Westhampton Beach - The Westhampton Beach wrestling team isn't asking for respect. They don't need it to succeed - the Hurricanes' track record is evidence of that. For as long as the sport's been in existence, respect has been earned on the mats, yet it's fair for they and others to wonder why, with nearly every starter back from a group that won a school-record 15 dual meets, including triumphs over perennial powers Islip, West Babylon, Mount Sinai and Shoreham-Wading River, and had nine place-winners at leagues and three more at counties, they were mysteriously left off most pre-season rankings.

The beasts of the east aren't complaining; in fact, it's only motivated a group that had no shortage of drive to begin with. It's a mentality that has helped them pile up a 96-41 dual meet record over the last 10 years and only one losing season over the last 14. With a stable of talented and experienced wrestlers, Westhampton is due to have one of the most prolific seasons in the program's rich history, whether the rest of the county and state tip their caps or not.

Senior Scott Carey is one of nine Hurricanes to place at the League VI meet in February.

"Clearly it's what motivates us," Head Coach Paul Bass said. "It motivates us like crazy. It's scary to say it and things have to go right and we have to stay healthy, but this team has the potential to be our best ever."

Among Division I schools in Suffolk, only Westhampton has sent a different wrestler to states in each of the last four years - Pete DeTore, Paul DiLandro, Nick Broccoli and Stephen Kobus. Last winter, DeTore became the first Westhampton wrestler in history to place at counties three times, and he went on to place sixth at 112 pounds at states. DeTore upset the draw's No. 1 seed, previously unbeaten Sean Kempf of MacArthur, and ultimately knocked off Lasalle's Conor Sutton to take sixth among public school participants.

"He's a great role model and has a terrific work ethic," Bass said of DeTore. "He's always trying to improve. He's a real student of the game, and that's just something you don't see these days."

Captaining the team this year, as was the setup last year, is senior Cory Hubbard. At the league meet last spring, Hubbard became the first wrestler in Westhampton history to record 100 victories for his career, and he still had his senior season to go. Hubbard hopes to place at counties and maybe more.

"Cory's one of the best athletes in the school and a winner in everything he does," Bass said. "His leadership last year played a big role in our success and I think he's going to have a monster year."

Westhampton is one of only four D-I schools to have at least two county place-winners in each of the last 10 years, joining juggernauts Longwood, Brentwood and Huntington. Joining DeTore on the podium last winter were Conner Bass (103) and Matt Mazarakis (152), each of whom returns for his junior year looking to improve on their standing. Bass took fourth at his class while Mazarakis placed fifth. Their efforts, as well as their teammates', helped Westhampton finish 13th in the team standings. All of those points return for the 2009-2010 season.

Conner and Zach Bass figure to make some serious noise as they climb up to 125 and 135 pounds, respectively.

That the 'Canes had just one league champ yet finished third behind runaway winner Glenn and Shoreham-Wading River is a testament to the quality up and down the lineup. In the league meet, Brian Kobus took second at 160 and Brian Higgins was third at 140. Also among the top six were Will Dodd (4th, 96 pounds), Zach Bass (4th, 119), Brian Curry (4th, 135), Scott Carey (4th, 145). Hubbard is also a three-time county qualifier and Tim Daly qualified at 96 pounds in 2008. They're all back after having teamed up to win a program record 15 dual meets in 2008-09.

Ryan Vasso is one of several underclassmen who will be counted on to score points throughout the year, particularly at weekend tournaments.

"The kids have a sense of history now," Bass said. "They really do. They know it's going to be a great year on top of what was an awesome year last year."

Their success came within a league that could be argued as the best in all of New York State. League VI, which last year consisted of county champ Glenn, Westhampton, Shoreham-Wading River, Miller Place, Mount Sinai, Amityville, Bayport-Blue Point and Mattituck, scored the most points of any league at counties, and Suffolk County handily won the sectional team title in Albany. Westhampton, four times a league champ under Bass, has been in the league with the eventual Suffolk title winner in six of the last 12 years.

Bass credits his coaching staff not just for their wrestling prowess but for instilling winning qualities as student-athletes and as young men. He's assisted by Bob Emmons, volunteers Scott DeTore and Kevin Turbush, and first-year middle school coach Tom Sheppard, a WHB alum. Down below, Dr. Steve Curtis and Jon Gress guide the middle school squad, while Jeff and Vinny Ciolino, as well as Dave Tansman, lead Westhampton Beach kid wrestling.

"We have people who have the right values and character to develop kids the right way," Bass said. "I like to think that we not only develop a wrestler but also good kids who get the most out of what they have. It's at the varsity level all the way down to the kids program. The kids 'get it' even before they get here."

Westhampton hasn't won the county title and may never win either, but when some of their opponents have four and five times the enrollment, continually competing is no small achievement. The Hurricanes may not have the county's attention yet; however, with a loaded lineup back for more, they're likely to quietly go about their business as the small school that comes up big when the spotlight is brightest.