By TONY BELLISSIMO
We're used to being in the top five, or even four, and we want to get back to that level this season, Coach Ray Adams said. It's going to take a lot of hard work and the right attitude. I think we lacked a little leadership last season but it looks like we're primed to bounce back.
The Marines have three topflight competitors with All-County credentials returning. Junior Jose Rodriguez was the Nassau runner-up at 130 pounds and will wrestle anywhere from 140-152 in dual meets. Senior Stephen Jones placed fourth in the county at 125 and senior Deone Williams was fifth at 125. Jones will most likely be at 135 and Williams 130.
Those guys make us strong in the middle of the lineup, Adams said. They're our big three and we'll be counting on them to get some pins.
Rodriguez, Jones and Williams all won Herricks Tournament titles on Dec. 7, while Jones and Williams followed a week later with titles at the Bethpage Tournament.
Spearheading the lightweights are senior Sandeep Kumar (103 pounds), sophomore Julian Fontaine (112), senior Marvin Chaupiz (119) and junior Thomas Moriarty (125.) Junior Kmar Wilder (135) was a Nassau runner-up in 2000-01, senior Mark Kosta (145) captured first at Bethpage and senior Thomas Murphy (171) took first at Herricks. Senior Travis Brush starts at 160, while senior John Besse, senior Zach Miller and junior Kevin Chaupiz compete at 189. Junior Matt Jordan is at 215.
There's a lot of excitement in the room, Adams said. Everyone's practicing hard and getting ready for all the challenges that lie ahead. We're facing all the big guns, so we need to be ready.
Long Beach faces Farmingdale, East Meadow, Massapequa, Freeport, Lawrence and Baldwin in the dual meets.
