Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated released its updated National Pre-Season Rankings for both boys’ and girls’ wrestling, offering an early look at the top high school competitors across the country. Among the nation’s elite were 25 athletes from New York, each earning a place inside the top 30 and highlighting the state’s continued strength in the sport. Long Island was well represented on the girls’ side, with Julianna Hernandez earning the No. 22 ranking nationally. The standout from Rocky Point continues to impress after a dominant previous season. She was joined by another Suffolk County star, Bellport’s Cait Maragioglio, who finished even higher and remains one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the region.
On the boys’ side, Longwood’s Anthony Lagala-Ryan led the New York contingent with an impressive ranking that solidified his status as one of the state’s premier competitors. Close behind him were two additional Suffolk County wrestlers who earned spots inside the top 160 nationally: Gavin Mangano of Shoreham-Wading River and Camryn Howard of Bellport. Their placement in these rankings underscores the depth of talent continuing to emerge from Suffolk programs.
In other wrestling news, this week’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational brought major highlights for several local standouts. In the tournament’s quarterfinals, Center Moriches graduate Jordan Titus, now wrestling for West Virginia University, delivered a standout performance. Titus secured an impressive victory over No. 9–ranked Julian Tagg (SDSU), punching his ticket to the CKLV quarterfinals. Titus entered the tournament unseeded, while Tagg was the No. 3 overall seed at 141 pounds, making the upset one of the event’s most notable early moments.
The weekend also featured a significant win for Ward Melville’s Jaden Baron, who defeated returning state finalist Austin Campsey of East Hampton in a dramatic tie-breaking match, marking another major milestone for Suffolk wrestling.