that he evaluates himself after a match and constantly works to get better. Being tenacious is what makes Tim able to climb mountains and leap obstacles, and with the spirit of a champion Tim will continue to be without limits." -- Warsaw head wrestling coach, Rob Hirsch
(On the effect that Tim Schaefer's success has on the Warsaw program) "Tim provides leadership by example during practice and on the mat working nonstop from whistle to whistle. But most of all for a team that continues to compete at the highest levels Tim brings a laidback cool and confident demeanor that relaxes the team so they can wrestle their best in intense situations." -- R. Hirsch
Career Highlights:
6. Troy Seymour (Peru/NYS DII)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 170/182
Projected College Weight Class: 174
College Plans: Considering Rider and Kent State
Troy Seymour (Photo/Keith Lodell)Turning the page and looking at his curricula vitae on the national stage, there might not be a more accomplished wrestler in the Top 10 than Seymour. An All-American at every grade level in Virginia Beach, Seymour will head into senior year on a bit of a hot streak, having put forth his best finish ever at the NHSCA-run event, finishing as the national runner-up at 170 pounds. In the two years that preceded this finals appearance, the Section 7 wrestler mustered a fifth place showing as a freshman at 145, followed by a sixth-place finish at 152 pounds.
Words From the Corner: (On the passion his wrestler feels for the sport of wrestling) "Troy likes wrestling more than 99 percent of the kids I've ever coached. It's all about wrestling. He's always doing something related to wrestling. He follows Division I closely, gets magazines, follows everything online, and coaches the peewees. He'll go to a tournament a day earlier just to coach the little kids. He just loves the sport. He's never said no when I've asked him to go to a tournament. We're at least five hours away from most events. He's probably spent more time in a car than any New York kid his age travelling to tournaments, but he's willing to go anywhere. He's really competitive." -- Peru head wrestling coach Mike Hogan
(On what Troy Seymour has approved upon and how he foresees his wrestler's success at the next level) "Whatever college Troy chooses will be getting a good one. He's young for his grade and he's gotten a lot more physical over the past year after weightlifting hard. He's always been good on his feet and on bottom and he could ride. But the difference last year was that he could turn people. He became a lot more effective on top." -- M. Hogan
Career Highlights:
7. David Almaviva (Shenendehowa/NYS DI)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 141/149
College Plans: Committed to Binghamton
David AlmavivaPriding himself on being more than just a folkstyle specialist, Almaviva would open a lot of eyes and turn more than his fair share of heads during the summer months, first knocking off two-time Junior National freestyle All-American/four-time DII state champion/current Indiana freshman Quinton Murphy at the NYS freestyle tournament. Almaviva's encore would be even better as he entered the confines of the FARGODOME a relative unknown, but left it a few days later as an All-American, finishing eighth at 145 pounds (with his three losses coming at the hands of a trio of InterMat Top 100 recruits, No. 7 Brian Murphy (Illinois), No. 37 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa), and No. 65 Austin Eads (Missouri).
Words From the Corner: (On the reasons his wrestler is so successful) "David Almaviva is a very gifted athlete. He naturally has that advantage over a lot of opponents. Add to that his commitment and work-ethic, and he becomes a very effective wrestler. David is a 12-month-a-year wrestler. He is very quick on his feet. That is, he often has his opponents reacting to his offensive movement, only to take them down with an explosive leg attack. Additionally, he has a very strong for his weight. When riding an opponent, he often takes them out of the match with an array of tilts and turns." -- Shenendehowa head wrestling coach Rob Weeks
(On the strengths that David Almaviva brings to the Shen wrestling room) "David is very focused on the 'objective' when he enters the wrestling room. He tends to bring other wrestlers up to a higher level when they train with him. Again, David is a very gifted wrestler and a lot of technique comes relatively easy to him. So having David in the room is like having an assistant coach in the room. He can assist in the breakdown of technique to guys on the team who may struggle with it. Additionally, David has a dry sense of humor that can break up the monotony that can build up during the season. David has been part of the varsity program since seventh grade and he has developed a level of respect that comes with the time he has spent with us." -- R. Weeks
(On what makes David Almaviva special) "David has some of the best technique I have ever seen. He is like an encyclopedia; he just picks it up; he sees it once, he's got it, and then he can implement it. So While he and Nick [Kelley] have their different strengths, they work together all the time, and as a tandem, they bring the best out of each other." -- Frank Popolizio, Shenendehowa assistant wrestling coach/founder & head coach of the Journeymen WC
Career Highlights:
8. Nick Lupi (Huntington/NYS DI)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 220
Projected College Weight Class: 285
Nick Lupi (Photo/Huntington Public School Distric)As the lone returning medalist at his weight class, not only is Lupi a sure-fire guarantee to improve upon last season's fifth-place showing in his first trip to the state's capital, he is also the frontrunner to walk away with the hardware. Flowrestling.com thought so highly of him that they ranked Lupi as 19th-ranked 220-pounder in the country.
