Big start for Long Beach
The Battle at the Beach wrestling tournament returned to its home roots last month, with Long Beach hosting 18 visiting teams in the 10th annual event a year after the wrath of Hurricane Sandy forced it out of town.
“We try our best to run a first-class event,” Marines coach Ray Adams said. “We’re very thankful to Lynbrook for hosting and making the tournament happen last year. It was awesome to be back in our brand new gym with two brand new mats.”
Long Beach broke in the mats quite well and finished second to Massapequa in the biggest Battle at the Beach yet. The Marines had three individual champions and a pair of runner-ups on the way to amassing 228.5 points. The Chiefs, despite just one individual champ, totaled 260 points. Hewlett (189), Wantagh (181.5), and Brooklyn Tech (165) rounded out the top five. “Every kid was guaranteed two matches,” Adams explained.
With a mix of seniors and talented underclassmen, Adams said the Marines have set goals of winning a conference title and being at their best come the county tournament in February. Long Beach’s young core opened the season in impressive fashion, at the Battle at the Beach as well as a dual meet victory over highly touted Locust Valley, 38-29.
Eighth-grader Jacori Teemer (99 pounds), freshman Matt Maquet (106) and senior Keith Wildstein (160) captured tournament titles and won their bouts against Locust Valley.
Teemer, who wrested at the JV level last season, was scoreless and trailing by five points heading into the third period against Wantagh’s Jonathan Loew in the final at the Battle at the Beach before rallying for a wild 13-10 win. “He exploded against a very good kid,” Adams said.
Maquet, who competed in last year’s county tournament, picked up where he left off and won the Battle at the Beach in dominant fashion. He topped Vinny Candela of Oceanside in the final, 12-2.
Wildstein, who ignited the win over Locust Valley with a 3-1 decision over Jordan Formicola in the opening bout, worked his way past Brooklyn Tech’s Camilo Gaitan, a state qualifier last winter, 6-1, in the Battle at the Beach title bout. “Keith has gotten better and better every year he’s been in the program,” Adams said.
Freshman Charlie Spada (126) and Tyrese Byron (132) both had impressive second-place showings in the tournament, Adams said, and they’ll be key pieces to the puzzle throughout the campaign. At 120, junior Alan Teemer, a returning All-County performer, placed fourth in the toughest weight class the Battle at the Beach had to offer.
Senior Jon Greifenberg (132), freshman Tyreek Bromley (170) and senior Glenn Rutherig (220) placed fifth, while senior Mike Alcivar (152) was sixth. Others expected to play vital roles for the Marines this season are seniors Jaymen Connelly, Marke Sutton, Kelvin Alvarez and Josh Schwimmer, sophomores Sean Bourne, Marc Taez, and Andrew Garcia, and freshman Mark Rivera who picked up a quick pin against Locust Valley’s Allen Williams.
