BEDFORD, N.Y. - Fox Lane senior Alex Berisha was not to be denied in his final attempt to stand atop the New York State Public High School Athletic Association podium.
After losing in the finals last year, Berisha was fixated on the 2025 NYS boys’ wrestling title, and the 215-pounder delivered on March 1 at the MVP Arena in Albany.
As expected, it came down to the wire, with a Section 1 twist. Tied with rival Michael Mauro of John Jay-East Fishkill through three two-minute periods, Berisha used several dumps to wear Mauro down before working a takedown and a near-fall in overtime for a rewarding 8-1 decision, becoming Fox Lane’s first state champ since Steven Rodrigues (130 pounds) in 2011.
After winning his third Section 1 title on Feb. 22, plus the Eastern States and Shoreline championships before a Westchester County title, Berisha needed to cement his legacy as an all-time Fox Lane great. Upon securing the state title, Berisha pointed to the people who have been with him throughout this journey — his family. He then found Coach Anthony Rodrigues, the dad of ‘Steven the Great,’for the hug that had been years in the making. Berisha reached the state finals after a 6-0 semifinal win.
“Alex has been a great, selfless leader, always patient and willing to help anyone,” Coach Rodrigues said. “Never one day of drama with this kid, always in a good mood. Whether winning or losing, he never wavered and was always a tireless worker.”
Fox teammate Luke Ryan (160 pounds) fought hard but lost in the wrestle-back round to conclude a sensational season, including his first Section 1 title.
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