Publication: The East Hampton Press & The Southampton Press Dec 5, 2016 2:06 PM
By Cailin Riley
As many as five teams have a legitimate chance to win the League VI wrestling title this year, and as usual, Westhampton Beach is in the mix.
The Hurricanes will debut 10 new starters this season and lost a county champion—Dan McClure—to graduation, but bring back four wrestlers who were All-League or All-County last year, a strong group of seniors, and plenty of talented underclassmen ready to step up.
Senior Dane Mendoza (126 or 132 pounds) is a returning two-time All-County wrestler, while sophomore Liam McIntyre (160/170) finished second in the league at 145 pounds last year and was one match away from All-County status. Senior Scott Rementer (170/182) was second in the league in his weight class last year as well, and junior Tyler Skala (113 pounds) was also All-League last year, taking fourth at 99 pounds.
Five other seniors should be important to Westhampton Beach’s success this year, including varsity returnees Dan Purkis (120), David Cable (132/138), Jeremy Endara (220/285), and James D’Augistino (145), who didn’t wrestle last year but was on the team as a sophomore. Senior Ryan Wager is trying out wrestling for the first time, and will compete at 220 pounds, coming off a successful season with the Hurricanes football team where he was a key player.
Westhampton Beach has depth and talent at the lower weights, with eighth-grader Gavin McIntyre, sophomores Jake Kass and Cole Hempel, and freshman Jay Montagna all looking like strong options at 99 and 106 pounds. Mendoza is the headliner at the 126/132-pound range, but eighth-grader Jackson Hulse, sophomore Ryan Darbyshire and junior Brandon White are in the mix at those weights as well. Junior Jack Ciolino should see time at 138 pounds, along with Cable, while junior Thatcher Cord and freshman Gage Rubio will handle duties at 152 pounds. Senior newcomer Austin Mahon will fill in at 182, and junior Lucas Villarealle will give Westhampton Beach another strong option at 195/220. He wrestled as a freshman and did not wrestle last year before returning to the team this year.
Longtime head coach Paul Bass said the battle for the league’s regular season title could go to almost anyone, with his team, John Glenn, Islip, Miller Place and Shoreham/Wading River all fielding talented teams this year. He added that Amityville is a much improved team and could catch some squads by surprise as well. Sayville and East Hampton round out the league.
Westhampton Beach started the season by competing in a two-day dual meet tournament in Queens, going 6-1, beating four New York City-area teams ranked in the top 10 in the PSAL, getting a win over a team from Oklahoma, and beating one of the stronger teams in Nassau County. Both Liam McIntyre and Mendoza were undefeated at 7-0 over the course of the tournament, including wins over wrestlers who were state tournament qualifiers last season, and McIntyre was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. The Hurricanes beat nine wrestlers who are currently ranked in the top six in their weight class, in either the PSAL or Nassau, including four state qualifiers from last year. McIntyre, Mendoza, Skala and Purkis pulled off those wins.
Read the rest of the article on 27east.com
As many as five teams have a legitimate chance to win the League VI wrestling title this year, and as usual, Westhampton Beach is in the mix.
The Hurricanes will debut 10 new starters this season and lost a county champion—Dan McClure—to graduation, but bring back four wrestlers who were All-League or All-County last year, a strong group of seniors, and plenty of talented underclassmen ready to step up.
Senior Dane Mendoza (126 or 132 pounds) is a returning two-time All-County wrestler, while sophomore Liam McIntyre (160/170) finished second in the league at 145 pounds last year and was one match away from All-County status. Senior Scott Rementer (170/182) was second in the league in his weight class last year as well, and junior Tyler Skala (113 pounds) was also All-League last year, taking fourth at 99 pounds.
Five other seniors should be important to Westhampton Beach’s success this year, including varsity returnees Dan Purkis (120), David Cable (132/138), Jeremy Endara (220/285), and James D’Augistino (145), who didn’t wrestle last year but was on the team as a sophomore. Senior Ryan Wager is trying out wrestling for the first time, and will compete at 220 pounds, coming off a successful season with the Hurricanes football team where he was a key player.
Westhampton Beach has depth and talent at the lower weights, with eighth-grader Gavin McIntyre, sophomores Jake Kass and Cole Hempel, and freshman Jay Montagna all looking like strong options at 99 and 106 pounds. Mendoza is the headliner at the 126/132-pound range, but eighth-grader Jackson Hulse, sophomore Ryan Darbyshire and junior Brandon White are in the mix at those weights as well. Junior Jack Ciolino should see time at 138 pounds, along with Cable, while junior Thatcher Cord and freshman Gage Rubio will handle duties at 152 pounds. Senior newcomer Austin Mahon will fill in at 182, and junior Lucas Villarealle will give Westhampton Beach another strong option at 195/220. He wrestled as a freshman and did not wrestle last year before returning to the team this year.
Longtime head coach Paul Bass said the battle for the league’s regular season title could go to almost anyone, with his team, John Glenn, Islip, Miller Place and Shoreham/Wading River all fielding talented teams this year. He added that Amityville is a much improved team and could catch some squads by surprise as well. Sayville and East Hampton round out the league.
Westhampton Beach started the season by competing in a two-day dual meet tournament in Queens, going 6-1, beating four New York City-area teams ranked in the top 10 in the PSAL, getting a win over a team from Oklahoma, and beating one of the stronger teams in Nassau County. Both Liam McIntyre and Mendoza were undefeated at 7-0 over the course of the tournament, including wins over wrestlers who were state tournament qualifiers last season, and McIntyre was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. The Hurricanes beat nine wrestlers who are currently ranked in the top six in their weight class, in either the PSAL or Nassau, including four state qualifiers from last year. McIntyre, Mendoza, Skala and Purkis pulled off those wins.
Read the rest of the article on 27east.com
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