Howard’s fourth title paces Bellport wrestling

Camryn Howard has been on the fast track to success since joining Bellport High School’s varsity wrestling team as a seventh grader four years ago and capturing the Suffolk Division I title at 126 pounds.

And he hasn’t slowed down.

Howard, a sophomore who last season captured his first state championship, earned his fourth consecutive county title on Feb. 15 at Stony Brook University when he defeated Comsewogue’s Nicholas Flaherty by tech fall, 21-6, in under two minutes in the 157-pound final.

“Cam deserves everything he gets,” Bellport coach Chuck Maragioglio said. “His work ethic is second to none and he has tremendous support from his family and teammates. Now we’ll see if he can win states again.”

Howard, who had four tech fall victories in the county tournament and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler, will take a career record of 190-7 to the New York State championships this Friday and Saturday in Albany. He took home the 138-pound crown last winter.

“He has all the tools and is always looking to evolve as a wrestler,” Maragioglio said of Howard, who is two county titles away from becoming just the second Suffolk wrestler ever to win six, with Shoreham-Wading River’s Jesse Jantzen the lone accomplisher.

Howard won’t be the only Bellport representative in Albany. First-year teammate Jayden Tyson, the county runner-up at 138, took second to punch his ticket as well. Tyson, a transfer from Copiague who’s 36-5 for the Clippers, won a thrilling semifinal, 4-3 over William Floyd’s Jack Meyer, avenging an early-season defeat.

“We got a gift with Jayden joining our team,” said Maragioglio, a 1994 Bellport graduate and former wrestler who’s led the program for nearly two decades. “He fit right in with our kids,” he added. “He’s a physical specimen who was fourth in the county last year. Now he’s looking to finish in the top eight at states for All-State.”

The Clippers, who went 17-2 in dual meets and earned at least a share of the league title for an eighth consecutive season, had four others reach the All-County podium (top six in each weight class.)

Senior Jacob Snedeker placed fifth at 285, marking his second straight All-County campaign. He finished 36-5 and totaled more than 100 career victories with three league titles as well. “He had an outstanding career for us,” Maragioglio said.

Senior Jason Michaels (165), junior Thomas Smith (126) and sophomore Ethan Leidig (190) all finished sixth.

Michaels made considerable progress over the years, Maragioglio said, and broke through to get his first All-County award. Michaels racked up 35 wins this season.

Smith also got over the hump at the big stage with his first All-County finish. A three-time league champ, he won 42 of 48 matches.

And it was a “breakout year” for Leidig, the coach noted, with a record of 38-9.