Blue Devils Capture Medals at Girls’ Mat Tournament

Shannon Koepele and Arly Moreira Portillo both captured third place honors to lead the Huntington High School contingent on the Town of Huntington’s girls’ wrestling team this past Sunday.

The event marked the second girls’ tournament ever at the Blue Devil’s Louis D. Giani Gymnasium, which was filled with wrestlers, parents, coaches and fans.

Koepele (132 lbs.) pinned Levittown MacArthur’s Gracis Payea in 0:59 for third place. Arly Moreira Portillo pinned Bellport’s Deliah Evans in 4:23.

The Blue Devils wrestled under the banner of the Town of Huntington team. It’s a collaborative effort that includes girls from Huntington, Harborfields, Walt Whitman and John H. Glenn, Commack and Northport. Joint practices are held at Elwood Middle School six days a week.

Last Sunday’s tournament also attracted competitors from dozens of Nassau and Suffolk high schools. The competition ran all day until about 6 p.m.

In addition to Koepele and Moreira Portillo, the Blue Devil girl’s wrestling roster includes Yanelin Gomorez, Avery Joynt, Wynne Franciscovich, Emely Herrera Rivas, Elsy Benitez Gutierrez, Aylin Davila Chitay and Brittany Lopez Berrios.

The Town of Huntington team tallied 223 points to take first place. Bellport was the runner-up with 204 points and Rocky Point was third with 187 points. Copiague took fourth with 151 points and Bay Shore was fifth with 113 points. Seventeen teams scored at least one point in the tournament.