Gavin Mangano Claims No. 1 Ranking in the Nation

Shoreham-Wading River senior wrestler Gavin Mangano has added another major accomplishment to what is already becoming a remarkable high school wrestling career.

On Sept. 26, Mangano traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he competed in FloWrestling’s prestigious “Who’s #1” event at Oklahoma State University. The event brings together the nation’s top wrestlers, matching the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked wrestlers at each weight class with the winner earning the coveted No. 1 ranking in the country.

Mangano made the most of his opportunity.

Wrestling at 138 pounds, Mangano faced No. 1-ranked Dean Anderson in a highly anticipated matchup between two of the best wrestlers in the nation. Mangano controlled the match and came away with an impressive 9-4 victory, earning the No. 1 ranking in the United States at 138 pounds.

Mangano’s victory came through a combination of strong wrestling and smart execution. He recorded two takedowns, added two escapes and earned an additional point for riding time to secure the four-point victory.

The win also placed Mangano in a very exclusive group. With his victory over Anderson, he became only the fourth New York State wrestler ever to win the prestigious “Who’s #1” event.

For Shoreham-Wading River, watching one of its own rise to the top of the national wrestling rankings is a tremendous moment for the school and the local wrestling community. Mangano has already established himself as one of the area’s premier wrestlers, and his latest victory has now put him at the very top of the sport nationally.

The Shoreham-Wading River community celebrated Mangano’s achievement following the historic victory, recognizing the many people who have helped him reach this point.

“A huge shoutout to Gavin, his teammates, coaches, school community, alumni and family for the support and encouragement!” the district shared. “Congrats to Gavin on this massive accomplishment!”

For Mangano, the victory represents another significant milestone in a high school career that continues to gain national attention. Standing atop the rankings at 138 pounds, the Shoreham-Wading River senior now enters the next chapter of his season as the wrestler everyone in the country will be chasing.