BRACKET BUSTER: FRANKIAN RISES FROM NO. 5 TO SECTION II QUEEN

The bracket said fifth seed.
The mat told a different story.

At the 2026 NYS Section II Women’s Wrestling Championships, Glens Falls sophomore Gabi Frankian entered the 126 pound division ranked fifth. By the end of the night, she stood alone at the top of the podium as sectional champion.

Frankian powered through four matches without needing the full six minutes in any of them, turning what looked like a difficult draw into a statement run.

In the championship final against second seeded Olivia Fox of Shenendehowa, Frankian was already in control. Leading 2 to 0, she launched a decisive toss that added four points and pushed the score to 6 to 0. The momentum shifted instantly, and moments later the match was stopped at 4:33 due to injury default, securing the sectional crown.

The semifinal may have been the biggest statement of the tournament.

Facing top seeded defending Section II champion and 2025 state Blood Round finisher Amy Erikson of Niskayuna Schenectady, Frankian delivered a dominant 10 to 0 technical fall. The win snapped a five match skid against Erikson that dated back to last season and erased any doubt about who controlled the bracket.

The quarterfinals set the tone early. Frankian pinned Columbia’s Alyssa Russell, the fourth seed and 2025 Section II fourth place finisher, in just 38 seconds.

The championship run marks her first Section II title and her sixth tournament championship of 2025.

Grappling excellence is not new to the Frankian name. Gabi is the daughter of 2003 Hadley Luzerne graduate Greg Frankian. Greg competes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is currently ranked a purple belt at Matt Secor Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in South Glens Falls. Grappling is embedded in the family, and that foundation showed under the brightest lights.

From fifth seed to sectional champion, Frankian did not just win matches. She reshaped the tournament.

At 126 pounds, the crown now belongs to Glens Falls.

2026 Section II Women’s Championship Finals Results

94 Brooke Connors Mechanicville Stillwater dec Avery Mancini Burnt Hills Scotia Ballston Spa 6 to 2
100 Alianna Lyon Mechanicville Stillwater tech fall Alessia Lilly Bethlehem Central 12 to 2
107 Sydney West Shenendehowa pinned Rileigh Dean Canajoharie Fort Plain 1:54
114 Sophia Paone Shenendehowa tech fall Julia Duro Shaker 10 to 0
120 Madalyn Hill Shenendehowa dec Breyana Montalvo Amsterdam 5 to 2
126 Gabi Frankian Glens Falls injury default over Olivia Fox Shenendehowa 4:33 leading 6 to 0
132 Haley Proulx Burnt Hills Scotia Ballston Spa tech fall Isabel Moore Averill Park 10 to 0
138 Makenzie Harbour Shenendehowa pinned Isabella Satalino Columbia 3:25
145 Ella Gregg Niskayuna Schenectady dec Kaitlyn Young Shenendehowa 8 to 0
152 Leat Minaya Shaker dec Katie Huang Bethlehem Central 6 to 4
165 Ava Guilmette Shenendehowa pinned McKenna Eastman Corinth 0:25
185 Charleigh Eick Bethlehem Central dec Emelia Merhige Columbia 2 to 0
235 Ava Gregg Shaker pinned Jade Hanton Niskayuna Schenectady 1:13