Blue Devils Crown Three Mat Champs
january 4, 2023
The Blue Devil wrestling team crowned three individual weight class champions at the Friar Bash at St. Anthony’s High School. Despite not entering wrestlers in several weight classes and having two other matmen short-circuited by illness or injury, Huntington still managed to capture third place in the team standings.
Enzo Pupillo (132 lbs.), Sam Nicotra (138 lbs.) and Zachary Zboray (172 lbs.) all won titles. Zboray was voted the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. Vincent Pupillo (145 lbs.), Max Casiano (160 lbs.) and Christian St. John (172 lbs.) each finished second in their respective weight class. Jonathan Granito (118 lbs.) and Joe Algieri (189 lbs.) both placed third.
![Christian St. John, Joe Algieri and Zachary Zboray at the Friar Bash. (Darin Reed photo.)](../../../assets/images/2023/january/main-04d.jpg)
Enzo Pupillo edged Xavier Chen of Fordham Prep in the finals, 6-3. Nicotra pinned Oceanside’s Dan Gilmore in 2:36. Zboray topped teammate St. John by a technical fall (16-0) in 2:42.
Vincent Pupillo (6-7) was pinned in the finals by St. Anthony’s Joshua Jorgge in 2:40. Casiano led by a wide margin in the finals against Walt Whitman’s Matthew Gervasio when he hurt his ankle and was forced to default the championship bout.
Granito (16-2) pinned Walt Whitman’s Jake Andersen in the consolation match for third place in a time of 1:08. Algieri pinned Whitman’s Dominick Chiusano in 3:00 for third place at 189 lbs.
In other action, Justin Villatoro went 2-2 at 126 lbs. in the tournament. The sophomore had a pair of pins in less than 20 seconds. He is 14-5 this winter.
Enzo Pupillo’s three victories improved his record to 16-2. Nicotra is now 16-0 with 16 pins, including 15 in the first period. Casiano is now 18-1 and Zboray is 17-0. St. John is 16-2. Algieri went 3-2 in the tournament with three pins. His season mark stands at 14-6.