Blue Devil Mat Team Plots Future

A record of 13-4 and a second place finish in the Suffolk League III standings isn’t good enough for the Huntington High School wrestling team’s coaching staff. The Blue Devils are plotting the program’s future and the goals remain the same as they have always been: league, county and state championships.

Coached by Travis Smith, Michael Marinello and Jamie St. John, the 30 wrestler strong team was captained by juniors Max Casiano and Christian St. John and senior Zachary Zboray.

Huntington went 5-1 in league meets and 13-4 overall. The team won its own tournament, took second at Jericho, third at St. Anthony’s and fifth at Suffern. The Blue Devils took 16th in the Suffolk Division I tournament.

“This team worked extremely hard day in and day out,” Smith said. “They are a great group of young men. I am proud of the seniors and know they will accomplish great things in the years to come.”

Eight wrestlers garnered All-League honors, including Casiano, Zboray and Joseph Algieri, who all won league titles. Walter Kusterbeck and St. John were the league runners-up at their respective weights; Silvio Torres was third and Enzo Pupillo and Dante Salgado were both fourth. Casiano went on to finish second in Suffolk, earning a trip to the state tournament, where he failed to place. Zboray was fourth in the county and St. John was fifth.

“We had outstanding captains this year,” Smith said. “Zach and Max have a great work ethic and wrestling technique and Christian is a fierce competitor with great strength. Joe and Enzo showed great heart and determination throughout the season. This was a great group of individuals to coach.”

The team’s only league loss came against Northport, which topped the Blue Devils on rule book criteria after the meet ended in the 32-32 stalemate. The loss cost Huntington the league dual meet title.

“We had an outstanding season, almost winning the league with many highlights,” Smith said. “We beat a great Smithtown East team along with William Floyd and Bay Shore. They were all ranked in the county.”

The Blue Devils have 24 wrestlers eligible to return next season. “We have a solid group of experienced underclassmen,” Smith said. They will be supplemented by several promising wrestlers who competed on the Finley Middle School team this winter.