Justin LoTurco: Huntington primed for county golf tournament
The 2014 fall season has marked the latest chapter of Huntington boys golf's recent dominant run.
For the story to have the ending the Blue Devils are hoping for though, they will have to wait until the spring.
Winners of 32 straight league matches, coach Mike Marinello's squad will be looking to win a third-straight league title this season, before turning its attention to the county tournament in May. The county tournament is not held until then because two leagues compete during the spring season.
"We're looking forward to competing for both the league title and for the county," Marinello said of his team that is off to a 7-0 start, after coming in fifth at the county tournament in 2012 and third last season.
Senior captain Justin LoTurco said the key to taking the next step will be bringing the same intensity from the spring into the regular season right now. "We definitely have to continue to play each game like it's counties [and] get in the mood of the extreme competitiveness and the pressure."
Continued strong play from LoTurco and junior Jim Smoot will be critical, as well.
Smoot tied for second place at the county tournament last season and was named the Metropolitan PGA's Long Island Player of the Year for the 15-18 age group.
"He has an all-around great game," Marinello said, praising his "incredible short game" in particular. "He has a lot of birdies on his card. He's just an incredibly hard worker."
On LoTurco, Marinello said his captain is "a very well rounded player, a great course manager, [and] an incredible team leader."
Seniors Tom Waldron and Chris Bergman, who finished first and second respectively at last October's League III Tournament, and freshman Tyler Gerbavsits add depth to the squad.
"We have a great group of guys," Smoot said, adding their goal is "to go undefeated again and play the same way we've played for the last two seasons."
LoTurco, on behalf of his fellow seniors, echoes the sentiment: "We definitely want to go out with a win."
