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Cards, Cavs set to tangle again today for Division II title

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Feb 27, 2021

Bishop Guertin's Zach Rioux has control over HB's Teddy Moscatelli during a regular season match early this month. The two teams meet again today for the Division II title at BG. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – They’ve been keeping an eye on each other all winter, through a myriad of dual meets, pauses, and a post season that wraps up today at the Bishop Guertin Colligadome.

With the different format for this season – only dual meets – due to the pandemic and all the scheduling and competitive issues it brings, the BG and Hollis Brookline High School wrestling teams will tangle this morning (11 a.m.) for the Division II title.

Unlike regular season events at Guertin, visiting fans for HB today will be allowed to attend, a limit of two per student athlete.

These are the last two champions, BG defending its title from last year and HB won it in 2019. It’s not the way they’re used to deciding things, certainly, as the title meets are a one-time, all teams deal in a individual tournament/weight class format – but still the likely two best dual meet teams are here.

“Hollis does a heckuva job,” longtime Guertin coach Paul Rousseau said. “The last time we wrestled he had those kids ready. He’s (Cavs coach Brain Bumpus) going to do it again, if they want to knock us off. We respect the hell out of each other. It’s going to be a good match.”

That match was a 44-22 Guertin win, dominated by wins in the middle weights. Guertin’s Ben Stawasz, Will Murphy, Zach Rioux and James Murphy got wins from 145 through 170 that helped the Cards open up a 32-13 lead.

But also in that meet, HB showed some strength with wins by Jack Duquette over Matt Ha at 182 and Troy Moscatelli edging Connor MacDonald at 138.

“A couple of our kids were upset by points, and that wasn’t expected,” Rousseau said. “We need those kids to turn it around, and the guys that are supposed to win, have to win.”

HB coach Brian Bumpus may or may not coach today. He’s been away for family reasons but Cavs athletic director and acting head coach Rhon Rupp says it’s possible that he’ll be there. Meanwhile, Rupp has the pulse of his team.

“The kids understand the importance of the meet,” he said. “They’re in the state finals, and we’re glad about that accomplishment, but that’s not where we want to finish. So the kids, they’re focused, and I think they’re going to be ready to rock and roll.”

Rupp knows that the Cardinals lineup is a tough road to navigate. So pins and major decisions will come in handy because, even in wrestling, it’s all about scoring points – and also preventing them.

“They’re so good at so many weights,” Rhupp said. “So for us, we just have to be sure at the weights where we can win, that we do, and if possible to win with extra points.

“They’re going to have kids that our better than our kids, and our kids need to not get pinned.”

Rhupp said his senior leaders such as Teddy Moscatelli, Seth Ponders, Duquette, Henry Burns and Hunter Hudzik need to set a tone.

“They’re the ones we expect to lead us, and hopefully, if they do what they do, then hopefully the underclassmen will come through.”

Guertin was shorthanded at the lighter weights in the semis win over Merrimack, so it remains to be seen how the strategy and points will unfold.

Either way, dual meet or otherwise, it’s a title meet.

“The kids are still wrestling, we still have a state title,” Rousseau said. “It’s better than being home watching TV.”

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