WRESTLING RECAP: Barrientos wins 125-pound title to headline #RollWolves stay at NYS Collegiate Championships Saturday in Syracuse@SUNYNiagara @GNN_Sports_ @NJCAAReg3 @wnywrestling @LewPortLancers @spointathletics https://t.co/0WW12HDWK1 pic.twitter.com/S3qLKnGDX0
— SUNY Niagara Thunderwolves (@NCThunderwolves) November 24, 2025
Freshman Jaron Barrientos won the 125-pound weight class in the Freshman/Sophomore division to headline SUNY Niagara's performance at the NYS Collegiate Championships Saturday at the SRC Arena & Event Center on the campus of Onondaga CC in Syracuse.
Barrientos became the program's sixth all-time champion at the event, joining Justin James (2008), Freddy Eckles (2016), Troy Keller (2017), Frankie Gissendanner (2019) and Te'Shaun Matthews (2025). SUNY Niagara has competed in the event since the 1997-98 season, with Brad Rowe finishing seventh.
Barrientos finished the day with five wins, including two pins and a 5-3 decision over Brockport's Trevor Middendorf for the 125 championship. Barrientos is now 12-1 on the season.
Sophomore Joe Cicco finished fourth in the Freshman/Sophomore 165 division. Cicco recorded two pins and two wins by decision.
Freshman Hamza Merrick placed second in the Freshman/Sophomore 285 division. Merrick recorded two pins and a win by major decision before falling to Elmira College's John Robyck in a 9-2 decision for the first place match.
SUNY Niagara also had three notable finishes in the NYS Collegiate Championships Open.
Freshman Aidan Gillings finished runner-up at 149, recording two tech fall victories before falling to U.S. Military Academy Prep's Easton Broxterman in a 14-3 major decision for the first place match. Gillings is now 9-2 on the season.
After winning his first 10 matches as a Thunderwolf, Trevor Copes recorded a tech fall victory before losing in the quarterfinal and consolation round at 141. Copes is now 11-2 this season.
Aiden Poe placed sixth at 174, recording three wins by tech fall and one by major decision. Poe then lost to Brockport's Gavin McLaughlin for fifth place in an 11-7 decision. Poe is now 12-3 this season.
SUNY Niagara continues its season when it hosts the Thunderwolves Duals on Dec. 5 and the 51st annual SUNY Niagara Open Wrestling tournament on Dec. 6 in Sanborn.