NYSSWA: New York State Sportswriters Association

NYSSWA rankings are updated weekly.
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Leading off today: The greatest winning streak in the history of American high school sports has come to an end.

The Brandon (Fla.) High wrestling team's national record of 459 consecutive dual-match victories ended Saturday with a 32-28 loss to South Dade in the finals of Brandon's own tournament.

Brandon had been unbeaten since 1973 and set the secord for longest scholastic winning streak in 1997 when it eclipsed Section 6 volleyball power Sweet Home's run of 292 matches from 1978 to '87. The Brandon squad earned 18 state team championships and produced 66 individual champions during the course of the streak.

Here's the wildest stat of 'em all, however: Coach Russ Cozart's career record is now 384-1.

Another one bites the dust: Kevin Parrom and Delroy Daley scored 17 points apiece yesterday as St. Raymond's, ranked No. 1 in Class AA by the New York State Sportswriters Association, defeated No. 3 Holy Cross, 77-69, in CHSAA basketball action.

Guard Omari Lawrence scored 15 points in the victory. Parrom added nine rebounds and four assists to the effort. Daley had seven rebounds. Holy Cross got 26 points from Sylven Landesberg and 21 by Tim Beinert.

St. Raymonds is heading for a tough back-to-back next weekend, taking on No. 2 Rice on Saturday and then appearing at Madison Square Garden on Sunday against nationally ranked St. Patrick's from Elizabeth, N.J.

Girls cross country stars: Roslyn sophomore Emily Lipari is the NYSSWA girls cross country runner of the year, capping a season is which whe won state and Federation championships and placed sixth at the Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego.

The class-by-class runners of the year are senior Hannah Davidson of Saratoga, junior Shelby Greany of Suffern, Lipari, freshman Courtney Chapman (Fayetteville-Manlius and eighth-grader Caroline O'Hea of Ward Melville.

The complete all-state team, compiled by Don Doherty, is now posted.

Extra points: Valley Central senior 140-pounder Mike D'Amato went 3-2 at the David Bloom Memorial Tournament, and his next victory will give him 193 to tie the Section 9 career wrestling mark of Ricky Scott. And though we couldn't pin down a precise number this weekend, Winky Shepard of Central Square is apparently close to the state record of 245 victories held by Taylor Malone of Lowville and and Kevin Smith of Mexico.

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12/1/23: Bennett controversy takes unexpected turn

9/29/23: Massapequa files lawsuit over mascot mandate

9/26/23: Soccer association fitting refs with body cameras