Mariners win non league dual meet

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The Southampton wrestling team kicked off the dual meet season with a 42-39 non-league win over Smithtown Christian on Monday, December 14 in Southampton. Due to forfeits by both teams, only six matches were contested, but the Mariners had strong showings in the matches in which they competed.

At 160 pounds, Solomon Narcisse won with a pin in 1:30 and at 171 pounds C.J. Gambino also won with a first-period pin. Franklin Dominguez kept the trend going at 189 pounds, winning with a pin in the first two minutes of his match.

Smithtown Christian forfeited at 215 pounds, mostly to avoid facing Mariner Isaiah Thomas, who was the champion at the Sprig Gardner Tournament in East Hampton on December 12.

Southampton lost its other three matches on the day, with Nick Czelatka falling 4-0 at 96 pounds and Jessie Steudte getting pinned at 152 pounds by Dan Schneider, one of the top wrestlers in the county. At 285 pounds, Julian Pressly was pinned with seconds remaining in the match.

Southampton head coach Lester Ware said he was pleased overall with the match and how his team performed.

“Solomon looked great,” Ware said. “He had one of the best fireman’s carries the other coach said he’s ever seen.”

Ware said he expected Gambino to win and was happy he lived up to those expectations. He also had good things to say about Dominguez.

“Franklin is a pretty good kid,” the coach said. “He looked pretty calm and he went out there and really took it to the kid.”

Many of the wrestlers on the Southampton squad are still young and untested, which is why Ware did not put some of them out there for varsity matches. Several of them wrestled exhibitions matches to get some experience under their belts. The team will compete in a junior varsity tournament in East Meadow on Monday, December 28, which will give the younger wrestlers the opportunity to hone their skills.

Ware said the team is progressing and that the select few wrestlers who are already mature enough for varsity competition are doing well.

“Solomon is just about to hit his stride,” Ware said. “And Isaiah is going to be Isaiah. He’s going to be in there for a lot of meets. The younger kids still have a way to go, they’re just not there yet.”

After competing in the meet at East Meadow, Southampton will travel to Hampton Bays on Wednesday, January 6, for a League VII tri-meet with the Baymen and Port Jefferson.