×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Nashua area athletes aim for championships

By Hector Longo - Staff Writer | Feb 27, 2020

Alvirne’s Kyle Gora is likely the first to admit. He expected a Division I State title in his high school career a lot sooner than the one he picked up last Saturday.

“Definitely the goal to get it freshman year,” said Gora. “There have certainly been obstacles. I just had to work hard to overcome them.”

Multi-time champ Tristan Cabinta of Salem stood in the way freshman year and a knee injury at the Lowell Holiday Tournament, ended his sophomore campaign.

Gora, who made no mistakes a week ago winning with a tech fall in the

finals, was the lone Division I state champion from the region.

He heads up a strong area contingent, fueled by D-II power programs BG, Merrimack and Hollis Brookline, headed for the NHIAA Meet of Champions, coming up Saturday at Nashua South’s Belanger Gym.

The action on multiple mats opens at 9:30 a.m. with the championship finals tentatively slated for around 4:30.

Gora, as expected, has it rolling this year, having recently recorded his 100th high school victory.

He hasn’t lost since taking an injury default at Lowell.

“I’m wrestling really good right now,” said Gora. “I’ve been hitting the practice room hard and training really hard. New Englands and Nationals are both coming up.”

Host Nashua South is hoping for its two state runner-ups one week ago, 113-pounder Colby Spencer, and 285-pounder Kyle O’Connor, can use the home mat and the revenge button to turn the tide and potentially break through for titles this week.

Division II state champion Bishop Guertin, a title that coach Paul Rousseau must have savored 100 or so times this past week, brings a half-dozen state champs into the fray, including unbeaten Zach Rioux at 145 pounds.

Another dominating Cardinal is Andrew Ha, the state champ at 170 pounds. He’s most likely the top threat to make a serious at Alvirne’s Gora.

Merrimack High brings four state champs to the fray, including two-time titlist Anson Dewar at 152 and rugged 220-pound man Griffin Ostrom.

TRACK HEADS SOUTH

Nashua North sophomore Olivia Mazerolle admits that Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, she’ll be 95 percent competitor — per usual — and five percent track fan.

“There’s just crazy competition out there at New Englands, and you can’t help but watch some times,” said Mazerolle, the reigning New Hampshire Division I high jump champ.

Mazerolle, who plays basketball and competes indoors during the winter, is among a handful of area champs and state-placers heading into Boston Saturday for New Englands.

“You definitely learn from going to big meets like this how to keep my head straight during the competition,” said Mazerolle, who has hopes set for a personal best (5-6.5) on Saturday. “It’s tough, keep your head in what you are doing. The great competition pushes you. I like to say I thrive under pressure, I’m a very competitive person.”

She is among the many stars with chances to make some noise.

There are savvy vets like D-I state title doublers Paul Marchand of Nashua South and Rory Curran of Nashua North, ready to carry the honor of their squads.

And there are young guns everywhere like sophomore distance standouts Chloe Trudel of Souhegan and Dantia Braccio of Nashua North.

A pair of junior girls, North’s Tori Conrad, and Milford’s Renee Wilson, might hold the best opportunity for headline-grabbing on Saturday.

Wilson already owns a New England long jump title and looked very fast on the runway in her recent Division II state title win at Dartmouth.

Conrad crushed the shot put competition in Division I and looks to be improving with every throw.

BATTLE ON THE ALLEY

The NHIAA individual state bowling title is up for grabs on Saturday at Sparetime in Manchester.

The defending state champ, Merrimack’s Mike Grover, returns and looks to repeat. He is the top seed with a monster 221.6 average.

Grover will be taking his game on the road unlike a year ago.

And the competition will be stiff.

The top pair of Hollis Brookline Cavaliers Ben Lafontaine and Nic Vahe have the potential to make things difficult, not just for Grover but for any true challengers in the field.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *