Bellport wrestling's Jayden Tyson captures 138-pound title at Rick Herrmann Memorial Tournament
Jayden Tyson of Bellport defeated Alex Spano of Hauppauge at 138 pounds with a 10-3 decision in the finals of the Rick Herrmann Memorial Tournament at Bellport High School on Saturday Dec. 20, 2025. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Bellport has one of the top wrestling teams in Suffolk County with scrappy wrestlers throughout its lineup.
Jayden Tyson fits right in.
The junior transferred from Copiague and has found his footing on a loaded team.
Tyson defeated Hauppauge’s Alex Spano by a 10-3 decision in the 138-pound final of the Rick Herrmann Memorial Tournament Saturday at Bellport.
“It’s definitely been great. They welcomed me with open arms,” Tyson said. “We have a great room, so I’ve been getting good work with everybody. Camryn Howard, Thomas Smith and my other teammates. It’s a pleasure to work with these guys every single day.”
Tyson earned two takedowns in the first period and an escape in the second to take a 7-2 lead into the third. His takedown with 27 seconds left sealed the win.
Tyson placed fourth at 138 pounds in the Suffolk Division I tournament last year. He is ranked second in the county at 144 pounds.
“I feel like when I’m at my best, I’m the best in the county,” Tyson said. “I think I can compete with anybody as long as I’m doing what I have to do.”
Bellport won the team competition with 434.5 points. Syosset placed second with 205.5 points and Hauppauge finished third (204.5).
Smith won a 10-0 major decision over Syosset’s Anthony Silipo for the 126-pound title. Bellport's Kingston John and Jacob Snedeker each secured a first-period pin for the titles at 150 and 285 pounds, respectively.
Howard defeated Northport’s Peyton Hamada, 21-6, by technical fall in 1:11 in the 175-pound final. Howard, who won the 138-pound Division I state title last year, plans to compete at 157 pounds later in the year. He picked up two pins in 1:29 and two technical falls in 2:37 and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
“Just being able to see him wrestle, how he practices, his drive, his work ethic… it just shows me a precedent of what I should be doing,” Tyson said.
Bay Shore freshman Benjamin Marino kicked off the finals with a 25-9 technical fall over Hauppauge’s Jake Messina in 5:58 for the 103-pound title. Marino led 10-0 early in the second period, but Messina earned a takedown and four near-fall points to cut his deficit to 10-7 midway through the period.
Marino picked up a reversal before the period ended and dominated the third period with 13 points.
Marino won the 101-pound title at last year’s Rick Herrmann Memorial Tournament.
“I was definitely feeling excited with this being my second time in this tournament,” Marino said. “I wanted to come back and win it again.”
Marino is ranked fourth in Suffolk in a tough 103-pound class. He’s not afraid of the competition that awaits him later in the season.
“My goal later in the year is to make the state tournament and place in it,” Marino said. “I want to be a county champion this year.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
