Blue Devil Wrestlers Start the Hunt
The names and faces might change from year-to-year, but the Huntington High School wrestling team’s goals remain the same. The Blue Devils begin each season with the aim of winning league, county and state titles. This winter will be no different.
“We have a great group of wrestlers and we are excited,” said Kieran Mock, who is in his second year as head coach after serving as an assistant for the previous six seasons. Mock won county and state titles for the Blue Devils in 1982 and wants the wrestlers he coaches to find the same glory.
Huntington will be led by Suffolk champion and state runner-up Damon McQueen, who is coming off a 36-1 junior season. “We’re obviously looking for Damon to go all the way,” Mock said. “That’s going to take lots of hard work, but we’re encouraged so far.”
Junior Nigel McNeil is also back in the fold after finishing third in the county last winter when he compiled a 36-2 mark. “Nigel’s tough, no doubt about it,” Mock said. “He’ll be in the mix with the best in the state at his weight.”
The Blue Devils also return Louis Puca (35-8) who placed second in the league and fourth in the county, league champ Chris Sandoval (10-7) and fourth place league finishers Ryan Fox (29-8) and Greg Corbly.
T.J. Wilson (19-12), Maurice Loadholt (20-12) and John McGrath (6-5) are also expected to heavily contribute to Huntington’s drive for the top. “We need everyone to do their share and for some of the other guys to step up and surprise people,” Mock said.
Huntington will face a tough league schedule, including a battle against state power Hauppauge on Friday, January 22 at 7 p.m. in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.
The Blue Devils host eight other teams in their annual holiday tournament this Saturday (Dec. 12) and later in the season will travel to tournaments at Port Jervis, Windsor, Suffern, Albany and Freeport high schools.
Blue Devil Notes: Huntington enters the campaign with an all-time record of 530-145-7 in 60 seasons of competition . . . Mock will be assisted by Lou Giani, Sr., Travis Smith and Peter Fusco . . . This marks the second year Giani will serve as an assistant after stepping down as head coach with a 40 year mark of 436-36-1 . . . Huntington has 23 state champions . . . Last winter the Blue Devils finished fourth in Suffolk Division I with 109 points . . . Huntington was ranked 17th in the state by the New York State Sportswriters’ Assn. last year . . . Rocky Point handed the Blue Devils their only loss last season, 32-25 . . . Huntington defeated Hauppauge (27-26) and Islip (23-22) in thrilling meets last season.
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