NFA WRESTLING | State Championships Results
NFA WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS | NFA’s Will Soto Wins Wrestling State Championship title for second consecutive year, reigning champ Cooper Merli places second, and NFA’s Wrestling team placed 3rd overall in the state meet held at the MVP Arena in Albany over the weekend.
WILL SOTO | REPEAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
Will Soto is a State Champion Wrestler (108lb.) for the second consecutive year, wrapping up his second undefeated season in a row as an NFA Goldback, winning 103 straight matches. Soto won his first match by technical fall and his second match by fall.
Two weeks ago, Soto took home the Section IX title (108lb.) to advance to states. Earlier this year, Soto took the title at the Eastern States Classic as well. Over the summer, Soto competed at the Pan American championships in San Salvador, El Salvador, winning gold in freestyle wrestling and beach wrestling, and silver in Greco-Roman wrestling, representing the Puerto Rican Youth Wrestling national team.
COOPER MERLI | 2nd PLACE FINISH IN OVERTIME
For the third consecutive year, Cooper Merli placed high on the podium at the NYS Wrestling State Championships, taking 2nd place (116lb.) in a battle that went into overtime. Merli won his first match by technical fall and his second match by major decision.
Two weeks ago, Merli took home the Section IX title (116lb.) to advance to states. In the fall, Merli announced that he is headed to West Point to wrestle for the 2026-2027 season. By winning the state championship title (102lb.) in 2023, Merli became the first NFA state champion since Al Favata in 1968.
In 2024, Merli (108lb.) and Soto (101 lb.) made NFA history by becoming the first pair of wrestlers to win a State Championship title in the same year. The wrestlers credit each other for amplifying their athletic accomplishments by working well together.
WRESTLING TEAM TITLE | THIRD PLACE
NFA’s Wrestling team placed 3rd overall in the state meet held at the MVP Arena in Albany over the weekend. In his inaugural year as head coach, Will Parks led six wrestlers to compete in the state championships - the most athletes in NFA team history. Contributing to the team's success were Will Soto (108lb.) placed first, Cooper Merli (116lb.) placed 2nd, Chris Leggett (215 lb.) placed 4th, Matthew Mercado (131 lb.) placed 8th; Jordan Busby (116lb.), and William Coughlin (190lbs.) also competed at the NYS Championship competition. Will Soto, Cooper Merli, and Chris Leggett each earned All State honors during the meet.
Will Soto (108lb.), Cooper Merli (116lb.), and Chris Leggett (215 lb.) each placed first in their respective weight classes to be crowned Section IX Champions heading into the state tournament.
Local media coverage about the season:
Mid Hudson Times - March 6, 2025 - Merli leaves behind an everlasting legacy
Mid Hudson Times - March 6, 2025 - Soto completes second straight undefeated season
Star Gazette - March 4, 2025 - Section 9 and 4 wrestlers in NYSPHSAA boys championships
Mid Hudson News - March 2, 2025 - NFA’s Will Soto repeats as state wrestling champion
Mid Hudson News - February 15, 2025 - NFA’s Cooper Merli wins third straight section wrestling title, earns Most Outstanding Wrestler
Mid Hudson Times - February 12, 2025 - Newburgh wrestlers dominate Pine Bush, edge Middies
Mid Hudson Times - January 15, 2025 - Newburgh’s Soto cruises to title at Eastern States Classic
Mid Hudson Times - December 31, 2024 - Newburgh wrestlers third in Mid Hudson tournament
Mid Hudson Times - December 26, 2024 - Shorthanded Goldbacks top Washingtonville
Mid Hudson Times - December 5, 2024 - 2023-24 will be a tough act to follow for Newburgh wrestlers
Mid Hudson Times - October 16, 2024 - Cooper Merli headed for West Point
The NFA Wrestling program is led by head coach Will Parks and assistant coach Nick Concetta.
Photos provided by NYSPHSAA and Coach Will Parks.
ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!
