The Huntington wrestling team finished third in its own tournament last weekend. The Blue Devils compiled 150 points, trailing only Kings Park (213) and Center Moriches (162) and outdistancing Comsewogue (146), Putnam Valley-Haldane (113.5), Port Jefferson (104), Massapequa (89.5) and Harborfields (89).
Huntington crowned a pair of champions in Aedan McDonald (132 lbs.) and Tazadon Smith (220 lbs.) Joe Petrone (106 lbs.) and Robbie Smith (170 lbs.) both finished in second place in their respective weight class.
The Blue Devils saw 16 of their wrestlers claim awards by placing in the top six. The group included: Lucas Cirlincione (5th place at 99 lbs.), Billy Burton (4th at 113 lbs.), Liam Lennon (5th at 120 lbs.), Emanuel Mejia (6th at 126 lbs.), Ethan Franciscovich (5th at 132 lbs.), Zach Zboray (4th at 138 lbs.), Ryan Baker (6th at 138 lbs.), Lucas Petrizzi (6th at 160 lbs.), Pablo Aparicio-Ruiz (6th at 170 lbs.), Jon Koumas (6th at 195 lbs.), Aidan Mrotzek (4th at 285 lbs.) and Lorenzo Aloe (6th at 285 lbs.)
Huntington High School’s former iconic coach, Lou Giani, Sr. presented the awards to the top finishers in each of the 15 weight classes. In a pre-finals ceremony, it was announced that the tournament was being renamed in Mr. Giani’s honor.
Blue Devil Elementary School Fencing Clinic . . .
Huntington UFSD is sponsoring a fencing clinic for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.
The Huntington UFSD fencing program is sponsoring a clinic for fourth, fifth and sixth graders on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6-8 p.m. The program will begin on December 5.
The sessions will run through March 6, 2019. The clinic will be held in the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School gymnasium. Participants will learn the skills and strategies and enjoy drilling and scrimmaging with each other.
Interested? E-mail Blue Devil alum and fencing coach John Ferraiolo (john2ferraiolo@gmail.com) for more information. There is a suggested donation of $20 for the three month clinic.
Lucas Cirlincione Makes Successful Varsity Debut . . .
Freshman Lucas Cirlincione is the Huntington wrestling team’s “little man,” but while the teenager fills the lightest weight class, his aggressive style, slick skills and enormous heart helped him capture his first varsity level victories last weekend at the Blue Devils’ tournament in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.
Cirlincione finished fifth at 99 lbs. in the tournament, despite giving away a significant amount of weight to each of his four opponents. He opened the day with a 14-2 major decision over Port Jefferson’s Alex Rodriquez. After getting pinned in the semi-finals by Kings Park’s Vincent Ziccardi, who went on to win the tournament championship, the Huntington dynamo fell to Comsewogue’s Jack Fantigrossi, but not before Cirlincione had thrown his foe to his back and come close to a pin. Fantigrossi ended up in third place
Cirlincione finished his day winning another major decision, this time over Comsewogue’s Andrew Kapur, 9-0. The teenager’s fifth place finish was a nice accomplishment in his first high school competition.
On hand for all four of Cirlincione’s matches was his father Adam, who wrestled at Massapequa High School and SUNY Binghamton. When the freshman goes home from practice he gets to roll around a little bit more since his basement is outfitted with wrestling mats.
Abby Maichin Named MVP as Huntington Wins Title . . .
The Huntington girls’ basketball team turned in a strong fourth quarter performance in the championship game of Islip’s Anil John Tip-off Classic to topple Riverhead, 40-32 and improve to 2-0 this season.
Pacing the Blue Devils with 15 points was junior Abby Maichin, who was named the tournament’s MVP. Freshman Emily Plachta added 12 points. Senior Christie Baade, who had 10 points and 15 rebounds was sensational defensively and was named to the All-Tournament team.
Maichin was 8-for-10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help Huntington seal the victory. Sophomore Jordan Forte played outstanding defense. Sophomore Charlotte Maggio pulled down many key rebounds and was effective guarding the rim.
Riverhead took an early 7-0 lead before Huntington started to roll. The Blue Devils held an 18-15 halftime advantage before the Blue Waves tied the score at 25-25 after three quarters. Huntington finished by going on a 15-7 fourth quarter run.
The Blue Devils won the tournament without team captain Alyssa Sorensen. The senior has been nursing an injury, but is expected back in action this week.
Huntington JV Girls’ Basketball Team is Talented . . .
The Huntington junior varsity girls’ basketball team is a talented bunch. The Blue Devils are coached by Shea Scully.
The team topped Hampton Bays (40-5) and Riverhead (38-29) to win the JV division of last weekend’s tournament at Islip.
The squad consists of eighth graders Kaci McDonald, Margaret Morrisroe, Asyria Rios and Erin Scanlon; freshmen Teddi Carnesi, Ashley Genao, Kiana Nosile, Yanira Rivera Ronquillo, Regan Sansiviero and Shaneek Shand and sophomores Kemberlin Hernandez-Veliz and Lisa Martin.
Blue Devil Swimmers Making a Splash . . .
The Huntington boys’ swimming and diving team is making a splash this winter. The Blue Devils are coached by Meg McConnell.
The Blue Devils combine with Harborfields in the sport, but the dozen Huntington athletes on the roster are a force to be reckoned with.
Huntington’s contribution to the team includes seventh grader Michael DeBellis; eighth graders John Crousillat, Pierre Leroy and Martin Newman; freshmen Jonathan Larice and William Weber; sophomore Logan Deegan; juniors Javier Vias and Christopher Weber and seniors Henry Cartwright, Nate Gamboa and Thomas Peer.
The Blue Devils practice in the Huntington YMCA pool.
Finley Girls’ Volleyball . . .
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ volleyball team is coached by Carrie Postel. The squad consists of seventh graders Kathryn Barba, Kayleigh Bender, Tess Calabria, Keira Coulter, Brooke Farasciano, Jayda Fils-Aime, Chloe Hunt, Ariella Katigbak, Ella O’Heir, Reese Rinaldi and Maya Sakellarios and eighth graders Ava Brandine, Emely Cruz, Sarah Krisch, Tessie Maerz, Renee McKean, Neha Rathore, Vanessa Salmon and Haileigh Smith.
Postel has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 2001. A graduate of Sachem North High School, she obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees from Long Island University-C.W. Post and Touro College, respectively. Before coming to the district, she was a part-time health and physical education teacher in the neighboring Elwood School District. She also previously worked as a permanent substitute teacher in Sachem.
Postel has coached varsity, junior varsity and middle school girls’ volleyball and middle school girl’s track and field.
Blue Devils Fall to Commack . . .
The Huntington varsity boys’ basketball team opened the season with a tough loss in the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce tournament last Friday night.
The Blue Devils were overwhelmed by Commack, 75-35. Huntington trailed at halftime, 36-20 and was unable to make up any ground in the second half.
Nathan Soric led the Blue Devils with nine points on a trio of three-point baskets. Chad Rowe added eight points. Lex Colato and Ian Ardell dropped four points each. Jake Castabile and Elian Pimentel had three points each. JP Paci scored two points. Jonah Anastos and Matt Girimonti had one point apiece.
