Blue Devil Wrestlers Ready to Rumble
The Huntington High School wrestling team's goals never change. Year-after-year the Blue Devils are the hunt for league, county and state championships. It's that simple.
"Our team is never very large in numbers, but we manage to develop some very dedicated young athletes who are hard-nosed, tough competitors," said Kieran Mock, who is in his third year at 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 pushes the wrestlers he coaches to achieve similar results.
Huntington will be led by Suffolk and state champion Nigel McNeil, who is coming off a 38-0 junior season. "We're obviously looking for Nigel to go all the way again," Mock said. "Nigel is a very hard worker and is willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be a champion.
Louis Puca is also back after finishing second in the Section XI and state tournaments last winter. The senior compiled a 37-5 mark and used a tough-as-nails style to earn the respect of opponents across the state. "Louis is looking to go out on top with a state title," Mock said. "We'll push him hard to get it done."
The Blue Devils also return several other promising wrestlers in Corey Jamison (26-13), Nick Lupi (24-17), John Mallouk (12-16), Kevin Mendez (10-17), Luis Mendez (8-15), Duncan Murchison (26-11), Anthony Puca (9-11), Tye Jamison (4-15) and T. J. Wilson (28-12).
The Blue Devils host seven other teams in their annual holiday tournament this Saturday (Dec. 11) and later in the season will travel to tournaments at Port Jervis, Windsor, Suffern, Albany and Island Trees high schools.
Blue Devil Notes: Huntington enters the campaign with an all-time record of 534-149-7 in 61 seasons of competition . . . Mock will be assisted by Lou Giani, Sr., Travis Smith and Peter Fusco . . . This marks the third year Giani will serve as an assistant after stepping down as head coach with a 40 year mark of 436-36-1 . . . Huntington has 25 state champions . . . Last winter the Blue Devils finished fifth in Suffolk Division I with 129 points . . .