Marines thrive in host tournament

While another dozen points and the team title would’ve been nice, Long Beach wrestling coach Ray Adams said he really couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season.

The Marines crowned five champions, the most of any team, and also had a runner-up in the Battle at the Beach Tournament on Dec. 6. Massapequa topped the 15-school field with 245 points, followed by Long Beach (234), Hewlett (226), and Wantagh (218.5.)

“The competition was pretty tough and I thought we did a great job,” Adams said. “The kids are always fired up to get the season going. We’ve got a young team again, but we’re not lacking in experience.”

Defending New York State champion Jacori Teemer picked up where he left off last season and captured the 106-pound title in the Battle at the Beach. He pinned Wantagh’s Justin Vines in 13 seconds in the finals. On March 1, Teemer became the first-ever eighth-grader from Nassau County to win a state title, doing so at 99 pounds. He had a record of 47-2.

“Jacori is extremely focused and looking to have another big season,” Adams said. “Everyone is out to beat him, but they’ll have their work cut out. Jacori has a lot of skill and trains very hard.”

Matt Maquet, who finished fourth in Nassau at 106 to earn All-County honors last winter, brought home the 113-pound crown in the Battle at the Beach to kick off his sophomore campaign. Maquet held off Wantagh’s Jonathan Loew in the finals, 4-1, and is ranked fourth in the county in the weight class. “Matt has high goals set for himself,” Adams said.

Sophomore Tyrese Byron took one of the most exciting finals in the tournament, topping Mike Choi of East Meadow, 9-7, in overtime, at 145. Adams said Byron made steady progress throughout last season and could be a handful come February’s county tournament. He’s ranked fourth at 138. “Tyrese was one win away from All-County last season,” the coach noted. “He can go further this season.”

At 152, junior Marc Paez appears to be coming into his own. He beat Lynbrook’s Anthony Salamone, 5-2, in the finals of the host tournament, and followed up with a runner-up finish in the Amityville Tourney, won by the Marines, on Dec. 13.

Following a strong season on the football field, sophomore Tyreek Bromley showed no signs of rust on the mat while capturing the 182-pound crown in the Battle at the Beach. Ranked No. 3 in the county, Bromley pinned Hewlett’s Terry Micourt in 44 seconds in the finals, and also won the Amityville event. “He’s a strong, athletic and quick kid,” Adams said.

Freshman Elijah Rodriguez turned in a strong performance out of the gate as well, reaching the 138-pound final and losing a hard-fought 2-0 decision to Hewlett standout Owen Bachelder. 

Sophomore Charlie Spada, who is ranked fourth in the county at 132, placed third in the Battle at the Beach, while sophomore Thomas Rutherig finished runner-up in the Amityville Tournament to Bromley.