West is the best at 112 in League V

Mark West has already tasted the fruits of championship glory.

Hauppauge's 112-pound sophomore took home the 96-pound state wrestling title as a freshman en route to a perfect 43-0 record.

Sixteen pounds and one year later, West won yesterday's League V title with an 8-2 major decision win over Sayville's Matt Leshinger.

It was a somewhat bumpy ride to the league title, as West needed time to adjust to the 112-pound class. He lost four of his first 23 matches, including one to Leshinger.

But since a 5-0 decision loss to Johnson City High School's Sean McCormick, West has reeled off 20 straight wins to move his season mark to 39-4.

Early-season struggles be darned, West is returning to championship form.

"I jumped up two weight-classes and had some trouble in the beginning getting used to the weight," West said. "It's a relief off my shoulders to know that I can repeat, no matter the weight difference."

Unlike at 96 pounds, West is no longer among the physically strongest at his weight. There are more upperclassmen to contend with, grapplers with years of extra experience. He now finds himself winning matches on technique rather than 96 pounds of somewhat brute force.

"The biggest jump is definitely the strength," West said. "A lot of kids are stronger than me and just getting used to wrestling stronger kids was a struggle."

Added time in the weight-room, coupled with a rigorous tournament schedule against elite competition, has brought West back to the familiar glory of championship wrestling.

"Moving up one weight class is tough. Moving up two is a whole different ballgame," Hauppauge coach Chris Messina said. "But he handled those losses like a true champion and just figures, 'if he loses, he loses.' But he comes back and just figures out what he has to do to get better."