'Sibomania' rules wrestling world as Dunia Sibomana wins state title
Long Beach’s Dunia Sibomana celebrates after defeating Chenango Forks' Ryan Ferrara in the 102-pound Division 1 final at the 2022 NYSPHSAA wrestling championships on Feb. 26 at the MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Newsday Wrestler of the Year: Dunia Sibomana, 8th, Long Beach, Division I, 102 pounds
The eighth-grade wrestling phenom burst onto the scene with an incredible run to the 102-pound New York State Division I championship.
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Newsday Wrestler of the Year: Dunia Sibomana, 8th, Long Beach, Division I, 102 pounds
The eighth-grade wrestling phenom burst onto the scene with an incredible run to the 102-pound New York State Division I championship.
He rolled to a Nassau sectional title and then reeled off four straight wins in the state tournament in Albany, capping the brilliant run with a first-period pin over Ryan Ferrara of Chenango Forks in 1:32 in the finals at the MVP Arena.
Sibomana turned the MVP Arena crowd of more than 5,000 into ‘Sibomania’ when he turned his previously undefeated Chenango Forks opponent to his back for the first-period pin. The crowd rose in appreciation of Sibomana’s journey to the state crown. Sibomana proceeded to delight the crowd to celebrate with a cartwheel and a back flip.
“It was a great moment for me and my family,” said Sibomana, who finished with a 35-2 record. “All I wanted to do was celebrate. No one expected me to win.”
Sibomana had beaten the odds just to be in such a place. At six years old, playing just outside his village of Rutshuru in the jungle of the Virunga National Park, a vast animal preserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa, a troop of chimpanzees attacked him and two family members. His brother and cousin were killed in the attack.
Sibomana survived but was left with horrific injuries to his lips, ears and face. His right ear and facial muscles were gone and the middle finger on his left hand was bitten off.
“He’s come a long way in a short period of time, but we haven’t written the final chapter,” said Miguel Rodriguez, Sibomana’s adoptive father and the assistant wrestling coach for Long Beach High School. “There is still much to do, it’s only the beginning for him. He is such a beautiful boy.”
Long Beach coach Ray Adams was proud of the school's 17th state champion.
“He’s overcome tragedy and challenges that no young boy should ever experience,” Adams said. “But he’s found wrestling and that’s where his journey takes him for the next four years. I’m honored to be along for the ride.”