A dominant showing from Suffolk County wrestlers powered Section XI to the team title at the New York State Division I Wrestling Championships, held at Albany’s MVP Arena.

Section XI finished with 248.5 team points, edging out the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), which placed second with 240.5 points. The strong performance across multiple weight classes secured the overall sectional championship and highlighted the depth of talent coming from Suffolk County programs.

The final team standings showed a clear separation at the top:

1. Section XI – 248.5

2. CHSAA – 240.5

3. Section VIII – 191.5

4. Section I – 190.5

5. Section IX – 180.5

6. Section V – 166.5

7. Section III – 159.5

8. Section II – 116.5

9. Section IV – 46

10. PSAL – 39

11. Section VI – 38

Section XI’s championship reflects the continued strength of Suffolk County wrestling, where powerhouse programs consistently produce state contenders and champions. Throughout the tournament, Section XI wrestlers advanced deep into brackets, earned placement points, and contributed critical victories that helped secure the team crown.

The margin over CHSAA showed how competitive the championship race was, but Section XI’s consistency across the tournament ultimately made the difference.

For Long Island wrestling, the title adds another chapter to an already strong tradition and reinforces Section XI’s place among the premier wrestling regions in New York State.

There would be no settling this time.

After finishing with silver a year ago, Aaliyah Morrow closed out her high school career in dominant fashion, capturing the 152-pound state title at the 2026 NYSPHSAA Girls Wrestling Championships.

The Bellport senior, the tournament’s top seed, delivered a clinical performance in the championship bout, defeating sixth-seeded Ja’Niyah Simmons of Canandaigua Academy by an 8-0 major decision.

Morrow relied on precision and patience, scoring four go-behinds — three of them coming in a decisive second period — to steadily build separation. Each sequence showcased her mat awareness and technical edge, as she controlled position, dictated pace, and prevented any offensive rhythm from Simmons, who had been the tournament’s surprise finalist.

The 8-0 shutout capped a businesslike run through the bracket for Morrow, who lived up to her No. 1 seed and left no doubt in the “money match.”

The Clipper standout’s ability to convert clean entries into points proved to be the difference, particularly in the middle frame when she turned a tight contest into a commanding lead.

Going out in style, the Bellport senior now adds a state championship to her resume, cementing her place among the program’s all-time greats and setting a gold standard for future Clippers to chase.