The following season, Hoose returned as the favorite to repeat as a champion moving up to 190 pounds as a sophomore and earning the top seed going into the state tournament. However, this time he was upset in a rematch from his freshman year against Greyson Meak of Section VIII’s Cold Spring Harbor by a 5-3 decision.

For a time it looked like that would be the last match Hoose wrestled for the Trojans as he transferred to St. Francis for his junior season.

After a year that saw Hoose tear his MCL and fall in the Catholic High School Athletic Association championship, his time with the Red Raiders came to an end earlier this season. It seemed like his high school career would be finished unwritten.

However, the opportunity came for Hoose to be able to end his high school career where it started, with the Southwestern Trojans.

Southwestern’s Tavio Hoose looks to his corner for guidance while working on top of Berne-Knox-Westerlo/Middleburgh’s Liam English during the Division 2 190-pound final at the NYSPHSAA Championships in late February at MVP Arena in Albany. Photo courtesy of Michelle Gilbert

With his last match competing for Southwestern coming on Feb. 24, 2024, in the state championship, Hoose was back representing the Trojans in a Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division I dual meet against Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Panama/Clymer on Jan. 14 where he registered a forfeit victory at 215 pounds.

It did not take long for Hoose to return to actual action and the Lehigh University Division I wrestling commit did not take long showing what kind of talent he has matured into.

Picking up where he left off taking fourth at the Powerade Christmas Tournament with St. Francis, Hoose was again fighting some of the nation’s best, but with Southwestern.

Preparing for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Division II championships, Southwestern made the trip to Pennsylvania for the venerated Fred Bell Tournament in Grove City.

Hoose dominated the Pennsylvania competition with two technical falls, a pin and a major decision to set up a Powerade consolation rematch with Mario Hutcherson of Kiski (Pa.). Once again, FloWrestling’s No. 9 nationally ranked 190-pounder Hutcherson got the better of Hoose, giving him his last defeat of the season.

Southwestern senior Tavio Hoose fights for a takedown against Liam English of Berne-Knox-Westerlo/Middleburgh during the Division 2 190-pound final at the NYSPHSAA Championships in late February at MVP Arena in Albany. Photo courtesy of Michelle Gilbert

Coming back to Southwestern in the middle of the season, Hoose became the imposter underdog in the state tournament, beginning as the No. 6 seed in the Section VI Division II state qualifier.

His warpath began with pinning Don Dietrich of Royalton-Hartland/Barker in just 30 seconds. He then quickly earned a 19-4 technical fall over Lake Shore’s Brennen Rice in 1:32 and in the semifinals he pinned Frewsburg’s Branden Francis in the second round after amassing a whopping 26-10 lead with his final takedown.

The toughest test came in the final against top-seed and reigning Section VI Division II champion Patrick Braley, a junior from Falconer/Cassadaga Valley. Once again Hoose left no doubt he was the top wrestler in the bracket with a 17-5 major decision. The victory gave Hoose his fourth sectional title, adding to championships won from eighth grade through his sophomore season.

Missing the state tournament as a junior, Hoose returned to the MVP Arena in Albany for one last chance at glory, again with Southwestern.

Once again underseeded, Hoose was tabbed as the No. 4 wrestler in the bracket and he immediately set out to prove that wrong.

In his return to Albany, Hoose dispatched of No. 13 Jackson Peet of Section V Caledonia-Mumford with ease, earning a second-round technical fall 19-4.

The quarterfinals pitted Hoose against Braley again and this time he was able to finish his Section VI foe with a technical fall in the third period by a score of 25-10. The victory put Hoose against another future Division I wrestler in top-seed and North Carolina State-commit Yanni Drapaniotis of Section III Unatego/Unadilla Valley/Franklin.

Scoring the first takedown in the opening period, Hoose was in control of his semifinal match the entire match. Going against the lanky Drapaniotis, Hoose managed to enter the final period tied 4-4 and a quick escape at the start showed the path back to the final with an eventual 6-5 decision.

In both state finals against Meak during freshman and sophomore season, Hoose fell behind early and again in his final high school match he found himself trailing Liam English of Section II Berne-Knox-Westerlo/Middleburgh.

After a scoreless first period, English started the second in the down position before building a 4-0 lead with an escape and takedown of Hoose. The Southwestern senior broke free for an escape to get points on the board in the second, but saw himself at a 4-1 deficit in the 190-pound Division 2 final for the second time in his career.

Hoose escaped just 2 seconds into the final period making it 4-2, but he would need to score the next takedown if he wanted to end his high school career how he started it, on top of the podium.

With English avoiding contact, Hoose inched closer earning another point from stalling, but he still needed to score with just 30 seconds left. After that he made his move, with English scrambling hoping to escape Hoose’s grip, the Southwestern senior completed the storybook ending by securing the takedown to capture the 190-pound state championship with a 6-4 decision, going out as he came in — a state champion.

Wrapping up one of the finest high school wrestling careers in Section VI history, Hoose ended the high school season as FloWrestling’s No. 20 nationally ranked wrestler at 190 pounds and as a two-time state champion and a state runnerup.

Hoose added another state championship to his resume before going to compete at the NCAA Division I level with Lehigh University, but it is not the last accolade as for having the ability to traverse the road back to state champion, the Southwestern senior is the clear choice for the 2026 Post-Journal/OBSERVER Boys Wrestler of the Year.