The wrestling culture in New York is growing, especially on Long Island. More high school students are joining the sport compared to previous years and even previous decades. This growth is evident as participation across New York State has reached nearly 300,000 athletes, the highest level seen since the 1970s.
This season (2025–26), Long Island wrestlers made their presence known, with 11 individual wrestlers winning state championships across Suffolk and Nassau Counties in both Division I and Division II, as well as in the boys’ and girls’ divisions. Multiple state placers also represented Long Island at both levels.
Among the wrestlers at the top of the sport this year—and likely next year if they remain enrolled—are Xavier Seabury, a sophomore from North Babylon; Jake Nieto, a junior and recent transfer to Massapequa who is pursuing his second state championship; and Camry Howard of Bellport, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation. Howard dominated his opponents throughout the tournament, earning technical-fall victories in every match.
In Division II, junior Gavin Mangano, who is committed to Penn State, is another standout athlete to watch. These are only a few of the many talented wrestlers expected to make headlines next season, and it would not be surprising to see them repeat their success.
For the athletes graduating this year, their wrestling careers will continue at the next level. Wrestlers such as Dunia Sibomana of Long Beach, who was named Most Outstanding Wrestler and is committed to UNC, and Devin Owens of Plainedge, who is headed to Maryland after making school history by capturing his third state title, have left a lasting impact on Long Island wrestling.
Although Long Island produced more state champions in 2025, many of those titles came at the Division II level. This year, the Island crowned numerous champions while continuing to compete at some of the highest levels in the state.
Women’s wrestling has also grown rapidly in recent years. This season, Long Island produced four state champions. Gabrielle Severin of Lindenhurst secured her first state title with an exciting 6–4 victory in the finals. Harley Gonzalez of Hicksville captured her championship with a dominant 10–0 technical-fall victory. Aayliah Marrow followed in her teammates’ footsteps, winning her championship match 8–0 and helping Bellport achieve a historic runner-up finish at the state tournament. Along with Camry Howard, these athletes represent only a glimpse of what Long Island wrestling has to offer in the years ahead.
Wrestling clubs such as Vougar, Pro Ex, Savage, and Stingray continue to provide high-level, competitive, and family-oriented environments that help athletes develop their skills and reach the next level.
And for the wrestlers whose names were not called on the podium, or who fell short of their goals this season, your efforts still matter. For those who stayed late in the wrestling room, pushed through extra workouts, and fought until the final whistle, know that your work was not wasted.
Wrestling is a demanding sport, but it teaches lessons that extend far beyond the mat. The reality is that wrestlers do something many people cannot fully understand unless they experience it themselves. Wrestling should teach resilience, not fear. It should teach accountability, not anxiety. The right environment builds toughness through camaraderie, not trauma.
