Nashua South's Colby Spencer, right, battled North's Michael Mathson earlier this week. Spencer would have been a candidate for a state championship if the usual format was followed this season. (Telegraph photo by Tom King)

It’s a different year season in New Hampshire high school wrestling.

That’s both good and bad. The good? The fact that the sport, with its high contact, is allowed to be offered during the pandemic. The bad? Some individuals this winter won’t be able to compete for division and state championships.

The entire winter season and postseason is made up of dual meets — in other words, team vs. team in a playoff type format seen in other sports — presumably to avoid large congregation of athletes in one building as would be the case with both the divisional meets and Meet of Champions.

Good for safety – and for the team concept – but taking away the weight class format removes the chances for individual championships.

For example, Nashua South’s Colby Spencer would be a legitimate title threat at xxx but now that’s by the boards. The Panthers, with a limited number this year mainly due to COVID-related opt-outs, would be a legitimate state title threat at 132.

“Now the kids don’t have an individual incentive,” Panthers coach Adam Langlois said. “Colby Spencer would have made a good run for a state champion this year. Now unfortunately, he’s not going to get that opportunity. Very difficult, but we’re going to make the best of it.”

But other teams, that don’t have that title threat, may enjoy the post season a little bit more.

“In my eyes, this year is almost kind of fit for us,” North coach Chad Zibolis said. “We’re more of a team that will, well, most of my kids in the lineup will wrestle. We’re built for dual meets.”

So is Timberlane, which will likely clean up in that format, as well as the limited cohort type schedule. The Owls, an annual – and sometimes controversial – power are cleaning up against lesser competition in the dual meets, with overwhelming wins over North and Hollis Brookline (a Division II team) in the last week.

But the coaches won’t complain, as they have a season.

“At the end of the day for me, just the fact we’re wrestling and able to compete is huge,” Hollis Brookline’s Brian Bumpus said. “Wrestling is probably the one sport, it’s difficult for people to understand how we’re going forward with it. Everyone’s done a great job with the safety protocols, everyone’s very understanding and just appreciative to be back on the mat.

“So for me, that dual meet format, I think it’s awesome. It helps us, gives us an opportunity to compete for something at the end of the season. It obviously changes things coaching wise. With an individual format, you look at where guys have bodies, and where the tougher guys are as far as weight goes.

“In a dual meet format, it’s a little bit different. You’re looking for matchups in different ways. It just changes it strategically.”

After a few Division I matchups, HB will be back in its comfort zone facing some fellow Division II teams, including Merrimack this Saturday and then Bishop Guertin next Thursday. (Note, the BG at HB matchup was moved from Wednesday to Thursday).

FAGULA TRIBUTE NOW FEB. 13

The tribute the Nashua High School South girls basketball team had planned for late Nashua coach John Fagula, the architect of the famed Panther dynasty of the 1980s and 1990s, will now be held on Saturday, Feb. 13 when the Panthers take on Nashua North at North’s Titans Gym at 1 p.m.

It was originally scheduled for this Sunday when the North and South girls were set to meet at the Belanger Gym, but South was put back on pause due to virus concerns.

The Panthers are asking former players and coaches affiliated with the Fagula era to fill out a form for a message to be shared that day. The form is at https://forms.gle/CRPCoXsPvsRC5DaV8.

Also, there are T-shirts honoring Fagula as well that the players will be wearing and they are also available to the public as part of a fundraiser. Check the Nashua South Girls Basketball Facebook page and other social media outlets for info.

Fagula passed away due to a variety of health issues this passed August.

TONIGHT’S GAMES

Speaking of basketball, the Nashua South boys will have their first home game tonight, facing Windham, while the North girls will have their home opener as well vs.Alvirne. An interesting game will also be Hollis Brookline at BG at 5 p.m., a division crossover game (Cavs are Division II).

Schedules are all re-arranged after South girls hoop pause, the Pinkerton pause, etc.

NASHUA HALL OF FAMER PASSES

Sad to report the passing of former Nashua High School track standout Richard P. Diggins at age 77.

Diggins lived in Bedford but was a 1962 Nashua grad, nicknamed “The Rocket” when he competed for the Panthers. He was honored as the Nashua Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the Nashua Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.

He has a special place in Nashua history; he got a full four-year track scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, the first Nashua High School student to receive a scholarship for track and field.

TWIN STATE LACROSSE GAME

The Hanover Lions have scheduled Sat., June 19, 2021, as the proposed date of the 2021 “Byrne Cup” Twin State All-Star Lacrosse Games, subject to there being Spring high school lacrosse seasons in New Hampshire and Vermont (there should be in New Hampshire)

, and health conditions at the time being safe enough to hold the event.

The event, which was cancelled last year due to COVID, will return to Hanover High School’s Branch-Merriman turf field. The girls’ game will begin at 12:30 p.m. and the boys at 3 p.m.

The game, similar to the longtime soccer version and other Twin State competitions, is made up of graduating/graduated seniors chosen by each state’s lacrosse coaches association. The rosters will be developed over the coming weeks/months.