Matt Marlow, Joe Manfredi and Stephen Lukas found ways to win 

Matt Marlow, Soph., Northport, Division I, 118 pounds

Matt Marlow is the one! He is the very first state wrestling champion in Northport school history.

Marlow captured the Division I state crown at 118 pounds when he scored a late takedown for a 3-1 win over Jaden Crumpler of Niagara Falls at the 59TH NYS wrestling championships.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be the first state wrestling champion for my school,” Marlow said. “I’m so happy and hopeful that it’ll motivate some other athletes in my school to join the wrestling program. This has been a lifelong goal for me.”

Marlow finished the season with a record of 37-1. He has 78 career wins in just over two years of competition. “He has an incredible work ethic and trains all year,” said Northport coach Thad Alberti. “I want to win it again (the state title),” Marlow said. “But I’ll have to earn it again.”

Joe Manfredi, Soph., Herricks, Division I, 110 pounds

Two years ago, Manfredi lost in the 99-pound state final as an eighth grader. With redemption as his motivator, the sophomore defeated Mikey Manta of Hauppauge, 5-1, in this year’s 110-pound final. Manta was 43-2 this season with both of his losses coming to Manfredi.

Last season there was state tournament due to the COVID pandemic.

“I waited two years to get back here (the state finals),” Manfredi said. “It feels a lot better to finish this time. The ride home was enjoyable.”

Manfredi said he trained even more since his last loss two years ago. “I put in the time in the offseason, and it paid off,” he said.

Manfredi finished the season with a perfect 51-0 record. He has a career record of 138-7. Manfredi is his school’s fifth state champion, only the second in the last 30 years.

Stephen Lukas, Sr., Eastport-South Manor, Division I, 132 pounds

Lukas has had several near misses on his high school wrestling journey.

The Eastport-South Manor senior just missed placing in the Suffolk tournament two years ago. This season he just missed winning the Suffolk title.

Consider this year’s state tournament for Lukas was a can’t-miss moment. He was the 8th seed but stormed his way to the state finals with a pin and two technical falls including a 17-1 whipping of the top seed in the quarterfinals. Lukas out-slicked third seeded Andrew Marchese of Washingtonville, 9-6, to capture the division I state title at 132 pounds. Lukas is the ninth wrestler from Suffolk who didn’t win a county title but won a state title in the same season.

“It’s a title of perseverance and that never-say-die attitude,” said co-coach Nick Garone. He finished the season with a 34-1 record.