Herricks participated in the Valley Stream North Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. The teams included VS North, VS Central, Seaford, Lawrence, Sewanhaka District West, Plainedge, M.L. King-PSAL, Bay Shore, Manhasset, and Oyster Bay. As always, the competition was tough. Herricks had three place winners: Joseph Manfredi 1st at 99 lbs., Joseph Mattei 3rd at 113 lbs., and Captain Daniel Mattei 3rd at 170 lbs.
On the day before, the JV team wrestled in the Valley Stream North JV Tournament. Successful place winners for Herricks included 2nd place finishers: Danny Fetahi at 106 lbs., Marvin Lee at 160 lbs., and Georgios Tsoumparriotis at 182 lbs., 3rd place finishers George Liu at 126 lbs. and Ash Multani at 285 lbs. and 4th place finisher Marco De Lellis at 160 lbs.
On Dec. 19, 2018, the Herricks Highlanders (overall 2-1, conf 0-1) lost a tough conference match to East Meadow, 46-31. Despite the loss, the team won three hard fought battles. Quinn Gilhooly won a major decision at 126 lbs. avenging a loss from the same opponent in the prior year, Kailen McCauley (132) pinned his opponent in his first match of the season after recovering from an injury and Marcus Osieczkowski won at 145 lbs., also avenging a loss from the same opponent in the prior year. Joe Manfredi (99), Daniel Dunn (113), and Ash Multani (285) all won by forfeit.
Daniel Fatahi (106), Joseph Mattei (120), Sal Puliafico (138), Marvin Lee (160), Daniel Mattei (170), Georgios Tsoumparriotis (182), Kelsey Alvarado (195), and Nate Dowd (220) also wrestled well but came up short.
On Dec. 21, 2018, the Herricks Highlanders (overall 3-1, conf 1-1) won a close match 40-39 against a tough South Side/East Rockaway team. Everyone contributed to this impressive conference win.
Nate Dowd (220) came up big with a win by pin at the end of the first period and started the scoring for the Highlanders after being down 27-0. Ash Multani (285) won by forfeit, Joseph Manfredi (99) won by tech fall, Joseph Mattei (113) won by pin, and Quinn Gilhooly (126) won by decision. Clutch wins came from Kailen McCauley (132) and Sal Puliafico (138) who won by major decision. With the team bing down by five points, Marcus Osieczkowski (145) sealed the victory with a first period pin for six team points.
Also wrestling but coming up short were Kumul Arif (106), Aaron Cho (120), Cole LaRock (152), Marvin Lee (160), Chaudhry Ahadullah (170), and Daniel Mattei (182).
On Dec. 29, 2018, the Herricks Highlanders travelled east and wrestled in the Patchogue-Medford Tournament. Teams included powerhouses from Suffolk, Patchogue-Medford, John Glenn, Bay Shore, Miller Place, Smithtown East, and Riverhead. The Herricks Highlanders had a great showing. Joseph Manfredi dominated the 99 lbs. weight class with a tech fall win in the championship match, placing first in the tournament. Joseph Mattei (113) placed second after losing his championship match 6-3 against a tough competitor from Smithtown East. Co-Captain Cole LaRock (152) also placed second after losing his championship match to another tough competitor who came from Bay Shore. Co-Captain Daniel Mattei went 3-1 on the day and placed 3rd at 170 lbs. while Marcus Osieczkowski placed 4th at 132 lbs. Other place winners included Nate Dowd 5th at 220 lbs. and 6th place finishers Kailen McCauley at 126 lbs. and Ash Multani at 285 lbs.
