Track, Girls Basketball Lead Winter Postseason Honors for Hurricanes; Kazmin Pensa-Johnson Leads the way for the Baymen

This past winter, 47 different student-athletes from Westhampton Beach earned a postseason award. The girls indoor track team led the charge.

The Suffolk County Small Schools Champions had the most student-athletes earn individual honors. Lily Strebel was All-State in both the 1,000- and 1,500-meter races. She finished fifth overall, fourth among public school runners, in the 1,000, crossing the finish line in 2:53.65, a personal best by two seconds. She then finished sixth among both federation and public school runners in the 1,500-meter race in 4:38.86, a three-second improvement.

Strebel, Halle Geller, Madison Philips, Evangeline Wasser, MikaiLing Pantophlet and Anabel Velloso were each All-County and All-League, with Velloso also being All-Academic. Katie Baker, Sydney Beardslee, Aine Byrne, Maya Cirincione, Sophia DePierro, Jamie Kelly, Oona Murphy, McKenzie Schindler, Amanda Shannon; Emily Tully, Mia Valenzuela, Annabelle Wasser and Gabriella Wendel were each All-League.

Max Haynia led the boys indoor track team, qualifying for Nick Indoor Nationals, where he placed second in the championship 5K in 14:49.19. He was also All-State after placing sixth overall, third among public school finishers, in the boys 3,200-meter race in 9:05.16, which was a new Long Island and school record. The senior’s time surpassed Mikey Brannigan’s previous Long Island record of 9:05.5 and is also now a new school record, beating now former teammate’s Gavin Ehlers’s record of 9:05.7 set last year. Haynia’s time was a 19-second improvement from his previous best and a seven-second improvement on his outdoor time. Haynia was also named Suffolk MVP, All-Academic, All-County and All-League.

Trevor Hayes, Ezekiel McCrary and Adrian Caumartin were each All-County and All-League. Nick Simonetta was All-League.

The Westhampton Beach girls basketball team had a very successful regular season in which it finished with a 12-1 Division IV record, 17-3 overall, which earned it the fifth seed in the Suffolk County Class A playoffs. The Hurricanes lost their playoff opener at West Babylon. Sandra Clarke impressed in her first season in Westhampton Beach and it led to being named League MVP, All-County and All-League honors. Kate Sweet was named All-Conference and All-League, Shannon Sweet was named the team’s Unsung Hero and Kylah Avery and Sarah Gormley were named All-League players. Avery and Laurette Schaumloffel were All-Academic.

The Westhampton Beach boys basketball team went 7-13 overall under first-year head coach Connor Davis. Jordan Bennett, Andrew Mensch and Quinn McCormack all earned All-League honors.

Both Bobby Stabile (132 pounds) and Sal Fracapane (160) each placed second at the League V Wrestling Championships to earn bids to the Suffolk County Division I Championships. Fracapane was one win shy of placing at counties.

Max Buchen earned All-State honors with consideration for All-American after he placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the New York State Swimming Championships. He was also a Suffolk County Champion in the event and All-Long Island.

Samantha Schaumloffel was All-County and earned the Section XI Athletic Scholarship in competition cheerleading. Emily Smith was All-Division and Shea Meade was All-Academic.

All Westhampton Beach winter varsity teams earned the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Team Award for having an 90 average or better. The teams held a combined GPA of 93.62 led by the girls basketball team’s 96.97. Girls indoor track (96.2), competition cheer (94.58), boys indoor track (93), boys basketball (90.79) and wrestling (90.18) all followed.

The Hampton Bays boys basketball team had its best season in over a decade when it clinched its first postseason berth since 2011 after going 10-4 in Division IV, 15-5 overall. The Baymen then lost a tough playoff opener, 56-53, at Amityville.

The Baymen were led all season by Kazmin Pensa-Johnson, who was named to the All-State 18th Team by the New York State Sportswriters Association. He was also named to the All-Long Island Second Team, he was All-County and League IV Eastern Division MVP. Pensa-Johnson, who will be continuing his basketball career at SUNY Cortland, averaged 25 points per game, 9.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3 blocks and 2.4 steals.

Isaiah Lattanzio was named All-Conference and All-League and Patrick Donahue earned All-League honors.

Asha Pensa-Johnson earned All-League honors while playing for the Hampton Bays girls basketball team. Eden Brown was named league Rookie of the Year. Mia Camey was named the team’s Unsung Hero and Nicole Lupercio and Sophia Corredor were All-County Academic.

Emma Halsey was a league champion in the 55-meter hurdles for the Baymen girls indoor track team.