Huntington Crowns Four
League V Champs
The Huntington High School wrestling team saw four of its matmen crowned league champions and six others earn All-League honors at the Suffolk League V tournament last Saturday in Islip.
Blue Devil stars John Arceri, Joe Puca, Nick Lupi and Anthony Puca each captured individual weight class titles. Corey Jamison and Brandon Mendez finished as runners-up. Kyle Mock, William Thomas, Jorge Villela and John Mallouk placed fourth.
Huntington finished third in the team standings. "There were some tough matches and a few calls went the other way, but overall our kids wrestled very well," assistant coach Travis Smith said.
Arceri upset Eastport-South Manor freshman John Busiello in the finals at 99 lbs., 3-2. Busiello had pinned Arceri in 3:44 earlier in the season during a league dual meet between the two teams.
Joe Puca nipped Islip's Andrew Werther at 152 lbs., 1-0. Lupi needed three overtime periods to edge Islip's Ryan Hughes at 220 lbs., 4-2. Andrew Puca topped Eastport-South Manor's Sal Castellano at 285 lbs., 3-0.
A late stalling call cost Jamison in his 2-1 loss to Islip's Brad Wade at 126 lbs. Mendez fell to Sayville's Luca Ciancimino at 145 lbs., 11-9. In consolation round bouts, Mock (99 lbs.) was pinned by Tommy Lange of Harborfields in 1:37. Thomas (120 lbs.) dropped a 5-0 decision to Dan Smith of Bellport. Villela (138 lbs.) lost 6-2 to James Ionaconi of Islip. Mallouk (145 lbs.) was edged by John Malico of Harborfields, 4-1.
Huntington's 10 All-League wrestlers will compete in the Section XI tournament on Sunday and Monday at Hofstra University. The champions in each of the 15 weight classes plus a number of wild cards will advance to the New York State tournament in Albany.