Four (Or More) High School State Champions in College = New York

 Wrestling in the state of New York has always fascinated me. For a multitude of reasons, one of which is the fact that while the first state tournament didn't take place until 1963, high school wrestling has been in the state for far longer. I found this out doing comprehensive studies on college wrestling. I'd see wrestlers in the 30's, 40's & 50's from New York and find it peculiar that none of them were state champions. In fact I couldn't find anything at all about them participating in a state tournament. It's because they didn't. For the longest time (at least 30 years if not more) New York didn't have a state tournament. Instead the state was divided up into sections & each had their own individual tournament. New York is still divided up into sections & those sections today work as qualifiers. I bring this up because I know some will feel that when speaking of New York prior to 1963, there were individuals who won multiple section titles & since that is all the further that New York went at one time, maybe those who won four ought to be included in a list like this. I'm not sure when the sections started for sure. I know I have found tournaments dating back to 1937, but they may go back further than that. What I can tell you is that this piece will only feature four time champions from the actual New York State championships. Wanted to make that clear before we got started. 

Jesse Jantzen 

The Empire State crowned its first four time State champion in Jesse Jantzen of Shoreham-Wading River who won titles from 97'-00'.  Collegiately Jantzen competed for Harvard where after back to back 3rd place finishes his sophomore & junior seasons of 2002 & 2003, he won the NCAA title in 2004.  A three time EIWA champion, he was runner-up his freshman season. 

J.P. O'Connor 

Representing Oxford, J.P. O'Connor won four New York High School State titles from 03'-06'. Collegiately he competed for Harvard.  Earning All American honors of 5th & 6th his freshman & sophomore seasons of 2007 & 2008 respectively, O'Connor would win the NCAA title in 2010 as a senior.  A four time EIWA finalist, he won the EIWA title in 2010 as well. 

Alex Eckstrom 

Alex Eckstrom won four New York High School State crowns from 06'-09'. He began his collegiate career at Oklahoma and then transferred to Buffalo. 

Arik Robinson 

Arik Robinson won four New York High School State championships from 08'-11' for Peru. He competed collegiately for Buffalo. 

Quinton Murphy 

Quinton Murphy of Holley won his first New York High School State title in 2008. He then won three more between 10'-12'. Collegiately he started off at Indiana and then transferred to Clarion. 

Nick Piccininni 

Representing Ward Melville, Nick Piccininni won four New York High School State titles from 12'-15'. He competed for Oklahoma State, where he had a standout career for the Cowboys. A two time All American, Piccininni was 4th as a freshman and 5th as a junior. It should be noted that his senior season of 2020 he did not have the opportunity to earn a third All American honor as the NCAA championships were canceled. A rare four time BIG 12 champion, Piccininni also won two Southern Scuffle titles as well as a Reno title. 

Troy Nickerson 

Troy Nickerson of Chenago Forks became New York's first five time state champion, winning titles from 01'-05'. He competed for Cornell where he had a standout career.  A four time All American, Nickerson finished 2nd-3rd-1st-4th. He was also a three time EIWA champion. 

=== 

Jacori Teemer of Long Beach is at Arizona State. A two time All American, he has two seasons of eligibility left. 

Adam Busiello of East Port South Manor started off at Penn State & is now at Nassau Community College. 

Greg Diakomihalis of Hilton is at Cornell. 

Yianni Diakomihalis of Hilton is at Cornell. A three time NCAA champion, will go for his 4th title this upcoming season. 

Vito Arujau of Syosset is at Cornell. A two time All American, he has two seasons of eligibility left. 

Anthony Noto of Lima is at Lock Haven. An NCAA qualifier, he has three years of eligibility left (maybe even four) 

Frankie Gissendanner of Penfield started off at Rider & is now at Niagara Community College.