For Manhasset wrestler Will Russell and Whitman wrestler Michael McGuinness, it's all about vindication
From left: Will Russell of Manhasset defeats Tanner Knapp of Horseheads in a 118-pound Division I second round match at the state boys wrestling championships on Friday at the MVP Arena in Albany; Michael McGuinness, top, of Walt Whitman defeats Joey Losee of Shenendehowa in a 150-pound Division I quarterfinal match.
ALBANY — In wrestling, adapting to pain is part of the culture. For Manhasset’s Will Russell and Whitman’s Michael McGuinness, minor setbacks sparked major comebacks.
Russell missed last year’s state tournament with a broken clavicle. This year, he punched his ticket to the semifinals.
At 118 pounds, sixth-seeded Russell pinned No. 3 Vincenzo Mannello of Briarcliff/Byram Hills/Valhalla/Westlake in 4:31 in the quarterfinals of the state Division I wrestling championships at MVP Arena on Friday.
“I’m having more fun with it,” Russell said. “Last year and after my injuries, I was getting so nervous before my matches, more so than I should’ve been. I keep telling myself I just need to have fun and wrestle hard. If I’m not having fun, why am I doing this?”
Russell, a senior, will face No. 7 Kymah Gummow of Indian River in the semifinals, a tough opponent on his path to a state title. Gummow upset No. 2 Tanner Catrabone of St. Francis in the quarterfinals.
On the other side of the bracket, Long Beach’s top-seeded Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez is competing for his third state title. The UNC commit will face No. 4 Connor Guffey of Webster Thomas in the semifinals.
A rematch between Rodriguez and Russell would be a repeat of the Nassau final, where Rodriguez earned the 1-0 decision on Feb. 15.
“If I go out and wrestle my best, I can beat anybody,” Russell said. “This momentum will carry into tomorrow big time. It was a great match overall and now I know I can go win it all.”
As a sophomore, McGuinness placed eighth in the state at 145 pounds last season before suffering a wrist injury that ended his lacrosse season that spring. When he got back on the mat this year, it was clear he was unfazed.
On Feb. 15, McGuinness became Whitman’s first Suffolk champion since 2017. He is second-seeded in the 150-pound bracket, and pinned No. 7 Joey Losee of Shenendehowa in 3:19 to secure his spot in the semifinals.
“A big thing for me was to remember where I finished last year,” McGuinness said. “Even though I faced some adversity with that injury, that really motivated me to keep working and getting better.”
Though he has already improved on last year’s performance with a guaranteed top-six finish, McGuinness said his job is not done.
“I’ve been part of this program since I was 4 years old,” McGuinness said. “Looking up at the banners in the gym, this has always been a big goal for me. I’m so grateful to be here and for the success I’ve had so far.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
