Publication: The East Hampton Press & The Southampton Press
By Cailin Riley Mar 1, 2015 2:59 PM
Mar 2, 2015 11:05 AM
By Cailin Riley Mar 1, 2015 2:59 PM
Mar 2, 2015 11:05 AM
Westhampton Beach 145-pounder Hunter Hulse was a force at the Suffolk County Division I Wrestling Championships at Hofstra University on February 14 and 15, dominating opponents and advancing further than most expected, finishing third overall.
That finish earned him a spot at the New York State championships this past weekend—and, based on the way he wrestled at counties, it looked as though he was primed for another impressive showing.
But that’s not how it played out for Hulse in his last competition in a Hurricane uniform.
The senior went 0-2 to put an abrupt end to what was an otherwise illustrious high school wrestling career, losing an 8-3 decision to Mike LaLoggia of Webster-Schroeder High School (Section V) in the first round before falling, 7-2, to Adam Santoro of Fordham Prep (Catholic League) in the first round of wrestlebacks.
Westhampton Beach head coach Paul Bass was at a loss when asked to describe what exactly went wrong for Hulse. LaLoggia and Santoro were not considered threats to win the championship, and neither went on to place in the top six. Hulse, meanwhile, had shown plenty of grit in the county semifinals in a hard-fought 3-0 loss to eventual county champ Tommy Dutton of Rocky Point, who went on to win the state title in dominant fashion this weekend.
Bass said Hulse simply did not have the same energy at states.
“I really don’t have an answer,” Bass said on Sunday. “When you’re coaching teenagers, you never know what’s going through their heads. I thought we had a great week of practice leading up to states—he had no issues with making weight, and it was his third time [competing at states]. He just wasn’t the same kid who showed up in the county tournament.”
Making it to states is an accomplishment in its own right, especially for Suffolk County wrestlers, as Suffolk County proves to be the toughest section in state every year. Suffolk was once again the top section at states this year, with 312 points, while Nassau County was a distant second, with 178 points. Bass acknowledged that, but said it wasn’t much of a consolation for him or Hulse.
Overall, however, Hulse had a career to be proud of, going 41-5 in his senior season and making the third trip of his career to states. While he was a freshman and sophomore at Stony Brook, before transferring to Westhampton Beach as a junior, Hulse went to the Division II state tournament.
“I think he had a great last month of the season,” Bass said. “I think he really peaked at the right time, except for the last weekend. He had a hell of a county tournament, and it was nice to get to states. But we just had a bad day up there.”
That finish earned him a spot at the New York State championships this past weekend—and, based on the way he wrestled at counties, it looked as though he was primed for another impressive showing.
But that’s not how it played out for Hulse in his last competition in a Hurricane uniform.
The senior went 0-2 to put an abrupt end to what was an otherwise illustrious high school wrestling career, losing an 8-3 decision to Mike LaLoggia of Webster-Schroeder High School (Section V) in the first round before falling, 7-2, to Adam Santoro of Fordham Prep (Catholic League) in the first round of wrestlebacks.
Westhampton Beach head coach Paul Bass was at a loss when asked to describe what exactly went wrong for Hulse. LaLoggia and Santoro were not considered threats to win the championship, and neither went on to place in the top six. Hulse, meanwhile, had shown plenty of grit in the county semifinals in a hard-fought 3-0 loss to eventual county champ Tommy Dutton of Rocky Point, who went on to win the state title in dominant fashion this weekend.
Bass said Hulse simply did not have the same energy at states.
“I really don’t have an answer,” Bass said on Sunday. “When you’re coaching teenagers, you never know what’s going through their heads. I thought we had a great week of practice leading up to states—he had no issues with making weight, and it was his third time [competing at states]. He just wasn’t the same kid who showed up in the county tournament.”
Making it to states is an accomplishment in its own right, especially for Suffolk County wrestlers, as Suffolk County proves to be the toughest section in state every year. Suffolk was once again the top section at states this year, with 312 points, while Nassau County was a distant second, with 178 points. Bass acknowledged that, but said it wasn’t much of a consolation for him or Hulse.
Overall, however, Hulse had a career to be proud of, going 41-5 in his senior season and making the third trip of his career to states. While he was a freshman and sophomore at Stony Brook, before transferring to Westhampton Beach as a junior, Hulse went to the Division II state tournament.
“I think he had a great last month of the season,” Bass said. “I think he really peaked at the right time, except for the last weekend. He had a hell of a county tournament, and it was nice to get to states. But we just had a bad day up there.”
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