Blue Devil Sports News
The Huntington High School wrestling team finished second in the 11-team Kohl Invitational last weekend at Suffern High School. The Blue Devils crowned five individual champions and trailed only Monroe-Woodbury in the standings.
Kyle Mock (99 lbs.), John Arceri (113), Corey Jamison (126), Joe Puca (152) and Anthony Puca (220) all won weight class titles. Jamison earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award after winning three straight bouts, including a 3-2 decision in the finals over top-seeded senior Paul Smoot of Monroe-Woodbury.
Huntington’s Jorge Villela (2nd at 138), Ethan Dwyer (3rd at 106), Oscar Romero (3rd at 195), Khari McNeil (3rd at 285), Ryan Mock (4th at 99), Carlos Pereira (4th at 145) and Will Thomas (6th at 132) also placed in the top six at the tournament.
Huntington finished with 235 points, far behind team champion Monroe-Woodbury, which scored 300 points, but far ahead of third place Suffern (191 points).
HHS Boys’ Track Shatters More Records
The Blue Devil boys’ winter track and field team continues to shatter records. The squad earned an armful of gold medals Suffolk Coaches Assn. Invitational last weekend at Suffolk-West in Brentwood.
Senior Y’Majesty Allen improved his school record of 6.75 to 6.70 as he took down Suffolk’s top 55m dash sprinter, Jordan Wright of Shoreham-Wading River. “Allen was the first out of the blocks and was able to hold off Wright for the upset to earn the gold medal,” Huntington head coach Ronald Wilson said.
Allen later competed in the 300m dash and won another gold medal, finishing in a time of 36.89. Allen remains the top 300m runner on Long Island and is ranked fifth in the state. He later anchored the 4x200m relay, which consisted of lead leg and senior Marquis Francis, second leg junior Jason Downer and third leg sophomore Infinite Tucker. They earned gold medals for first in the “small school” section and finished second overall behind Longwood, which won the “large school” section.
Senior Nick Sherman was also impressive, surprising Wilson by crossing the finish line in the 3200m run in 9:55.27 to set a new school record. Sherman shattered Peter Meinel’s mark of 10:04.8 set in 1998. “No one has ever come close to that record,” Wilson said. “Sherman is doing some extraordinary things in track and field. He’s quite the impressive distance runner. He’s sharp and very cool under pressure.”
Sherman later earned a bronze medal in the 600m dash, crossing the line third in 1:28, just one second shy of the school record set in 1998 by Shawn Anderson, currently a Huntington track coach. Anderson’s mark in the event is 1:27.76.
Sophomore Infinite Tucker continues to sparkle in the 55m high hurdles. He won the “small schools” race in a time of 8.11. He later earned a second place medal in the high jump with a leap of 6-feet.
Junior Jason Downer placed first earning a gold medal in the long jump with a leap of 20’1.5. Junior Matteo McNeil earned a bronze medal in the shot put with a toss of 44’9.
Two Heartbreaking Losses for BB
The Huntington High School boys’ basketball team lost a pair of heartbreaking games last week, falling to Hauppauge in overtime, 63-60 and then suffering a last-second defeat at the hands of East Islip, 47-46.
A crowd of about 225 attended last Friday night’s game in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium, which featured Huntington Booster Club giveaways throughout the evening. The Blue Devils led East Islip after eight minutes, 9-7, but fell behind by halftime, 24-20. Huntington then rallied to tie the game after three quarters, 32-32. The final eight minutes were thrilling.
The Blue Devils and the Redmen battled it out as the clock ticked down, with the teams struggling to gain some small edge. Huntington took a 46-44 lead with less than a minute remaining and appeared on the verge of victory when East Islip sunk the game-tying shot and was fouled in the process. The free throw was successful and it gave the visitors a one-point win.
Lee Reiver led the Blue Devils with 16 points. The senior guard connected on four three-point baskets. Scott Gulizio had eight points and Kenny Charles and Kevin Montefusco added seven points each. Alex Castillo had six points and Shyheim Brewster scored two points.
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The Blue Devil boys’ basketball team trailed visiting Hauppauge at halftime, 25-22, but rallied in the second half to tie the game and force overtime. The Eagles outscored Huntington in the extra minutes, 9-6 to secure the victory.
The Blue Devils were led by Lee Reiver’s 17 points. The senior hit five three-point baskets to electrify his teammates and the crowd. Kenny Charles had 12 points and Kevin Montefusco added eight points. Shyheim Brewster, Nolan Browne and Alex Castillo dropped in seven points each. Scott Gulizio had two points.
Huntington connected on nine three-pointers in the game, but it wasn’t enough to stop Hauppauge from capturing its first victory of the season.
HHS Wrestlers Top Bellport
The Blue Devil wrestling team topped visiting Bellport in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium, 39-33 in a Suffolk League V dual meet.
Kyle Mock was the only Huntington wrestler to pin his opponent, with the fall coming in 3:45. Ethan Dwyer (106 lbs.) grabbed a 4-2 decision. John Arceri won 9-3 at 113 lbs. Corey Jamison captured a technical fall at 132 lbs. Jorge Villela won 7-1 at 138 lbs. Carlos Pereira coasted to a 13-2 major decision at 145 lbs. Anthony Puca won a close 3-2 decision at 220 lbs. Joe Puca (160 lbs.) and Oscar Romero (195 lbs.) won by forfeit.