Monsignor Farrell is New York City’s top wrestling team and it’s been that way for years. The Lions have won seven straight CHSAA city titles and five straight Mayor’s Cup championships.

There’s no sign of letting up, but that local dominance is not enough. From the ground up, Farrell has built a program that could soon be right up there with those from wrestling hot beds like Long Island and New Jersey.

“My goal for us is to be the No. 1 team in the state – Catholic and public," co-coach Rob Pavis said. "I’m focused on the whole picture.”

The foundation was put in place a decade ago with the construction of the Gary DiSilvestri wrestling room. A year later in 2002, another coach, Phil Squatrito, founded the Lions Wrestling Club youth program, giving Farrell its own feeder system like the ones Long Island public schools have from their middle and elementary schools. Program head coach Lou DeStefano estimates that 90 percent of the youth wrestlers, who begin as young as kindergarten age, eventually wrestle at Farrell.