The Unstoppable Nigel McNeil
Nigel McNeil's engine knows only high gear. The Huntington senior battled his way to the 119 lb. Suffolk wrestling championship with four convincing victories before a near capacity crowd at Stony Brook University's Indoor Sports Complex.
McNeil stands on the cusp of Blue Devil immortality, riding the crest of a 75 consecutive match winning streak. He now heads to Albany for the state wrestling tournament on Feb. 25-26. "It's been my goal all year to win the states again," he said. The mat star captured a state crown as a junior and has looked even more impressive this winter.
McNeil (36-0) said he goes into each match with the same goal in mind: "To tech him." A wrestler is awarded a technical fall when he opens a 15 point advantage. "I try to score as many points as possible," he said.
At Stony Brook, the Blue Devil great went about his business with a poker face, displaying no emotion and a business-like approach. After he topped Central Islip's Giovanni Sanchez in the finals, 5-1, and accomplished his mission, McNeil finally flashed a broad smile, accepted congratulations from teammates and competitors and thanked his coaches and family,
"He's a special kind of kid," said Kieran Mock, Huntington's head coach. "He's hard-nosed and determined. He pushes himself harder than we ever could. He knows what he wants to do and goes out and gets it done everyday."
Huntington sophomore Nick Lupi (30-7) won three decisions at 215 lbs. before falling to top seeded Warren Bosch of Kings Park in the finals, 6-1. "Nick did a great job," Mock said. "He came into the tournament unseeded and surprised some people. We're already looking forward to next year when we think he'll be even tougher."
Seniors Louis Puca (171 lbs.) and Duncan Murchison (189 lbs.) both took third place in the county tournament. Senior T.J. Wilson (152 lbs.) finished fourth. Murchison won the Most Pins in the Least Amount of Time Award with three pins in 5:47.
Puca (34-1), who finished second in the county and state tournaments last year, was upset in the semi-finals by Sachem East's Frank Merante, losing a 6-4 decision in overtime. "He's disappointed and so are we," Mock said. "Louis is good; he's very good. But, he's not perfect. No one is. He did a good job pulling it back together and coming through the wrestle-backs to finish third."
Murchison (35-6) beat Central Islip's Dondre Bailey in the first round, 5-0 before losing to eventual champion Joe Giaramita of John Glenn, 5-3. He then reeled off four straight wins, including three by pin, to finish third. "Duncan was sensational," Mock said. "He got hot and went with it."
Wilson (31-9) upset Half Hollow Hill East's DeShaun McNeil in the first round, 8-4 and then moved past third seeded Shaun Gillen of Connetquot, 5-3 before being toppled in overtime in the semi-finals by Shoreham-Wading River's John Keck, 7-5. "T.J. showed he can hang with the best," Mock said. "With a break he could have been in the finals."
Huntington finished third in the team standings with 110 points. The Blue Devils trailed only champion Longwood (191 pts.) and runner-up John Glenn (134 pts.).