Blue Devils Capture Mat Crown

The Blue Devil wrestling team used a perfect five-for-five performance in the finals to come-from-behind and win the 40^th annual Huntington Holiday Tournament last Saturday before a near capacity crowd in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium

Huntington trailed in the nine team competition during most of the day before a stunning effort in the medal rounds lifted the Blue Devils past powerful Kings Park and Massapequa, delighting the large crowd, which included dozens of mat alumni.

“We had a great day,” head coach Kieran Mock said. “Everyone turned it up a notch. There was very tough competition but our guys rose to the occasion. Now we have to keep it up.”

Huntington’s Nigel McNeil (119 lbs.), Damon McQueen (125), Maurice Loadholt (135), Louis Puca (160) and Ryan Fox (171) were all crowned champions.

Corey Jamison (3^rd-96 lbs.), Kevin Mendez (4^th-112), Jack Castelli (6^th-130), John Mallouk (6^th-140), Ken Stopoli (5^th-145), T.J. Wilson (3^rd-152), Luis Mendez (4^th-152), Duncan Murchison (3^rd-189), Nick Lupi (4^th-215) and Anthony Puca (6^th-215) also placed in the grueling competition.

Huntington’s “Big Five” dominated their weight classes, although several of them had to battle through close matches to reach the top step on the victory stand. McNeil, though, was able to coast, pinning three foes and taking a 13-2 major decision.

McQueen, who won the Suffolk championship last year and finished second in the state tournament, won four matches, including a technical fall, pin and 13-5 major decision before grabbing an exciting 6-4 verdict in the finals.

Loadholt pinned three opponents before he found himself in a donnybrook in the finals, eventually prevailing 7-5. Puca captured three matches, including a 6-4 decision in the finals. Fox easily swept past four opponents with two pins, a technical fall and a 10-2 major decision.

When the final team scores were calculated, Huntington laid claim to another team title with 257 points, outpacing Kings Park (247.5), Massapequa (233.5), East Islip (213), Northport (119.5), Central Islip (118.5), Port Jervis (96.5), Center Moriches (84) and New York City’s Grant Street Campus (27).

The Blue Devils will travel to Port Jervis on Saturday for a tournament against a group of Rockland County opponents and then head to the state’s oldest high school tournament at Windsor near Binghamton for a two day competition slated for December 28-29.

Huntington opens its dual meet season at Kings Park on Wednesday, January 6 at 4 p.m.