There is very little Cooper Merli hasn’t accomplished on the wrestling mat.

In 2023, he became the first Newburgh Free Academy wrestler in 55 years to capture a New York State championship when he won at 102 pounds. This year, he became a two-time champion when he won his second straight title at 108 pounds.

He is 133-13 entering his junior season, and on Oct. 6, he announced his commitment to continue his wrestling career at the United States Military Academy at West Point beginning in the 2026-27 season.

“I went through the whole recruiting process as a whole,” Merli said. “I went to other schools, but ultimately, at the end of the day, I figured that I want to stay close to home. I was already familiar with the coaching staff and the team. I grew a bond with them even before I got there. So, in the end, it was the best for me overall between wrestling and the way it sets you up for life.”

Merli was undaunted by the service requirements that come with attendance at the academy which includes five years of full-time active duty after graduation and three years in the Individual Ready Reserve or Reserve Component.

“I know it’s a big commitment,” Merli said. “Not only is it just wrestling, but you commit to the five years afterward and it’s a life of service. I think it played a role, in part, that I really want to do military service. I also like being around the team. I see how passionate they all are about serving their country. It’s growing like a fire inside of me to want to serve my country as well.”

Merli is the third Newburgh Division I wrestler in the past decade, following the footsteps of 2013 graduate Terrence Cheeks, who went on to Edinboro University, and Maxx DeCapua, who is currently wrestling for Long Island University.

He will join an Army wrestling program, which has been coached by Kevin Ward since Aug. 1, 2014. Through 10 seasons, Army is 51-51 in dual meets and 49 wrestlers have reached the NCAA championships.

The Black Knights posted a 6-1 record last season against EIWA teams, which included an 18-17 win over Navy, which was decided by the final bout. Seven wrestlers placed in the EIWA championships, with six moving on to the NCAAs.

“They’re very up-and-coming,” Merli said. “The past few years they’ve had about four or five national qualifiers each year. They had one of their first All-Americans (Ben Pasiuk) in a long time last year, so it’s a very up-and-coming program. They’ve gotten the top 15 recruiting classes each of the last three years.”

This season will be Merli’s last at Newburgh Free Academy as he plans to graduate in June 2025 after his junior year. He then plans to spend the next year at New York Military Academy in Cornwall, which is close to home so he wouldn’t have to board.

It would give him another year of training before heading to the Academy. He still has one more year at Newburgh to perhaps become a three-time state champion before he moves on.

“I’m looking forward to just having fun,” Merli said. “Every year, I feel like it becomes a little more stressful, but I think this year, it’s going to be fun for me to go out there, compete for the points, and just enjoy myself.”