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Southampton Press
December 20 & 27, 2001
Returnees Look To Boost Westhampton Beach Wrestling Team
By Kerry Monaco
Eight members of the Westhampton Beach High School boys wrestling team earned honors
at the Sprig Gardner Tournament at East Hampton High School as the Hurricanes began their non-league schedule on
Saturday. Senior Jay Fredette had the best finish for Westhampton Beach, taking second place in the 130-pound weight
class after being defeated by John Manarte from Sachem in the title match. Fredette lost to Manarte in the Suffolk
County finals last year in the 119-pound class.
Todd Fitzgerald (119 pounds), Rob Sanfilippo (135) and Mike DeStefano (171) took home third-place finishes for
Westhampton Beach. Kyle Pisaneschi (96), Rob Fredette (125), John Krupp (189) and Nick Schmidt (215) all earned
fourth-place finishes at the tournament.
As the Hurricanes look ahead to the coming season, they boast a great deal of experience: The team has lost only
one member of last year’s squad to graduation.
The Hurricanes, who posted a 2-5-1 record in League IV last season and a 3-8-1 overall record, have finished in
the top 15 among the 54 teams in Suffolk County in each of the last two years. Despite losing All-County wrestler
Kenny Dungin (125) to graduation last year, the Hurricanes will return several powerful wrestlers to the mats this
season.
“I feel that we are going to be a much better dual meet team this year,” said Hurricanes coach Paul Bass, who is
in his 15th year as head coach. “We have a lot of depth and balance.”
There are only three seniors on the team this season, but it is the skill and potential, not the age, of the wrestlers
that matters.
Jay Fredette, an All-County athlete and last year’s runner-up in the county tournament in the 119-pound weight
class, is one of the seniors returning to the mats for the Canes. All-League wrestler Mike DeStefano, who finished
in third place in the county tournament at 152 pounds last season, will be another experienced wrestler for the
Canes and will compete in various classes between 152 and 171 pounds this season. Senior Rob Terchunian (140-145)
also brings experience to the mats.
Juniors Todd Fitzgerald (112-119), Kyle Berglin (125-130), Brian Schmidt (152-160), John Krupp (171-189) Tom Sheppard
(145-152), Jimmy Christie (171) and Bobby Pisaneschi (135-140) will also be competitors to watch out for.
Juniors Frank Schlegel (189) and Nick Schmidt (215) will compete as the Canes heavyweights. Sophomores Travis Chornona
(140-145) and Rob Sanfilippo (135), and freshmen Kyle Pisaneschi (96) and Ryan Spano (103) are young faces to keep
an eye on this season and as they progress through high school.
And Bass said he believes that the Westhampton Beach program can only get better. “The kids program in the district
is unbelievable,” he said. “There are 70 to 80 kids in the program, and it is a really healthy program.”
Coach Bass is supported by assistant coach Rob Carisiti and volunteer Mike Fitzgerald, who was the Hampton Bays
head coach for 26 years. The junior high coaches from Westhampton Beach, Korey Williams and Fred Musemeci, and
East Moriches, Steve Curtis, also lend a hand with the varsity program.
“These guys have formed a nice group of kids, and it is great to see them stay involved,” said coach Bass of Williams,
Musemeci and Curtis. “The alumni and parents are also very supportive of the program, and it is really nice to
coach in that kind of situation.”
The Hurricanes will travel to Connetquot for the Connetquot Double Dual on Saturday, December 22, and will compete
in the Half Hollow Hills East Tournament on December 27 and 28. Westhampton Beach will open League IV competition
on the road against Half Hollow Hills West on Friday, January 11.
Rounding out the League IV roster this season are Deer Park, East Hampton, Huntington, Kinds Park, Sayville and
Hauppauge.
Issue Date: Southampton Press 12/20/01 & 12/27/01
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