When they look back on the Class of 2026 at Mahopac High School, they won’t find a sectional championship banner to point to, but they will find something just as enduring. They’ll see a senior class that competed just about everywhere, in every season, in every sport, and elevated the Wolf Pac’s reputation across the state. Whether it was a big win and a joyous bus ride home, or a startling setback with just hours to bounce back, Mahopac’s glide across Section 1 was strong.
From football – both tackle and flag – to baseball, basketball, lacrosse and so much more, Mahopac delivered state-ranked performances, signature wins, and seasons that demanded respect. They didn’t just show up; they showed out.
The Class of 2026 did nothing to diminish Mahopac’s athletic identity. In fact, they strengthened it, proving that a program’s worth isn’t measured solely by trophies, but by the standard it sets and the fight it brings each and every day.
Yes, championships matter. They always will. But every once in a while, a class comes along that reminds us that success isn’t defined by a title; it’s defined by the journey, the grit, the pride, and the legacy left behind.
And by that measure, the Class of 2026 was one for the ages. From the fall to the spring, Mahopac’s student-athletes left their footprint.
The fall was a regular banger. Both soccer programs kicked their way into the NYSSA state rankings: the boys’ squad finishing at No. 11 before falling to Harrison, 3-1, in the sectional finals. Despite a stacked 17-2-1 squad that included All-Section honorees, including League MVP Aidan Paris-Devane, Oliver Filip and Justin Chin were in it to win it under Coach of the Year Chris Mulholland.
The ladies finished strong on the soccer pitch at 11-5-2, ranked No. 18 in NYS, with the All-Section Kelleher twins – Niamh and Fiona (the League G Player of the Year) – leading the way. The rest of the seniors were pretty sick, too, including Emily Chin, Maria Garofalo, Angelina Mazzella, Lauren Wescott, Riley Hughes and Gianna Dolan. All eight of these seniors played pivotal roles.
The Wolf Pac football team went 5-4 and earned HM in the state rankings, getting a massive effort from seniors like OL Matt Bentivenga, RB/DB Nate Mascoll (All-Section, League A RB of the Year), LB Michael Trinchitella, TE/DE Matt Dugan (All-Section), DE Matt Reilly, DE/OL Peter Grishaj and too many others to mention.
The winter saw productively strong campaigns from both basketball squads (boys and gals) and the wrestling unit.
Coach Steven Tornambe’s wrestling program produced three sectional titlists, including two-time sectional champion senior Charles Przymylski. Tornambe also saw 110-pounder junior Justin Cabuhat and 157-pound junior Pace Zeiler take to the biggest wrestling stage in the state.
Girls hoops (15-8) finished with an honorable mention state rank under coach Jason Conklin. Led by All-Section choice Maddy Ford, All-Conference selection Fiona Kelleher and All-NYS HM junior Gianna Puckhaber, the Wolf Pac found themselves in the Section 1 Class AA Final 4 before falling to Nyack, the eventual sectional champion.
The varsity boys squad, while falling short of its hoops goals, made its way to the Class AA quarterfinals before a nip-and-tuck overtime loss to rival Yorktown, but not before coach Matt Calabro engraved the program with an HM state ranking, largely on the back of All-Section seniors Matt Reilly and Drew Lichtenberger; not to forget junior Ethan Dedvukaj and many others.
The spring produced a banner campaign: Mahopac girls lax (13-5) and flag football (15-3-1) were sensational, ranking No. 25 and No. 16 in NYS Class B, respectively while reaching the Final 4. Senior Ashley Koch put the finishing touches on a brilliant two-sport career by earning All-Section girls lax honors as the program’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer with 196 goals and 236 points (behind only the great Kim Harker, 325 points), along with senior classmate Gianna Cirelli and juniors Bella Gangemi and Gianna Puckhaber, to whom they will pass the torch.
Garofalo went on to be named the Class B Offensive Player of the Year after connecting again and again with All-Section choices Niamh and Fiona Kelleher and the gumption-filled Dolan sisters, senior Gianna and junior Kayleigh, as they won the league title outright.
The Kelleher sisters truly left a jaw-dropping impression in three sports (soccer, hoops, flag FB).
On the pitch, they played with that Mahopac edge—pace, physicality, and the ability to flip a match with one sequence. The Kellehers weren’t passengers; they were tone-setters. Every possession had purpose, every challenge had bite.
Basketball is where their competitiveness really popped—and not just on the stat sheet. They defended like they were protecting a family heirloom, moved the ball with high IQ, and played with that “we’re not losing today” urgency that coaches dream about. They didn’t need to score points to dominate—they controlled tempo, defense, spacing, and toughness all the way to the County Center Final 4 for a second year in a row.
Flag football is where the Kelleher twins detonated. Their instincts, angles, and spatial awareness translated perfectly, and suddenly Mahopac had multi-sport athletes who played the game like seasoned veterans for coaches Andrew Ryan and Danny Good. The sisters were decisive, fearless, and clutch, the exact DNA needed for championship challengers.
Many athletes dabble in multiple sports. The Kelleher sisters excelled in three at a level that actually moved the needle. They didn’t just fill roles. They elevated teams. They didn’t just contribute. They didn’t just show up. They left a jaw-dropping impression, the kind that coaches talk about for years and younger athletes will try to emulate for decades to come.
An 18-8 baseball club (ranked No. 15 in Class AA) went to the sectional finals for a second-straight year behind inevitable All-NYS selections C Drew Lichtenberger and ace P Nick Masciarelli, plus All-Section SS Vince Cataldo and All-League OF Mascoll. Reaching a sectional final in baseball is one thing, doing it in consecutive years is another #KudosToSeniors.
Softball produced its finest season (13-9) since the magical Shannon Becker era (2021 sectional title) behind the exploits of All-Section infielder Camdyn Wilson (also a Diamond 9 choice) and HM All-Section Alenah Gomes, senior leaders top to bottom.
Boys lax saw junior Ryan LaRue earn All-Section honors as the Wolf Pac made their way to the Class B Final 4.
All in all, athletic director Stephen Luciana was more than impressed by the best senior class in his five-year tenure at Mahopac.
“The class of 2026 has really left their mark at Mahopac,” Luciana said. “This was a special group of student athletes who had a tremendous amount of success. Over 20 of them will play a sport at the collegiate level next year. What impressed me the most with this group was how close they were and they always had each other’s backs. They were great role models for our younger student athletes. They will be missed and I know great things await them in the next stages of their lives.”
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