The Suffolk County Wrestling championships took place over the weekend, and plenty of Eastern Suffolk County Wrestlers performed on the mat with rewards for their efforts.
Hosted by Stony Brook University, the boys (Division I) and girls varsity wrestlers from across Suffolk County took to the mat inside Island Federal Credit Union Arena. Team and individual matches took place over the span of a two-day period.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room, Sachem North. A team that appeared destined to win all season long. The Arrows are fresh off a League II title and came to win. As a team, the team notched its first Suffolk County Team championship since 1992. The Arrows also celebrated the wins of two individual champions in Tommy Vecchio (175lbs) and Valdey Pierre (285lbs). Vecchio earned his 44th win as a senior, having yet to lose a match. To continue the good news trend, senior Jack Cusumano made some history of his own, becoming the winningest wrestler in school history, surpassing a two-decade-old record with 137 wins.
Across town, Sachem East’s Jon Schroff won the 165lb individual championship. Enroute to victory, Schroff wrestled three state-ranked wrestlers to claim the title.
Bellport Camryn Howard (138lbs) slimmed down from last season, competing in a new weight class and dominating. He took home the title for the Clippers.
East Islip’s Rocco Destefano (132lb) notched 100 career pins on his way to a Suffolk County title. Alongside him, four of his teammates finished top five for the tournament.
Ward Melville’s Chase Phillips (118lbs) got his redemption this year, claiming the Suffolk County title after falling short last year.
Last but not least, Smithtown East’s Matthew McDermott (144lbs) earned himself the title with a win over Patchogue-Medford.
The female wrestlers in Suffolk County also competed over the weekend. Eastern Suffolk saw some of their own take home the title in their respective weight class. Of the 13 winners, eight are repeat champions.
Starting off at Rocky Point, the Hernandez sisters helped the Eagles win two titles. Zoey Hernandez (94lbs) and Julianna Hernandez (126lbs) were crowned champions of their weight classes.
Over at East Islip, Alicia Cardona (107lbs) and Ava Philips (120lbs) each won their class title. Cardona was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Bellport saw five of its wrestlers compete and saw five come home with the first-place title. Olivia Angelo (100lbs), Caitlin Maragiolo (132lbs), Veronica Sky Williams (145lbs), Aaliyah Morrow (152lbs), and Miiko Foster (185lbs) all made the Clippers proud.
The Bayshore Marauders saw Brooke-Lynn Murray (138lbs), Melody Medina (165lbs), and Sydney Fisher (235lbs) bring home individual titles.
Stony Brook packed the house for the Section XI wrestling championships and did not disappoint. The two-day event was jam-packed with action, crowning champions, and qualifying wrestlers for states. A number of wrestlers will head to Albany at the end of February to compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championships held at MVP Arena. Congratulations to those who took home a Suffolk County title!
