Wrestling: Riverhead’s Matyka, Thomas win league titles

Riverhead senior Ed Matyka earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors after winning the 120-pound title at Saturday’s League III Championship at Smithtown East High School. 

In the premier event of the finals, Matyka defeated Newfield’s Kyle Scully 14-8 in a matchup that featured two of the top wrestlers in the county at that weight. Matyka came in ranked third at 120 and Scully was ranked fourth. It was the second straight league title for Matyka.

Matyka was one of two champions for Riverhead as the Blue Waves tallied 118 points to finish fifth as a team. At 106, Kerry Thomas defeated Mike Smith of Smithtown West, 10-3, in the finals to win the league title.

It was the first time since 2011 Riverhead had multiple league champs in one tournament.

The Blue Waves will send six wrestlers into next weekend’s county championship at Hofstra University.

The Blue Waves had two runner-ups Saturday. Cody Weiss lost 10-0 in the 126 finals to Nick Nieves of Newfield. At 220, Justin Hansel was pinned in the first period by Elijah Ross of Copiague.

Two Riverhead wrestlers took fourth: Mitch Hobbs at 152 and Jaiden Blom at 195.

Copiague won the league title with 219 points.