Area legislators pay tribute to Dundee state wrestling champion: Senate and Assembly honor Peyton Mullin in Albany (Watch)

Albany, N.Y., May 20--State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) welcomed Dundee High School girls state wrestling champion Peyton Mullin to the state Capitol today, where she was recognized on the floor of the state Senate and Assembly with a Legislative Resolution (S2393) honoring her 235-pound weight class title at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Girls Invitational State Championship at the SRC Arena and Events Center in Syracuse on January 26, 2024.

O’Mara and Palmesano introduced Mullin during today’s Assembly and Senate sessions (view Senator O'Mara's floor remarks HERE.]

Mullin was accompanied to Albany by her parents, Leslie and DJ, her grandmother, Shanon Schuyler, and her grandfather, Mike Mullin.

Mullin, a freshman in high school who began wrestling at the age of four, entered this year’s state wrestling championships as the ninth seed and ultimately defeated defending champion and Waverly High School standout Mackenzie LaForest to capture the title. Her first NYSPHSAA championship highlights an outstanding wrestling career that already features numerous accomplishments, including 142 total career wins and an undefeated, 14-0, 235-pound weight class record. Mullin is also a two-time New York Wrestling Association for Youth (NYWAY) state champion and a girls Wayne-Finger Lakes League champion. 

In May, Mullin placed first in the Freestyle Fargo National Qualifiers and will travel to North Dakota in July to participate in the Fargo Junior Nationals. 

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “We always welcome and look forward to these opportunities to pay tribute to dedication, excellence, hard work, and success throughout our school communities. Peyton Mullin is only a freshman in high school yet she’s already a state champion and an honor roll student-athlete who is well on her way to a remarkable wrestling career, and a bright and promising future with her sights set on the Olympics. It is a testament to Peyton’s own determination, hard work, and skill, as well as to the incredible support she receives from her family, coaches, teammates, and the community at large. She stands as a great source of pride for our entire region.”

The joint Senate-Assembly resolution sponsored by O’Mara and Palmesano reads, in part, “In light of her recent accomplishments, Peyton Mullin has brought honor and just pride to her school and community on the local, state, and national level. Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and accomplishment, and Head Coach Sheldon Gibson and Peyton Mullin have clearly contributed to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of their school.”

Dundee School Superintendent Chris Wood said, “Peyton is an outstanding young woman and a true example of a Scotsmen. She is kind, caring and a great student-athlete. We all look forward to seeing what Peyton can accomplish in the future. Congratulations Peyton!”

Dundee Athletic Director Scott Shepardson said, “Peyton is a pleasure to work with at Dundee Central School. She works hard in everything that she participates in, and this shows through her outstanding performances, even as a freshman. It was a privilege to watch her bring home our first-ever state title. I have gotten the chance to watch her win two indoor track and field shot put titles as an eighth grader and a ninth grader. The entire Dundee community and I are very proud of all of her accomplishments.”

Dundee Head Wrestling Coach Sheldon Gibson said, “Peyton Mullin is a freshman student-athlete from Dundee which lies in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate. She has recently won a NYSPHSAA Female Wrestling State Championship in the heavyweight class as well as two NYWAY Wrestling State Championships. On May 4th, she participated in Freestyle Fargo National Qualifiers where she placed first and advanced to North Dakota in July to participate in Fargo Junior Nationals. She has been wrestling her whole life and plans to wrestle at the college level and dreams of wrestling in the Olympics someday. Wrestling is a huge part of her life, and she continues to train everyday, even in the off-season. Peyton is an honor-roll student at Dundee Central School and also participates in football, and track and field.”