Both Southampton Boys, Girls Expect To See Fair Share Of Success On The Track This Season

The boys and girls track programs have some of the most talented student-athletes that the Southampton School District possess, so it comes to no surprise that both teams expect to see their fair amount of success this spring.

Eddie Arnold, the girls head coach, said that despite losing a few key girls to graduation, such as Dreanne Joseph, Amanda Mannino and Rebekah Moritz, his team still has the depth to compete in every event this season thanks to strong junior and freshman classes. It’s because of that depth that Arnold thinks his team has what it takes to compete for a League VIII title with some strong teams in Port Jefferson and reigning champ Mattituck.

“I told the girls at the beginning of the year that everyone on this team — whether you’re doing the shot and discus, high jump, all field events — are very, very crucial to whether or not we match up with these teams and could determine our season,” he explained. “It may come down to relays and we’ve been blessed with a culture of having strong relays. We’ve pretty much got a hold on them and we’ve been known, both boys and girls, to have strong relays. We have more depth this year with this freshman class coming in and with some great leadership, we should do well.”

Those leaders include senior captains Gabriela Arnold, Hallie Beeker and Bridget Ferguson, all of whom will help the team in multiple events.

The girls, like the boys, faced what could be their toughest competition right out of the gates on Tuesday facing Port Jeff — results of both meets occurred too late to appear in this week’s article — but it should give a good barometer of where both teams are.

Tony Dottin, like Arnold, likes the talent surrounded by his team. Aside from the triple jump, pole vault and 110-meter high hurdles, Dottin said his team is strong in just about every other event, with the team’s strong suits being in just about every running event, the high jump and the throws.

Billy Malone, who has committed to run cross country at Loyola University, is one of the top five runners in the county in the 800-meter run and who Dottin calls his security blanket because of his consistency and his willingness to compete in any event he’s asked to run in. Malone can also run in the 1,600-meter race if needed and leads what is a large stable of runners. Harrison Gavalas was All-Long Island and All-County in the sprints this past winter and should continue to that success this spring. Saintino Arnold and Evan Simioni will take care of the long distance events with Dottin being particularly high on Arnold who is now a senior and will be running in college as well. Christian Duggal and Max Murch both emerged this past winter as viable running options for Southampton as well.

Derek Reed and William Ouzounian will lead the Mariners in the field events. Reed was an All-County high jumper last season and Dottin said as long as he can stay consistent and put in the work, he could very well be All-State. Jett DeSane will also compete in the jumping events with Thayer Schwartz being the team’s primary long jumper. Ouzounian, along with fellow senior Brad Bockhaus, will lead the team in the shot and disc.

Like the girls, the boys will be competing with Port Jeff and Mattituck for the league title, but Dottin thinks its definitely a possibility for his team to capture it.

“All around, we have a strong team. The problem is consistency,” he said. “I don’t think these kids have ever gained a sense of consistency except for maybe eight kids on the team. The rest of them have lots of talent, but they don’t know how to channel that talent into one particular direction. They’re all over the place, they’re very flippant.”