Carmine Calimeri

BLASDELL — The annual Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund Awards Night will be held on May 19, honoring eight wrestlers. Among those honorees is Southwestern senior Carmine Calimeri, who will receive the Knuutila Family Award.

Calimeri concluded one of the most decorated careers in Southwestern wrestling history, finishing as the program’s all-time wins leader with a record of 206-40 and 37-9 in his final season.

He finished as a five-time state qualifier, four-time state place finisher and received three character achievement awards. His best finish at the state tournament came in his sophomore season, taking third place at 131 pounds in Division II.

Outside of wrestling, Calimeri works for a landscaping company during the offseason. He also volunteers helping youth and modified wrestlers on top of his own training with the coaches.

The other remaining recipients include: Ilio DiPaolo Award, Griffin LaPlante of St. Francis; Gary Castanza Award, Rory White of St. Francis; The “Destroyer” Wrestling Award, Cullen Edwards of St. Francis; Bill Hein Dedicated Wrestler Award, Trevor and Bryce DellaPenta of Eden/North Collins; Cauliflower Alley Club Award, Michaela Thomas of Clarence; The Harrison Phillips Award, William Wortkoetter of St. Francis; Buffalo Joe Andreessen Award, Edwin Martin of St. Mary’s.