Nick Mauriello Takes Fourth in State, All-State Honors

Nick Mauriello brought home fourth place in the state championship, earning All-State honors this weekend in Albany. 

Newsday reports that wrestler Nick Mauriello took fourth-place in the 132-pound weight class at New York State championships this weekend in Albany, high enough to earn him All-State Honors. The achievement caps the senior's wrestling season, a remarkable rebound after a MRSA scare landed him in hospital one year ago. 

In 2011, Mauriello was unable to compete in for a spot in the New York State championships after  It developd into a secondary infection Lemierre's Syndrome, a rare but deadly bacterial infection in the mouth or throat spread through the circulatory system. Mauriello spent 19 days in Stony Brook University's Children Hospital. 

He won his right to compete this year by winning Suffolk'sand Most Oustanding Wrestler title in January. 

Mauriello won four out of six bouts over the weekend to climb his way to a fourth-place finish. He came strong out of the gate winning his preliminary match, 4-3, before losing in the quarterfinals, according to Newsday. Mauriello then entered consolation (wrestle-back) where he won his next two bouts to advance to Saturday's competition. 

On Saturday, Newsday reports that Mauriello beat Eric Lewandowski of Lancaster by 4-1, before eding out Nick Cegelski of Penfield, 3-2 to advance to the consolation finals. 

It was in finals that Mauriello was pinned by his rival, No. 2 seeded Nick Kelley, who he has previously lost to in the quarterfinals. 

Mauriello finished his senior year with a going 43-4 record. His other achievements include winning the Spring Gardner Tournament, Massapequa Holiday Tournament on Dec. 29, 2011, and taking second place in Eastern States. 

Click here to read Newsday's article [subscription required] about Mauriello's year-long battle back to the mats and a fourth-place finish.