Season Preview: Westhampton Beach Football Team Looking To Bounce Back From Loss of 20 Seniors

Bryan Schaumloffel’s Westhampton Beach football team lost 20 seniors to graduation last year, and returns the smallest senior class in over 25 years with just seven student-athletes. But he said that won’t stop his boys from being competitive this season.

Back to lead the way is three-year starter Noah Hebberd, who was also awarded the No. 12 jersey in memory of Cory Hubbard, a Hurricanes alumnus who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2014.

Hebberd, a senior center and defensive tackle, recorded five sacks last season while imposing his will on the offensive line. He will be joined by four other returning starters, senior co-captain and linebacker and running back Luke Kilroy, co-captain and junior quarterback Will Gambino, junior defensive end and tight end Jordyn Brown and junior offensive and defensive tackle Andrew Mensch.

Gambino threw for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns in just four full games as a sophomore.

“We will be leaning on these players to provide leadership and experience for our young team,” Schaumloffel said. “We had a great summer with workouts, practices and 7-on-7 passing tournaments, and we are looking forward to starting Westhampton’s 73rd season of playing high school football.”

The receiving corps is young, but talented, the coach said. Juniors Kevin Smith, T.J. Hill and Gianni Amodemo are joined by Eastport-South Manor transfer Mike LoRusso. In the backfield are running backs Kilroy, junior Nolan Michalowski and sophomore Brody Schaffer.

The offensive line will be big, but inexperienced. At left tackle is 6-5, 260-pound junior Gabe Blowes, center is the 6-2, 250-pound Hebberd and right tackle is 6-2, 250-pound Mensch. Also on the line will be 6-2, 260-pound junior Ryan O’Connor and 5-9, 200-pound junior Aidan McDermott.

“We are looking for our offensive line to develop and improve each week,” Schaumloffel said.

McDermott will also be joining Kilroy at linebacker, along with Hill and junior Nolan Michalowski.

Schaumloffel said the defensive line will propel the team through games, returning the most talent in Hebberd, Brown, Mensch and senior Sal Francapane.

Replacing four starters in the secondary will be Smith and junior Riley Miller at safety, and Amodemo and senior Tyler Kirschner at cornerback.

Schaffer, a former soccer player with what the coach said is a strong leg, will handle all kicking duties.

“I feel we have a very young, talented team that has the potential to develop into a strong team,” Schaumloffel said. “Our season hinges on how long it will take the young players to develop on varsity players.”

Returning to the Westhampton Beach boys golf team this season are sophomores Owen Jessop and Charlie Beasley, and freshman Zach Berger.

“We looked like we were returning five, but only returned three,” head coach Fred Musumeci said. “But the three we have returning — I’d put them up against any top three of any team in Suffolk County.”

Jessop finished seventh in the county to earn a spot on the state team last season. The top nine in the county tournament make the state team. Berger and Beasley grabbed 12th and 13th last year, respectively, at counties.

“They’re very talented and very committed — have a strong work ethic,” Musumeci said. “Those three work and work on their game and they’ve steadily gotten better every year. When we get to the individual portion, I think all three of those guys have a chance of winning the county tournament and certainly have a chance of making the state team.”

Also returning are seniors Zach Bennett and Avery Merrihew.

“They didn’t get a lot of action last year coming from the practice squad, but they’re going to be a big part of our lineup,” the coach said.

Currently, the No. 6 spot is up for grabs. Fighting for it is senior Logan Rogers, along with three underclassmen who were pulled up from the junior varsity team — sophomores Nick Barusso and Reid Groth and freshman Dagny Beasley.

“They look pretty good so far. They are going to be a big part of our future,” Musumeci said. “We have a young and talented team.”

He said the boys are focused on taking it one match at a time, because they know there will be some stiff competition this season.

“We’re in a really tough league,” Musumeci said. “East Hampton and Southampton are both great teams. They’re two of the best in the county, along with us, so it’s going to be a dogfight. We want to get off to a good start, and we’ll see where we end up.”

While the boys cross country team lost a standout runner in valedictorian Gavin Ehlers, returning this season will be All-State runners Max Haynia and Trevor Hayes.

Haynia, a senior, finished first in the 3,200-meter run at the Suffolk County championships this past track and field season. Hayes, a junior, clocked in right behind him.

Also returning are Haynia’s younger brother, Marcus, a sophomore who earned the sixth spot in that same 3,200 race, and junior Sean Ryan.

“They are very strong,” said head coach John Broich.

Broich, along with Meg Otten, will be leading the boys and girls teams this season.

Back on the girls side this season are All-Division runners, juniors Oona Murphy and Gabby Wendel and sophomore Jamie Kelly. Murphy was tabbed All-County last indoor winter season, while Kelly and Wendel earned All-League nods. In the spring, Murphy placed fourth in the 3,000 at the Suffolk County championships.

“Both teams are very good and can win their leagues,” Broich said, “but the main goal is to stay healthy and improve each week.”