Jackson Polo, Jordan Soriano two of state's best
Jackson Polo, Sr., Cold Spring Harbor, Division II, 145 pounds
When Polo began his high school career, he wanted to become a four-time state champ.
Things didn’t go as planned, as Polo came up short as a freshman and sophomore before COVID canceled his junior season.
But Polo made the most of last chance and claimed the Division II 145-pound state title to cap off a 36-0 senior season.
“It wasn’t the priority but going undefeated was one of my goals this year,” Polo said. “Undefeated state champ sounds a little better.”
Polo became Cold Spring Harbor’s second state champion in program history and its second in the last two seasons.
While the UPenn commit plans to compete in more tournaments in the offseason, he won’t forget his championship experience in Albany any time soon.
“The New York State tournament doesn’t compare to any other wrestling tournament I have been to,” Polo said. “There is something special about that tournament, the Times Union Center and the fans in that atmosphere.”
Jordan Soriano, Sr., Clarke, Division II, 138 pounds
He finished sixth in the state tournament as an eighth grader, missed the 2019 postseason due to a broken arm and placed fifth as a sophomore.
Soriano dominated the 138-pound weight class his entire senior season en route to becoming Clarke’s first ever state champion.
“I’ve been working with my brother (junior Justin Soriano) since the beginning of COVID and it’s amazing to see that work pay off,” Soriano said.
Coach Mike Leonard called the Sorianos the hardest workers he’s ever coached at Clarke.
“Jordan had a couple of tough breaks in his freshman and junior seasons,” Leonard said. “He won the [Journeymen] unofficial state championship last year, but he came back and said he wanted to win the big one and he got it.”
Soriano finished the season 37-1 and will continue wrestling at Drexel University.
