High school wrestling: Nashua area teams maintaining momentum
Wrestling in the region rose up last spring, with both Nashua South and Nashua North making noise in Division I, Hollis Brookline and Bishop Guertin finishing 1-2 in Division II and Campbell turning in a commendable Division III runner-up effort.
Now we see if the region can sustain and again prosper.
“I will not be surprised to see Nashua South have the most wrestlers represented in the Division I finals since the split,” said coach Adam Langlois.
The Panthers return four state placers including runner-up Colby Spencer and seniors Kyle Salemi, Connor Goodwin and Nate ZalZal.
Nashua North hopes that there is strength in its numbers with a whopping 42 wrestlers in the Titans’ room.
Alvirne has its heart and soul back in 170-pounder Kyle Gora, who missed the postseason last year with a knee injury.
Gora has been rolling athletically, placing at junior nationals last spring and then leading the Broncos to another big football season.
In Division II, Hollis Brookline nipped Bishop Guertin for the state championship last winter.
“We have several holes to fill, as we graduated seven seniors last year,” said Cavaliers coach Brian Bumpus.
“We have a lot to prove, but have worked hard during the off-season. The potential is there, but we need to produce when it counts.”
Guertin, with 28 wrestlers and a whopping 10 state placers returning, should again be considered the team to beat.
Defending state champ Zach Rioux is back for his junior campaign at 145 pounds the Cardinals, who placed in all 14 weight classes at the state meet a year ago.
A pair of reigning state Division II champs, Anson Dewar and Griffin Ostrum, are back to anchor the Merrimack squad.
“We will be leaner numbers-wise than past years, but looking to be competitive with returning many wrestlers with varsity experience,” said
coach Bryan Dine. “We’re looking to put together a successful season for our team and individual athletes.”
“All of our returning juniors and seniors have varsity experience and are state qualifiers. We’re looking to have those wrestlers go deeper at the Meet of Champions this year and make it on the podium.”
Heavyweight Eric Griffin won Division II two years ago and is a three-time state qualifier.
Senior Adam Presa, who missed the postseason a year ago due to injury, is back in the middle weights and looking to make up for lost time.
Souhegan only has seven men on the mat, but Victor Ceballos placed sixth in the Meet of Champions with high expectations. Aidan Wilson and Shea Patterson are seasoned vets with plenty of postseason experience.
Milford High has top end talent for first-year coach Joe Faucher, and the Spartans will need to plug holes around them.
Campbell, in Division III, features a blue-chipper in Brett McInerney but looks to be rebuilding around the Cougars’ captain.
Division I
Alvirne
Coach: Mike Gregory
Competitors: 18
Returning State Placers: Kyle Gora, 170; Kyle Clark, 126; Nick Maniatakis, 160
Returning Letter Winners: Tim Barrett, 145; Ayden Spencer, 138; Jackson McGovern, 120; Alex Linke, 220
Promising Newcomers: Evan Noone, Jordan Kyle, Cristian Ferron, Jacob Kulick
Coach’s Comments: “I think we have a good chance at seeing 3-4 guys make it to the podium (at states) this year. They are hard workers and very talented and hungry to learn the sport and be dominant in their weight classes.”
Nashua North
Coach: Chad Zibolis
Competitors: 42
Returning State Placers: Andrew Tate, Sr., 138; Mickey Mathson, Jr., 120
Returning Letter Winners: Matt Oliver, Soph., 113; Juliana Russo, Sr., 132; Andrew Frye, Soph., 132; Brian Nwangi, Jr., 145; Trenten Gerlowski, Soph., 152; Aaron Roche, Jr. 160; Dominick Gentry, Sr., 170; Spencer Whiting, Jr., 182; Tyler Griffin, Sr., 195; Dylan McIntyre, Soph., 220; Max Ackerman, Jr., 285
Promising Newcomers: Dimitri Moreno, Frosh., 145; Finn Mullaly, Frosh., 160; Ruben DeJesus, Sr., 182; Anthony Sexton, Sr., 170; Zaedon Crocker, Jr., 170
Coach’s Comments: “The majority of our kids now have at least one year of experience under their belts. They are a hardworking and motivated group that expects to compete every time they take the mat. The coaching staff is excited to see the program continue to grow.”
Nashua South
Coaches: Adam Langlois, Matt Ditolla
Competitors: 31
Returning State Placers: Colby Spencer, Jr., 113/120; Kyle Salemi, Sr., 120/126; Connor Goodwin, Sr., 160/170; Nate ZalZal, Sr., 220
Returning Letter Winners: Jimmy Brown, Soph., 195/220; Luis Dejesus, Soph., 126/132; Parker Fleury, Soph., 132/138; Drew Fleury, Jr., 132/138; Zack Gauthier, Sr., 145/152; Robert Isaac, Jr., 182/195; Alexis Laro, Soph., 120/126; Kyle O’Connor, Sr., 285; Devon Rouleau, Soph., 126/132; Ryan Salemi, Soph., 106/113; Kyle Vancelette, Soph., 132/138; Chris Vo, Sr., 195/220; Aidan Walsh, Jr., 126
Promising Newcomers: Ruben Le, Frosh., 120/126; Clifford Teixeira, Frosh., 113/120; Damien Perez, Frosh., 132/138
Coach’s Comments: “The losd of D1 finalist Tom Cullerton and cancer beater Nathaneal Tejeda will be tough to fill. But the addition of 10 freshmen and a dedicated offseason by the leaders, South poses to be a force in the state. Goals are always the same but this year it seems to be different. Each kid is a leader in their own right and have put in the work to make sure all goals are achieved.”
