Updated Brackets have been released for this weekend’s NYSPHSAA Tournament in Albany.  One of the major changes in the bracket is that Elvin Gervacio of Brooklyn International is the new PSAL entrant at 285 lbs. in Division 2.  Another update is that Fordham Prep's Sam Melikian has been bumped up from the 5th seed to the 3rd seed.  The following City wrestlers have earned seeds:

Division 1

• Santo Curatolo, Tottenville – 8th seed at 120
• Sam Melikian, Fordham Prep – 3rd seed at 132
• Andrew Psomas, Monsignor Farrell – 3rd seed at 160
• Matt Roberts, Monsignor Farrell – 6th seed at 182
• Nathanael Rose, Eagle Academy – 7th seed at 182
• Rich Sisti, Monsignor Farrell – 4th seed at 220

Division 2

• Dolan McColgan, Petrides – 7th seed at 99
• Cheick Ndiaye, Brooklyn International – 1st seed at 113
• Tyson Simon, Petrides – 6th seed at 152
• Adis Randocic, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy – 6th seed at 170
• Elvin Gervacio, Brooklyn International – 8th seed at 285

See the full brackets here. 

Franklin & Marshall’s Andrew Murano and Penn’s Andrew Lenzi know each other well.  They each competed for Catholic High Schools in New York City and both graduated in 2010.  Murano was a 3x CHSAA placewinner for Xavier and Lenzi was a 4x CHSAA Champ and 2x NYSPHSAA Champ for Fordham Prep.  They are each having strong seasons for their respective institutions, and as two of the top 149 pound wrestlers on the east coast, they appear to be set for a collision at the EIWA Tournament March 8th and 9th at Rutgers.

Murano is a Junior, and after struggling his first two seasons, he now stands at 24-12.  Lenzi is only a Sophomore, as he took a break from competition last year; he is 22-10 on the season.  Should this matchup take place, Lenzi will be the favorite, but the hard-working Murano has certainly closed the gap on his Catholic League Rival.  Both wrestlers hope to place high enough at the EIWA Tournament to qualify for the NCAA”s March 21-23 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The NYSPHSAA has released the preliminary brackets for the state tournament.  Notable City Wrestlers who earned seeds include: Cheick Ndiaye of Brooklyn international, a returning state finalist who earned the top seed at 113 and Monsignor Farrell Wrestlers Andrew Psomas (seeded 3rd at 160) and Rich Sisti (seeded 4th at 220).  Updated Brackets will be released later this week.

Division I: http://www.nysphsaawrestling.com/DivisionI.pdf

Division II: http://www.nysphsaawrestling.com/DivisionII.pdf

Last week, Nemo blanketed the Northeast with snow, delaying many of New York's Section Tournaments.  Coaches and wrestlers all over the state scrambled to reschedule their practices and tournaments around the storm, and finally, with the conclusion of the CHSAA States and Section 11 D2 Tournament, the field is set for next weekend's state tournament in Albany.  In addition to Section Champs, four wildcards were selected in each weight class to fill each 16-man bracket.  Now, 34 City Wrestlers are preparing to meet New York's toughest wrestlers.

Full list of qualifiers.

Stay tuned later this week as the NYSPHSAA will be releasing the seeds and the brackets for the tournament.

Over the past few days, both New York and New Jersey held their Private School State Championships. Nine NYC wrestlers found their way to the top of the medal stand.  In New York, Poly Prep and Horace Mann each continued their strong seasons with four champions apiece.  For Poly, John Luke DeStefano, Noah Malumut, Lenny Merkin, and Roman Accetta won titles.  Zach Dinan, Matt Russo, John Maguirre, and Andrew Schwatrz took titles for Horace Mann.  Meanwhile, across the Hudson, McZiggy Richards, competing for St. Benedicts, won the NJ Prep States at 220 pounds.

For full results visit Escape Sports: NY | NJ

Andrew Psomas, Matt Roberts, and Rich Sisti of Monsignor Farrell, along with Sam Melikian of  Fordham Prep, all made the trip to Buffalo for the CHSAA State Tournament worthwhile by bringing home titles. By winning this tournament, these four wrestlers qualify to compete in the NYPHSAA tournament in Albany next week. This was the third title for Melikian, the second for both Roberts and Sisti, and the first for Psomas.

The City was well-represented throughout the event. Wrestlers from Farrell, Xavier, Mount St. Michael, St. Peters, and Fordham Prep all placed at the event. The only weight without a place winner from NYC was 113. See here for the full brackets.

City Place winners

99 lbs

• 2nd: Chris Martorello,  Fordham Prep
• 5th: Stephen Linbolm,  Fordham Prep

106 Lbs

• 6th: Vincent Bivona, Xavier

120 Lbs

• 2nd: Austin Addis, Monsignor Farrell
• 4th: Miguel Palacios, Xavier

126 Lbs

• 3rd: Adam Santoro,  Fordham Prep
• 5th: Chris Amendola, Monsignor Farrell

132 Lbs

• 1st: Sam Melikian,  Fordham Prep
• 2nd: Ralph Maio, Monsignor Farrell

138 Lbs

• 3rd: Blaise Rufo, Monsignor Farrell
• 6th: Karl Wiesner, Monsignor Farrell

145 Lbs

• 4th: Addrian Ferrarie, Mount St. Michael

152 Lbs

• 3rd: Brian Morales, Monsignor Farrell
• 4th: John Thornton St. Peters Boys
• 6th: Conor OBrien,  Fordham Prep

160 Lbs

• 1st: Andrew Psomas, Monsignor Farrell
• 6th: Jovon Isaac,, Mount St. Michael

170 Lbs

• 4th: Michael Newman, Monsignor Farrell

182 Lbs

• 1st: Matt Roberts, Monsignor Farrell
• 3rd: Gabriel Papadatos,  Fordham Prep
• 6th: Andrew Waggoner, Xavier

195 Lbs

• 2nd: John DePalma, Monsignor Farrell

220 Lbs

• 1st: Rich Sisti, Monsignor Farrell
• 3rd: Craig Williams, Mount St. Michael

285 Lbs

• 2nd: Mazan Hassan, Monsignor Farrell

USA Wrestling has announced the formation of an All-Star team of the "most connected and brightest minds in our sport," charged with the task of convincing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to keep wrestling on the program for the 2020 Olympics and beyond. Beat the Streets Chairman of the Board, Mike Novogratz, has been selected as the spokesperson of the 13-member group which includes such wrestling legends as Dan Gable, Bruce Baumgartner, and BTS Board Member John Smith. UPDATE: They have also created a donation fund.

As we said earlier, this is not over. The announcement yesterday was the recommendation of the 15-member IOC Executive Board. They will be meeting again May 29-31 in St. Petersburg, Russia, and could reverse their decision then. If they don't reverse course at that point, the recommendation will face a vote by the full 115-member Committee during the 125th Session September 7-10 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, they will also be deciding which city will host the 2020 games and electing a new president.

We have until September to convince the IOC that wrestling belongs at the Olympics. USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said, "We have a great opportunity to show the world that wrestling belongs." See his complete comments at TheMat.com.

See what you can do here.