Words From the Corner: "Nick Lupi has what all our former champions have: Desire, discipline, and determination. Nick has set some high goals for this upcoming season and will not let up until they all are achieved. Having Nick improve each and every year for the past five years shows others that, commitment and hard work pays off. He has done this not only on the wrestling mat, but in the classroom as well." -- Huntington head wrestling coach Kieran Mock
Career Highlights:
9. Kyle Kelly (Chenango Forks/NYS DI)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 113
Projected College Weight Class: 125
College Plans: Considering Cornell, Binghamton, Bucknell, and Ithaca (NCAA DIII)
Kyle Kelly (Photo/Erin Kelly)As noted above, when it comes to the scope of one's national resume, few, if any, wrestler in the Empire State (regardless of grade) can stand toe-to-toe with the wealth of success enjoyed by the Section 4 standout. A 2012 NHSCA Junior National All-American (fifth at 106), Kelly has no doubt proven how adept he is when competing in folkstyle. However, it is his diverse accomplishments in the international styles that set him apart from many of his colleagues. A two-time Junior Greco-Roman All-American (a pair of seventh-place finishes at 98 pounds in 2011 and 106 points in 2012 respectively, Kelly just missed being a double junior AA this past summer, coming a single victory short of the podium in Fargo.
Words From the Corner: "Kyle is a very dedicated, intelligent, and committed three-sport student-athlete. Plus, he has earned All-American status in all three styles of wrestling, folk-style, freestyle, and Greco-Roman. This level of athleticism and versatility allows Kyle to make improvements in each and every practice. Thus, when Kyle and senior teammate Jake Green work out in our wrestling room they both model a work ethic and wrestling proficiency that all wrestlers from youth level to varsity try to emulate. The Chenango Forks wrestling community is very proud of Kyle's accomplishments, in the classroom, and in both state and national tournaments." -- Chenango Forks head wrestling coach/2009 USA Wrestling Developmental Coach of the Year recipient Rick Gumble
Career Highlights:
10. John "Trey" Aslanian (Edgemont/NYS DII)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 120
Projected College Weight Class: 125
College Plans: Considering Harvard, Princeton, and Penn
Analysis: If there was an award at the New York tournament given to the student-athlete who came the closest to winning it all, then that honor would be to Aslanian who in 2011 had eventual state champion William Koll on his back early into their 106-pound finals before losing a 50/50 position and getting pinned. In 2012, the dual threat (smarts + athleticism) would again find himself on center stage, but for the second time in as many years would have to settle for the bridesmaid spot on the podium, dropping a 5-0 decision to a wrestler who got hot at the right time, Sean Peacock (who had defeated Koll earlier in the day in the state semifinals). In his only non-finals appearance in 2010, Aslanian would just narrowly miss making it an 3-for-3 sweep, dropping his semifinal bout by the slimmest of margins, 6-5, to eventual state runner-up Drew Longo. Aslanian would win two of his remaining three bouts to emerge with a solid fifth in his Times Union Center debut.
John "Trey" AslanianWords From the Corner: "I think Trey's biggest strength is the amount of time he puts into honing his craft. He's very technical for a high school wrestler and he spends lots of time drilling. He watches films of himself and standout wrestlers from around the world. He figures out why some things work and others don't. He's a real student of the game. If you line him up against the best in the state, he won't be the strongest kid or the best natural athlete. He's achieved what he has by working hard to play to his strengths. Trey has a great gas tank. He just doesn't get tired. He's also very academically minded. He's a great student who takes a lot of AP and honors classes." -- Edgemont head wrestling coach, Peter Jacobson
Career Highlights:
Honorable Mention Selections (Alphabetical):
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