A Record Day for Blue Devil Matmen
The Huntington wrestling team captured the most lopsided victory in the program’s storied history when it scored 424 points and won 14-of-15 weight classes at the Petrides Round Robin on Staten Island. The Blue Devils finished 199 points ahead of the second place host team.
Huntington’s wrestlers won early and often. When it was over, Damon McQueen, Jose Vasquez, Nigel McNeil, Francisco Pereira, Maurice Loadholt, Omar Santiago, Marco Lagone, Guillermo Dominguez, Louis Puca, Ryan Fox, Jayson Santiago, Chris Sandoval, Anthony Lupi and Dashaun Thomas were crowned champions.
To a man, the Blue Devils were awesome. Huntington has won countless meets and tournaments over decades of dominance in the sport, but never before has the program approached anything like they did on this day.
“We had a really incredible day,” assistant coach Travis Smith said. “Everyone wrestled well.” Several of the Blue Devils went 5-0 on the day and all of them looked like world-beaters.
McQueen used a pair of pins, including one in 17 seconds, and a technical fall to sail through the 96 lb. weight class. Vasquez had two pins, two tech falls and a 6-1 decision over Brian Traub of Petrides High School to grab the 103 lb. title. McNeil (112) pinned four foes and took a 15-6 major decision over Petrides’ Angel Rivera. Pereira (119) had two sub-minute pins and a technical fall in three matches.
“Everything came together for us,” Smith said. “The kids realized as a unit how much fun winning really is. They now want to duplicate that feeling again and again, so they are already working harder.”
Loadholt picked up three pins and an 11-3 major decision over Ramon Capeda of Frankin D. Roosevelt en route to winning the 125 lb. championship. Omar Santiago (130) and Lagone (135) were both untouchable in five matches, respectively. Dominguez enjoyed his best day ever in a Huntington uniform with three pins, a tech fall and a 6-1 decision over Sean Whitestone of FDR.
Puca (145) pinned three opponents in less than a minute, took a technical fall and turned back James Holden of Curtis High School, 16-9. The performance marked Puca’s first 5-0 day in a varsity uniform. Fox was strong in winning all four of his matches at 152 lbs. Jayson Santiago went 5-0, too, with four pins and an 11-0 major decision over Curtis’ Matt Bloomquist.
Lupi and teammate Morris Romero finished 1-2 at 171 lbs. Lupi’s 4-0 effort included a tight 2-1 decision over Romero, who pinned three foes in the round robin. In securing the 189 lb. crown, Sandoval’s closest match was an 8-0 major decision over Ivan McCall of Petrides.
“The team score might have been lopsided, but there were tough matches,” Smith said. “It was just that we were so hot all day.” The event attracted seven teams, including five squads from New York City, as well as Goshen and Huntington.
Thomas pinned his way through the 285 lb. weight classes, including two sub-minute falls. Anthony Priolo, who had a pair of first period pins in three bouts, placed second at 215 lbs.
With several tough league dual meets on the horizon, the Blue Devil coaching staff was especially happy with how the team performed. “We want to keep the momentum we gained going right through the state tournament,” Smith said.
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