Blue Devils Win Tournament & Crown Four Champs

The Huntington wrestling team entered a new era with a big win, capturing their own Louis D. Giani Invitational Tournament last Saturday and crowing four individual weight class champions.

It marked the first title under new varsity head coach Andrew R. Marlow. Huntington scored 179.5 points to edge Sachem East, which tallied 170.5. Roslyn (126), Patchogue-Medford (115), John H. Glenn (114), Port Jefferson (96), Huntington-B (70) and Massapequa (47) trailed in the standings.

Huntington’s Chris Granito (108 lbs.), Walter Kusterbeck (131), Vincent Pupillo (160) and Thomas Smith (190) all wrestled their way to first place in their respective weight class.

“Smith and Pupillo showed the experience and composure of being a veteran wrestler on the way to their respective tiles,” Marlow said. “They battled through some tough predicaments and kept their sights focused. They did a great job.”

Granito and Kusterbeck were both perfect, winning four matches each without a loss. “Kusterbeck and Granito were locked in on a championship before the tournament even started,” Marlow said. “Both monitored their weight carefully all week, practiced with intensity and stuck to their key positions throughout the day. They looked sharp.”

Seventh grade phenom Jason Bencivenga finished second at 101 lbs. after winning four of five matches, including three by pin and another by a technical fall.

Freshman Dante Francis also won four of five matches, including a pair of pins and two major decisions en route to second place at 116 lbs.

Taking third place for Huntington were Alejandro Orjuela (131), Brandon Canas (170) and Ethan Naima (285). Fourth place Blue Devil finishers included Eduardo Reyes Flores (138), Joseph Conklin (145) and Danny Cabrera Zelaya (285). Aaden Cadet (101), Xavier Garcia Granados (108), Charlie Cirlincione (124), Kingsley Evans (138) and Will Peters (190) all placed fifth. Rasiere Blizzard (131), Milton Maldonado (152), Jose Rodriguez (170) and Jose Quintanilla (285) finished sixth for Huntington.

“Garcia Granados, Orjuela, Reyes, Calles, Conklin, Canas, Evans, Peters and Quintanilla are already showing signs of improvement from last season and should be major contributors for the Blue Devils this year,” Marlow said.

The team’s size has doubled in size since Marlow took the reins or the program and those young wrestlers are already contributing.

“Newcomers Jason Bencivenga, Aaden Cadet, Dante Francis, Charlie Cirlincione, Rasiere Blizzard and Danny Cabrera all represent the new breed of Huntington wrestlers that fans and opponents can expect to see in the blue and white,” Marlow said. “Aggressive, hungry, high paced and determined. They will be fun to coach over the next four to six years.”

Senior Ethan Naima also wrestled well. Huntington will need him over the coming weeks. “Naima displayed discipline and patience in his wrestling game plan,” Marlow said. “If he sticks with this approach, he will continue to find himself on the winning side of the coin.”

The tournament ran throughout the morning and afternoon. Hundreds of fans watched the action unfold on four mats.

Huntington wrestles a league match at Newfield on Wednesday and then travels to Mamaroneck on Saturday for another tournament.