The 2021-22 high school wrestling season had its share of hurdles for all the Staten Island teams.

COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine requirements hindered many wrestlers from competing in dual meets and tournaments. In some leagues it prevented non-vaccinated wrestlers from competing at all. Teams and wrestlers grinded out the season which limited travel to neighboring states and caused many regional and national tournaments to be canceled.

Monsignor Farrell went undefeated against New York City opponents in dual meets and went 5-0 in the Staten Island Duals with just its vaccinated wrestlers. The Lions took second at the Mayors Cup as a last-minute entry with only nine wrestlers.

Farrell had its largest squad in school history with 65 wrestlers last season. The team was led by senior captains Michael Adams and Michael Caserta. The closest dual meet was against Tottenville, which Farrell won, 36-28.

The youthful 2021 Pirates wrestling team never seemed to stop moving forward, getting better as the season progressed. The Pirates completed the year by winning the Public School Athletic League individual team title, and the PSAL Borough title. They finished second in the PSAL dual meet tournament falling to Mayors Cup champion, Eagle Academy. The Pirates will certainly be looking to challenge both programs next year.

As a result, the Lions and Pirates dominated the five first-team all-star selections picked by the coaches of Staten Islands wrestling programs. Plus. wrestlers from those two schools lead the contingent on the second and third teams below.

First Team

Michael Adams -- 118 pounds (Monsignor Farrell):

The last of the Adams brothers (Terry and Daniel prior) to attend the Oakwood school was the overall city champion at 118 pounds, winning the Mayors Cup for the third time by defeating fellow Islander Jacob Levin of Tottenville. The senior also won the prestigious Ironman Invitational for the third time. Adams also won his second CHSAA title, beating Chaminades Shane Meenaghan, a returning state place finisher. He placed seventh at the NYSPHSAA state championships. His record was 37-3, bringing his career mark to 136-18, including 91 pins. He is widely considered one of the best wrestlers in NYC history. He will be continuing his wrestling career at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, where he will join older brother Terry.

John-Michael Economos -- 145 pounds (Monsignor Farrell)

The junior was the overall city champion and won the Mayors Cup with 15 seconds left in the match. He was down two points to state level wrestler Mitchell Barcus when he secured a takedown and took Barcus directly to his back in what many call the match of the tournament and year in New York City wrestling. Economos is a two-sport athlete, who also competes for the swim team.

McKee/Staten Island Tech's Joseph Masica, center, left, who copped the 189-pound Mayor's Cup title, poses with Seagull coach Charles Brancato. (Family photo)

Joseph Masica -- 189 pounds (McKee/Staten Island Tech)

The senior was the overall city champion at 189 pounds, beating Shaydon Bernadskiy of Tottenville in dominant fashion, 13-2. He also won the Borough Championships and was the PSAL Sectional champion. His season record was 34-3, including 25 pins.

118-pounder Jacob Levin will go down as one of Tottenville's top grapplers. (Photo courtesy of Tottenville wrestling)

Jacob Levin -- 118 pounds (Tottenville)

Heading into the season, the senior was looked at as one of the citys best wrestlers and he certainly delivered. The two-time All-Star won the Eagle Academy Invitational, Murrow Invitational and Tottenville Invitational. Levin captured his third individual Borough championship and second PSAL individual title. The Pirate captain capped his final year with 37 wins (148 career wins in 3 years), scoring bonus points in all the regular season matches he won. He concluded this stellar career by going 2-2 in the NYPHSAA championships. He is considered one of the best wrestlers in the history of the Tottenville program.

Jake Gulino -- 215 pounds (Tottenville)

The senior notched his first All-Star accolades by becoming the dark horse at the PSAL Individual Tournament when he avenged his only two losses of the regular season to capture his first PSAL Individual title. On his way to representing the PSAL at the NYSPHSAA championships, he beat this years Mayors Cup champion, Daniel Abramov of Stuyvesant, by major decision. He concluded his season by going 1-2 in the NYSPHSAA championships.

Staten Island Wrestler of the Year -- Michael Adams

2nd Team

Orlando Suarez 118lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

Max Borowiec 126lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

Michael Caserta 160lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

Dylan Pipitone 172lbs (Tottenville)

Charlie Curry 189lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

Shaydon Bernardskiy 189lbs (Tottenville)

Ben Rosa 285lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

3rd Team

Jack Borowiec 102lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

Branden Munoz 102lbs (Petrides)

Harrison Zufrani 132lbs (MSIT)

Kyle Jacobs 152lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

Nick Gebbia 152lbs (Monsignor Farrell)

Sean Mclaughlin 152lbs (Tottenville)

Alan Pinkasov 160lbs (Tottenville)

Christian Kiste 285lbs (Susan Wagner)

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HS wrestling: Five pin down Staten Island Coaches first-team, all-star honors - SILive.com