Division II
Bishop Guertin
Coach: Paul Rousseau
Competitors: 28
Returning State Placers: Liam Chapman, Soph., 113; Calvin Jozokos, Jr., 126; Steve Bouchard, Sr., 132; Zach Rioux, Jr., 145; James Murphy, Soph., 152; Matt Frechette, Sr., 160; Andrew Ha, Sr., 170; Matt Ha, Soph., 180; Aiden Szewczyk, Jr., 220; Nick Connerty, Sr., 285
Returning Letter Winners: Randy Brown, Jr., 120; Josh D’Addario, Jr., 126; Connor MacDonald, Soph., 126; Ben Stawasz, Jr., 126; Jesse Brochu, Jr., 138; Josef Homola, Sr., 160; Richard Ronzio, Soph., 195; Matt Burns, Sr., 220
Promising Newcomers: Anthony Fernandez, Frosh., 106; Kaelem Wagner, Frosh., 126; Kyle Graser, Frosh., 160; Sawyer Mercier, Frosh., 170; Andrew Peicker, Frosh., 170; Sam Sirois, Jr., 170; Charlie Joseph Bellavance, Frosh., 195; Zach Connerty, Frosh., 195
Coach’s Comments: “We have a very good group of returning wrestlers. They work very hard at practice and do a great job working with the new kids. If we can stay healthy we should be very competitive this year. I feel all the kids who placed last year in D-II should do the same this year.”
Hollis Brookline
Coach: Brian Bumpus
Competitors: 28
Returning State Placers: Seth Ponders, Jr., 113; Troy Moscatelli, Soph., 120/126; Colin McGarry, Soph., 120/126; RJ McAdams, Soph., 138/145; Teddy Moscatelli, Jr., 145/152; Hunter Hudzik, Jr., 152/160
Returning Letter Winners: Same as above
Promising Newcomers: Jack Duval, Jr., 126/132; Jake Sacks, Sr., 160/170; Jack Duquette, Jr., 152/160
Coach’s Comments: “We will be looking for our younger wrestlers to step into those holes and adapt to the Varsity level quickly. Our success as a team will depend on how well those younger wrestlers adjust.”
Merrimack
Coach: Bryan Dine
Competitors: 30
Returning State Placers: Anson Dewar, Jr., 135; Griffin Ostrum, Sr., 195
Returning Letter Winners: Eric Griffin, Sr., 285; Adam Presa, Sr., 152/160; Evan Torres, Soph., 106; Griffin Livingstone-Crooker, Jr., 113; Joey Leblanc, Jr., 126; Sid Dhanarag, Sr., 170; Gavin Mangum, Sr., 182; Zach Cusson, Soph., 138; Colin Jones, Jr., 152; Anthony Maglio, Jr., 106
Promising Newcomers: AJ Lesmerises, Frosh., 145
Coach’s Comments: “We will be leaner numbers-wise than past years, but looking to be competitive with returning many wrestlers with varsity experience. With new and old faces returning with both the wrestlers and the staff, we are looking to put together a successful season for our team and individual athletes.
Milford
Coach: Joe Faucher
Competitors: 15
Returning State Placers: Deacon Currier, Sr.; Daniel DeBernardo, Soph.; Brien Faucher, Jr.; Greg Gagnon, Soph.; Rory O’Connor, Jr.; Rudy Schnare, Sr.
Returning Letter Winners: Ethan O’Connor, Soph.
Promising Newcomers: Cam Cestarich, Sr.; Gage Cass, Jr.; Mason Dorsey, Jr.; Jordan Post, Jr.; Ben Kilgore, Soph.; Nick Pearl, Soph.; Matthew Ebert, Frosh.; John Ledford, Frosh.
Souhegan
Coaches: Alex Pittera, Garrett Trombi
Competitors: 7
Returning State Placers: Victor Ceballos, Sr., 138
Returning Letter Winners: Shea Patterson, Jr., 126; Aidan Wilson, Jr., 170; Connor Reardon, Jr., 152
Promising Newcomers: John Casey, Jr., 145; Jacob Perron, Sr., 160; Kenny Roundtree, Jr., 285
Coach’s Comments: “We have a small team with a mix of experienced wrestlers that we expect can go deep into every tournament we wrestle and a few inexperienced wrestlers that are very good athletes. It will be fun to watch their progress as the season unfolds and see if they can surprise a few people by the end of the year.”
Campbell
Coach: Jim Marron
Returning State Placers: Brett McInerney, Sr., 182/195; Justin Gandia, Jr., 120
Promising Newcomers: Devin Dube, Jr., 225; Chris Corbett, Frosh., 145/152; Elizabeth Goodwin, Frosh, 132; Connor Rakiey, Soph., 126
Coach’s Comments: “Brett McInerney has a renewed focus, as a senior captain. He has established goals that we feel he can attain. Justin Gandia has his sights set on a state title.”