Blue Devil Boys' Fencers at the Break
The Huntington boys' fencing team has had its ups and downs this winter. There have been many fine performances and some others that fell just a little bit short. At the halfway mark of the season, the Blue Devils are seeing clearly what they are capable of doing.
"The boys' team is improving and trying to establish itself as a team to be reckoned with in the league," head coach Alan Kuver said. Last year the Blue Devils finished 1-12-1 and placed eighth in the county tournament. But this winter, they have already won two matches been competitive in every dual meet.
The team is captained by seniors Dante Corrocher, Conner Purcell, Sean Harkins and John Ferraiolo. The saber squad consists of Dante and Conner as well as sophomores Brent Filippini, Scott Garofalo, Brendan Jenne, Daniel Moya, freshmen Brandon May, Brian McConnell, Darius Nash and eighth grader Kyle Meit.
The foil squad members are seniors Brian Castillo and Sean Harkins, juniors Jason Chisolm and Jackson Cohen, sophomores Joseph Rizzi, and Max Zelinka, freshmen Nick Frieman and Sam Yanuck and eighth grader Garrett Filippini.
The epee squad consists of seniors John Ferraiolo and John Jenne, sophomores Richard Hermer-Fried and Jimmy Ferraiolo, freshmen James Montefusco and Ben Nikodem and eighth grader Lucas Vaccaro.
Boys' Season Recap
• Ward Melville: Lost 19-8; Senior John Ferraiolo goes 2-0 in epee.
• Half Hollow Hills: Won 15-12; Sophomore Joe Rizzi goes 3-0 in foil; The saber squad of seniors Dante Corrocher and Connor Purcell and sophomore Brent Filippini each goes 2-1, respectively; Sophomore Jimmy Ferraiolo won his last match 4-3 to clinch the meet.
• Brentwood Holiday Tournament: Senior John Ferraiolo finishes second in men's Epee; Sophomores Jimmy Ferraiolo and Ricky Hermer-Fried finished tied for 11th place; Sophomore Joe Rizzi is 19th in men's foil; In men's saber, senior Dante Corrocher is 7th and sophomore Brent Filippini is 14th.
• Brentwood: Lost 19-8; Huntington falls to 1-2; Sophomore Brent Filippini is 3-0 in saber.
• Ward Melville Underclass Challenge: Sophomore Jimmy Ferraiolo is 16-0 on the day and wins the sophomore men's epee crown; Richard Hermer-Fried is 12-4 and takes second; Freshmen Ben Nikodem is second in the freshmen men's epee.
• Centereach: Lost 14-13; Huntington losses in the last match of the meet; Senior John Ferraiolo (2-1) losses to reigning county epee champion Christian Rivera 2-1 in the final match of the meet; Sophomore Jimmy Ferraiolo (epee) and senior Dante Corrocher (saber) each go 3-0.
• Walt Whitman: Won 17-10; Huntington improves to 2-3; Senior Brian Castillo wins his final match 5-2 to clinch the meet; Sophomore Joe Rizzi goes 3-0 in foil; In epee, brothers John and Jimmy Ferraiolo each go 2-0.
• Newfield: Lost 16-11; Huntington drops to 2-4; John Ferraiolo is 2-0 in epee.
• Concord Carlisle Invatational: Senior John Ferraiolo wins men's epee; Sophomore Jimmy Ferraiolo is sixth in men's epee.
• Commack: Lost 15-12; Another close loss drops Huntington to 2-5; Senior John Ferraiolo (epee) and sophomore Joe Rizzi (foil) each go 3-0.