The defending League VII and Division II County Champion wrestling team has begun practice and is set for what should be another exciting season. After losing a few key seniors, the Phantoms will turn to a solid core, improving young players and a welcome new addition in their quest to defend the small school county title.
Head Coach: Rich Reilly
Home Venue: Bayport-Blue Point High School Gymnasium
Record Last Year: 20-6 Overall, 9-0 League VII (First league title in 10 years)
Top Wrestlers:
- Jeff Purdy (Senior - wrestled at 130)
- Ryan Hake (Sophomore - wrestled at 119)
- Kyle Underwood (Senior - wrestled at 125))
- Brandon Thomas (Senior - first year in BBP from Sachem East)
- Kyle McGovern (Senior - wrestled at 112)
- Jim Alles (Senior - wrestled at 215)
Key Losses: The Phantoms had to say goodbye to two of their top wrestlers in Kasten Carter and Vin Desousa. Desousa had success last season wrestling at 160 while Carter pounded the mat at 171.
New Additions: While the Phantoms will have to deal with some losses, they have two new additions to the team that will help both on and off the mat.
- Brandon Thomas, Senior
"We have some new blood on this team," Reilly said. "Thomas moved into the district from Sachem East and he looks like a real solid talent. He'll be a welcome addition to our lineup."
- Assistant Coach Joe Gallagher
"Coach Gallagher is new to our staff," Reilly said. "He's spent his career coaching in Brentwood. The opportunity for us to have him come on staff was there and it's a breath of fresh air to have someone of his knowledge come into our room and into our program."
Expectations: "We've had a nice combination in terms of seniors and young guys in the lineup to give us some nice continuity," Reilly said. "Some of the younger guys in the lineup have matured and got better and have grown throughout the off season.
"Our expectations, of course are to try to go out there and do it again, but by no means is it going to be easy. We have a pretty solid league in terms of our opponents and counties so we have to come in, do the right stuff and hopefully everything breaks right. It's a little bit of everything."
Key Games:
- vs. Miller Place (12/15)
- vs. Mattituck (1/5)
- @ Port Jeff (1/14)
- vs. Babylon (1/28)
- vs. Center Moriches (2/4)
"Babylon and Center Moriches are both home matches at the end of the season so if everything breaks right, its always fun and exciting to have those kind of matches at the end with a lot on the line," Reilly said. "Last year we had the league title against Port Jeff at home as one of our last matches at home. It builds up hype at home and the kids really get into it."
The Final Word: "You've got to come in here everyday and do the right thing at practice," Reilly said. "You can't take any days off. Luck has to be in your favor too, staying injury free. It's a combination and last year was a year where everything went well for us and guys stayed healthy and did the right thing. For that to happen again that same kind of combination has to be there for us."
