The Huntington High School wrestling team will return all six county tournament qualifiers next winter.
The returnees include Tazadon Smith, who won the league title and went on to place third in Section XI. Joe Petrone will also be back after finishing third in the league and fifth in Suffolk. League champ Billy Burton is returning along with league runners-up Robbie Smith, Aedan McDonald and Samir Rathore.
All-County wrestler Tazadon Smith (right) sets up his opponent.
The Blue Devils were captained by Petrone, McDonald and Burton and coached by Lou R. Giani, Kieran Mock and David Bergmann. Huntington went 1-5 in league matches.
“Tazadon Smith’s hard work on the mat earned him All-County honors and the team’s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award,” Giani said. “Joe Petrone’s hard work in the off-season showed when he earned All-County.”
Burton rebounded nicely from an injury to win the league crown. “He showed that he had desire, discipline and determination when he won the league tournament,” Giani said.
Smith excelled as a freshman on the Huntington varsity. “Robbie continued to improve this season, losing a tough match in the league finals,” Giani said.
McDonald and Rathore both won matches in the Section XI tournament. “Aedan continues to improve and Samir has shown a lot of progress and continue to improve with hard work.”
The Blue Devils are losing only one senior to graduation. Anthony Martin in the lone twelfth grader on the roster.
In addition to the county tournament qualifiers that are coming back, Huntington will also return eighth graders Zach Zboray; freshmen Raseac Caleb, Lucas Cirlincione, Bryan Maldonado-Acosta, Jonathan Oliva-Hernandez, Lucas Petrizzi, Kaleef Riley and Brian Sosnowski; sophomores Jaiden Erickson, Ethan Franciscovich, Noah Hopson and Steven Queen; juniors Ryan Baker, Chas Forte, Jon Koumas, Aidan Mrotzek and Charles O’Rourke.