It seems that the story is the same for Westhampton Beach at the start of every
wrestling season: A significant number of accomplished wrestlers say goodbye, but thanks to the feeder program,
there is more than enough talent stepping up to fill those spots.
Seven members, including six starters, of the undefeated 2004-05 League VI championship
team graduated, but that doesn’t worry head coach Paul Bass. “When you have a league championship team, everyone
thinks that is your best team.” Bass said. “But we have such good kid and junior high programs that we’ll just
reload.”
Gone from last year’s team are Jason Herrick, a league champion and fifth in the
county; Charlie Pendlebury, a league champion; John Gillen, second in the league; Mike Gandolfo, second in the
league; Mauricio Molina, third in the league; Andy Mistina, second in the league, and Kyle Pisaneschi.
On paper, the Hurricanes may not look like the league’s dominant team, which Bass
enjoys because he knows what talent he really has in the room.
“It’s a lot of fun coaching this team because I like being the underdog.” Bass said.
“Aside from [Nick] Broccoli, [ Jon] Gress and [ James] Uresk, no one knows anything about these guys.”
Feeder programs help the team continue its winning tradition year in and year out. Anthony and Jeff Ciolino get
the wrestlers started in the kid wrestling program and then they head to coaches Korey Williams, Fred Musemeci
and John Krupp on the Westhampton Beach junior high team. The Hurricanes also get solid athletes from coach Steve
Curtis’ East Moriches team. Senior Nick Broccoli is the most decorated of the veterans hitting the mats for the
Hurricanes. Broccoli, who moves to 145 from 140, won the League VI title and finished fourth in the county last
season, racking up a 30-5 mark—the most wins on the team. Fellow senior Jon Gress, who moves into the 140 spot
from 135, went 28-5 last season and placed second in the league. The third standout senior returning from last
year is James Uresk. Uresk will remain at 152 pounds, where he went 19-9 and placed fourth in the league last year.
“Those three have the potential to win it all,” Bass said. “What’s nice is that
they are all around the same weight so they can drill together, go live together. That’s helps them. They can push
each other and it helps them all get better.”
Senior Julian Lee will return to the 130-pound spot and is looking to improve on
his 16-15 record from 2004-05.
Also making noise this season will be juniors Stephen Kobus and Scott Lagoumis.
Kobus, a 171-pounder, placed second in the league at 160 pounds last season and went 16-15 while Lagoumis, a 119-pounder,
was third-place finisher at 112 at the leagues with a 18-16 record as a sophomore.
Five sophomores have found themselves in the starting lineup. Tom Comorada takes
over at the 112-pound class from 103, where he placed fourth in the league, while Kyle Hubbard moves to 125 from
119, where he went 8-10 in ’04-’05.
Three sophomores will try to make a name for themselves for the first time in the
varsity ranks this season—Sarah Bonilla at 96 pounds, Paul Dilandro at 135 and Alex Mazarakis at 171.
After the Hurricanes lost both their heavyweight and super heavyweight from 2004-05, junior Jimmy Zambik, who weighs
in for the 189-pound class, might be bumped into the heavyweight spot.
Also competing for time in the varsity lineup will be Chris Lettieri (171), Rudy
Mistina (145), Michael Miller (140), Joe Santaly-Graf (130), James Frost (130), Dennis Hayes (103), John Prudenti
(130), Cory Hubbard (103) and Russell Skinder (96).
In addition to Westhampton Beach, League VI is made up of Smithtown East, Miller
Place, Shoreham/Wading River, Eastport/ South Manor, Harborfields and Amityville.
“The tough thing about winning the league this year is that there are no weak teams,”
Bass said. “Staying healthy is going to be really important. We got hit for about two weeks last year when we lost
quite a few kids with illnesses and some injuries. Fortunately, it was when we had three weak league matches. This
year, we can’t get away with that. There are no gimmes.”
Varsity assistant coach Bob Emmons is also cautiously optimistic about what the
Hurricanes are capable of this season.
“We won the league last year and I think there’s a good possibility that we’ll be
in the run for it again this year, if everything pans out,” Emmons said. “We’re not counting chickens before they
hatch, but it’s looking good so far.
He continued, “With our returning talent plus a handful of surprises, I’m anxious
to see what’s going to happen because they are showing a lot of good stuff at practice. The kids have been working
very hard to improve.”
The Hurricanes will begin the non-league season Saturday at the Sprig Gardner Tournament
in East Hampton. The league season will begin January 6 at home against Smithtown East.
