It was scheduled to be a very short season and then it got even shorter due to a COVID-19 related quarantine. Yet, the Huntington High School wrestling team was happy they were able to get on the mat at all and the Blue Devils made the best of a situation they hope never repeats itself.
With the season originally expected to cover about four weeks, the Huntington wrestling team was forced into a 10 day quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure before the squad ever took the mat for a meet. But the Blue Devils finished up strong, practicing in the Finley Middle School gym for a week before winning two-of-three dual meets on the final day of the season.
Blue Devil seniors Joe Petrone, Joe Nicotra and Nicholas Tudisco.
Coached by Travis Smith, Mike Marinello and Jamie St. John, the Blue Devils faced a long list of challenges as would be expected of any wrestling team in the COVID-19 pandemic. But everyone accepted the inconveniences and worked hard while having fun.
Seniors Joe Nicotra, Nick Tudisco and Joe Petrone and junior Robbie Smith, who also served as captains, led the Blue Devils. Nicotra, Tudisco and Smith all finished without a loss while Petrone dropped one match.
The Blue Devils expect to have a very strong squad returning next year and for several seasons beyond. The team will clearly feel the loss of Nicotra, Tudisco and Petrone, but the graduation of only three seniors puts Huntington in a good spot moving forward.
Current underclassmen include eighth graders Timothy McDonald, Thomas Smith and Justin Villatoro; freshmen Cristian Alfaro-Bueso, Max Casiano, Sam Cirlincione, Jonathan Granito, Sam Nicotra, Christian St. John and Dante Salgado; sophomores John Acompora-Miller, Christopher Acompora-Miller, Anthony Annunziata, Brett Bender, Michael Kline, Ryan Lawless, Ibukunoluwa Olabomi, Enzo Pupillo and Zachary Zboray; and juniors Lucas Cirlincione, Liam McDonald, Lucas Petrizzi, Kaleef Riley, Joseph Rodriquez-Valdez and Robert Smith.
On the final day of the season, Huntington defeated Smithtown East (55-14) and Copiague (46-19 and dropped a hard-fought meet to Smithtown West (36-33).
