H-ton Wrestlers Upset East Hampton on Senior Day, 42-32
January 17, 2025
Back-to-back pins by freshman Kingsley Evans and sophomore Joe Conklin propelled the Huntington wrestling team to an upset of league foe East Hampton, 42-32 at Louis D. Giani Gymnasium on Wednesday night.
Evans (12-13) went on the attack right off the whistle and dominated the 138 lb. match, pinning Liam Cashin in 2:36. Conklin (15-12) and East Hampton’s Frank Barrientos engaged in a high octane affair that see-sawed back and forth before the Huntington teenager finally locked up his foe for a pin in 3:26.
Huntington also received pins from Walter Kusterbeck (22-4), Vincent Pupillo (22-6), Thomas Smith (20-5) and Will Peters (8-11). Jason Bencivenga (18-7) won by forfeit.
It was Senior Day in Huntington as head coach Andy Marlow addressed the crowd, recognizing the contributions of Alejandro Orjuela, Thomas Smith, Ethan Naima and Gerson Granados Escobar. There were personalized banners, photos and flowers as the parents of the wrestlers joined them on the mat.
Senior Elizabeth James performed a beautiful, hypnotizing version of The Star Spangled Banner. Michael Feldstein, the Voice of Blue Devil Football came inside the high school gym for the first time and served as match announcer, helping to keep the atmosphere exciting. Glenn Deveau served as the meet’s DJ. The mat lamp once again illuminated the matches.
The Blue Devils will wrestle today (Friday) in the final league dual meet at Smithtown East. Huntington will wrestle at Bethpage on Saturday in the first ever Harold Resnick Duals. Saturday’s affair includes Huntington, Bethpage, Garden City, Mepham, Cold Spring Harbor and Massapequa.
Huntington’s young team continues to mature. The large roster keeps growing with interest in the sport running high at the high school. The Blue Devils will wrestle in the league tournament at Smithtown East on February 8. The Section XI Division I tournament is scheduled for Stony Brook University on February 15-16.
