Strong Numbers for Southampton Wrestling

In the 13 years he’s been at the helm of the Southampton wrestling program, head coach Lester Ware says he can’t remember a time when he had stronger turnout than he’s had this year. A total of 25 students came out for the wrestling team, and Ware said it’s “a very organic” 25 kids, as opposed to years past, when he said he’s had to “chase people all over the place” to get a strong number of participants.

Ware is hoping that depth can equate to success on the mats this season. The Mariners will have a blend of newcomers and experienced grapplers, and will compete in League VIII alongside Port Jefferson, Center Moriches, Babylon and Mattituck/Greenport/Southold.

When the postseason rolls around, the Mariners will be vying for top placings in the county tournament alongside the rest of the Division II schools, including heavyweights like Mount Sinai, Elwood/John Glenn, Bayport/Blue Point, Shoreham/Wading River and Hampton Bays, which make up League VII.

Leading Southampton this year will be brothers Cole and Hudson Fox. Cole Fox, a senior, finished third in the county both last year and as a sophomore, and is making the jump up from the 160-pound weight class to 190 pounds this year.

Hudson, a junior, won 19 matches last year and fell just short of a top placement at counties, losing in what is known as the “blood” round. Ware said he expects both wrestlers to vie for a top finish at counties this season.

Sophomore Juan Pichardo won 16 matches last season as a freshman and is another strong returning wrestler, who will compete around 138 pounds, while Liam Squires, another sophomore, also won 16 matches last year and then suffered a broken thumb before the county tournament. He will compete at about 152 pounds.

Ware said he has high hopes for two sophomores, Ernesto Morales and Johan Montero, who both put in a lot of work during the offseason. They will settle in around the 124- to 138-pound range. Senior Victor Barone (116 pounds) had a strong season last year and returns to the squad as well, and newcomer Jackson Garcia, who will compete at 285 pounds, and is, according to Ware “big and athletic, with a lot of upside.”

Another newcomer to the team is Jack Nastri, who moved to the area from New Jersey, and comes with wrestling experience.

With 25 wrestlers on the roster, Ware has plenty to work with. Making sure he can spread the team out among the different weight classes will be key to having success in dual meets.

As for his expectations for the season, Ware said he’s keeping it simple.

“We’re hoping to have fun,” he said. “It’s a grind, but I want them to have fun and look back on their time and have something they can be proud about.

“We have a few kids I think could win the whole thing,” he added, speaking about county titles. “But they’ll have to pull it all together and stay healthy.”

Southampton will open the season by traveling to Northport this weekend to compete in a dual meet tournament, and will compete at the Doc Fallot Duals at Hampton Bays the following weekend.