Suffolk County Team Of The Week: State Champions Crowned, East Islip Earns All-State Honors

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County student-athletes delivered standout performances on the biggest stages this week, including state wrestling championships, All-State honors, and a continued championship run for Walt Whitman girls basketball.

Bellport Wrestlers Capture State Titles

Three Bellport High School wrestlers delivered dominant performances at the New York State Wrestling Championships, bringing home state titles and All-State recognition.

Sophomore Camryn Howard captured his second state championship, completing a remarkable tournament run without allowing a single point to be scored against him. Howard now holds an extraordinary resume that includes four Suffolk County titles, four All-State honors, a Fargo National championship, and a double Pan American U16 world championship.

Aaliyah Morrow also earned her first state championship, scoring 39 offensive points while holding opponents scoreless. Morrow now holds two county titles and two All-State honors.

Teammate Caitlin Maragioglio earned All-State recognition with a third-place finish at the state tournament. She is a county champion, two-time county finalist, two-time All-State honoree, and Fargo All-American.

All three athletes maintain GPAs above 100 and were honored by the South Country School District during a celebratory parade on March 6 that visited each school in the district.

East Islip Wrestlers Earn All-State Honors

Two East Islip High School seniors capped off a strong season by earning All-State honors at the New York State Wrestling Championships held at MVP Arena in Albany.

Rocco DeStefano (132 lbs.) finished as a state finalist, while Christian Horeis (190 lbs.) placed eighth in the state.

Both athletes will continue their wrestling careers at the collegiate level. DeStefano will attend Bloomsburg University, while Horeis will compete for Long Island University.

“This season was defined by hard work, toughness, and East Islip pride,” coach Mike Longobardi said. “Our entire coaching staff couldn’t be more proud of these young men.”

Walt Whitman Girls Basketball Advances To County Championship

The Walt Whitman girls' varsity basketball team secured a spot in the Section XI Class AAA Suffolk County Championship after defeating Copiague 51-38 in the semifinal round.

Jaz Julien led the Wildcats with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Madi Richter added 17 points. Paige Hiller contributed 10 points, and Hannah Creighton hit a key 3-pointer late in the first quarter to help establish an early lead.

With the victory, the Wildcats improved to 20-1 on the season and advanced to their fourth straight Suffolk County championship appearance.

Whitman will face William Floyd in the Class AAA county championship game on March 6 at 8 p.m. at Stony Brook University.

Don’t See Your Team Highlighted?

Patch is compiling weekly high school sports highlights from districts across Suffolk County. Coaches, athletic directors, and school communications staff are encouraged to send scores, milestones, and postseason updates for future roundups.