Blue Devil Wrestlers Celebrate at 40th Awards Dinner
The Huntington wrestling team really knows how to party. The program’s 40th annual awards dinner, which honored the high school grapplers that helped put the Blue Devils among the state’s elite, was an uplifting affair with lots of laughs and camaraderie.
A large crowd of wrestlers, coaches and family members filled the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall on Pulaski Road for the festivities. Long tables filled with items ranging from salad, pasta dishes and roast beef to sausage and peppers, a variety of chicken, Buffalo wings, casseroles and breads, provided a hearty dinner for the hungry group.
The coaching staff of Kieran Mock, Lou Giani, Travis Smith, Stef Sair and Peter Fusco presented team members with varsity and junior varsity letters and special awards for leading the squad in various categories.
Nigel McNeil and Damon McQueen earned MVP awards after winning state titles. The pair was also given large porcelain Blue Devil wrestler figurines, which are traditionally presented to Huntington’s state wrestling champions. They are made by Rosemarie Giani and hand painted in the team’s colors.
Ryan Fox garnered the Hardest Worker and Most Improved awards as well as trophies for having the most takedowns (37) and most technical falls (10). Louis Puca won a Most Improved award as well as grabbing honors for having the most pins (22) and quickest pin, an 11-second job.
McNeil was also honored for being the team’s high scorer after amassing 249.5 team points in dual meet and tournament competition. McQueen won an award for having the most near falls (18). Trophies were also presented to John Mallouk (most escapes – 14), Ken Stropoli (most improved JV wrestler) and Anthony Puca (JV MVP).
The crowd included several program alums, including state champions Charlie Gadson and Steven Palacios and longtime Blue Devil financial backer Bud Nugent, who traveled to Huntington from his home in New Jersey
This marked Mock’s second season as head coach after Lou Giani stepped down from the position following the 2008 season and became a part-time assistant. Giani had led the program since November 1970 and built Huntington into a perennial state power.
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