ESPN RISE

ESPN RISE takes a look at the teams to watch this month in this area:

Wrestling -- Wantagh

When the Wantagh school district couldn't get its budget passed earlier this year, it appeared as if athletics would be among the first casualties. That's when players, parents and coaches stepped in. Needing $700,000 to save all sports, they had raised more than $550,000 at press time. "The community's pretty close around here and even though that was a lot of money to raise, the parents went nuts getting it done," Wantagh wrestling coach Jim Murphy says. Now Murphy's squad is one of the chief beneficiaries. A loaded team that went 24-2 last year while placing second at state and producing one individual state champ, the Warriors have a second life and are eager to take advantage. It starts with seniors John Greisheimer and Paul Liguori. Greisheimer won a state title at 145 pounds last year, while Liguori placed third at 125 pounds. Liguori won state titles as a freshman and sophomore and is eager to go out on top. "They are both fanatical about the way they work out," Murphy says. Wantagh also returns four All-Americans: junior Matt Loew and sophomores Joe Kavanagh, Joe Barbato and Tom Hall. That quartet earned All- American status at nationals last spring in Virginia Beach, Va. Senior Quimes DelaCruz, also a cross country star, is another top performer.

Girls' Basketball -- St. John the Baptist

Two years ago, the Cougars won the CHSAA state title. Last year, they won it again and then advanced to their first Federation finals. For 2008-09, SJB is looking to go all the way. For that, it turns to 6-foot-4 post Christine Huber. The Rutgers-bound Huber averaged 17.0 points, 13.7 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game last year while earning All-Long Island honors from Newsday. Her signature performance was a 19- point, 10-board, 10-block effort against Molloy in the CHSAA title game.

Boys' Basketball -- Rice

Last year's Raiders' squad relied on the triple threat of Kemba Walker, Chris Fouch and Durand Scott. But with Walker at UConn and Fouch at Drexel, Scott will have to pick up the slack. The nation's No. 43 senior in the ESPNU 100, Scott has the ability to handle it. But he'll need help, which is where senior forward James Stukes comes in. Both players are ESPN RISE All-Area selections. Along with some promising underclassmen, this duo should be enough to keep Rice at the top.

Girls' Soccer -- Massapequa

The Chiefs entered the season as the No. 1 team in the ESPN RISE FAB 50. Led by BC-bound midfielder Vicky DiMartino, rated the nation's No. 6 senior by ESPN RISE, and Duke-bound defender Kim DeCesare, Massapequa hasn't disappointed. The only thing that slowed the team was DiMartino's national team commitments. But DeCesare can move to the midfield, as she did in a Sept. 17 game against Farmingdale, where she had a goal and an assist in a 5-0 triumph.

BREAK OUT TEAMS

BOYS' BASKETBALL -- XAVERIAN
Senior forward Rasheem King, an ESPN RISE All-Area selection, is one of the city's best.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL -- MARY LOUIS
St. John's-bound senior guard Amanda Burakoski was a Daily News All-City pick last year.

BOYS'TRACK -- GREAT NECK SOUTH
Senior Terrance Livingston won the 600 and 1,000 at Nassau meet before finishing second in 600 at state.

GIRLS'GYMNASTICS -- BETHPAGE/PLAINVIEW
Junior Danielle Sedick, a Newsday All-Long Island choice last year, leads the way.