By TONY BELLISSIMO
We've been forced to battle through adversity and it's been kind of disappointing, although we do have a bunch of kids wrestling well, Marines coach Ray Adams said. We're not fielding the lineup I thought we would, but we're going with what we've got and that's the story.
With a rugged schedule continuing this week, Long Beach isn't about to rest on its laurels. The entire Marines' team is made up of underclassmen, and coach Adams is excited about the potential for the rest of this season and beyond.
There's not one senior in the room right now and we're lacking leadership as a result, Adams said. Some other kids who started the season are no longer on the team for various reason, and that's hurt us a little. But we're moving forward and the kids are working hard as usual.
Junior Deone Williams (125 pounds) lead Long Beach with 24 victories, five of which he registered last weekend at the Jeff Reese tournament. Williams was also fourth in the Mid-Hudson tourney and was one of only four Marines to collect victories against East Meadow last week.
Deone's been solid, Adams said. He lost a tough 7-6 decision to a Massapequa kid, but he's been wrestling the best. He'll definitely be heard from later in the season.
A trio of other juniors: Taureen Nicholas (189), Stephen Jones (135) and Sandeep Kumar (96), have each won 18 bouts. Jones won the Bethpage tourney earlier in the season and was the only Marine to record a win against Massapequa, while Kumar has reached four tourney finals.
Taureen has been out a little bit and can still pick it up a notch, Adams said. I suspect he'll be right there at the end.
Sophomore 135-pounder Jose Rodriguez was a finalist in the Reese tourney and continues to shine. Both he and Jones notched victories against East Meadow, along with sophomore Tommy Moriarty. While Long Beach has struggled at times, it did record non-league victories over Lawrence (43-18) and Seaford (39-28). Kumar, Moriarty, Williams, Jones, Rodriguez, Mark Kosta, Thomas Murphy and Nicholas notched wins in both matches.
Long Beach hosts Baldwin this Friday at 7 p.m., and BGA and Port Jervis visit the Marines on Saturday at 10 a.m.
