Nashua North's Matt Oliver works en route to an eventual pin over Londonderry's Nikki Stylianos at 106 pounds to open the season Wednesday night in Nashua. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The spotlight was on. Fans were in the stands.

And the Nashua North High School wrestler Toby Brown was nervous.

This wasn’t like the 2021 season at all.

“Completely different atmosphere,” said Brown, who helped the Titans to a 48-34 season opening win Wednesday night over Lonodnderry. “Last year it felt like every match was like a practice or a scrimmage. It’s not the same.”

But last night felt like the real deal. And the Titans came through, taking advantage of four Lancer forfeits but also getting big wins early and then late. North, with a win by Matt Oliver over the Lancers’ Nikki Stylianos at 106 and then two forfeits grabbed an 18-0 lead but then the Lancers got five straight pins.

“We know we’re pretty good at that 220 spot (where Brown won) and that heavy spot, and we’re also pretty good at the lighter weights,” Titans coach Chad Zibolis said. “Our middle classes were a little new. We had a lot of kids bump up and go heavy tonight, that’s a little bit new. Eventually in the next couple of weeks everyone will get to their weight classes and we’ll get our lineup to where we want it.”

“North always fills the lineup, and they always have a solid team year after year,” Lancers coach Jay Cucolo said. “We had four forfeits, and you’re coming in 24 points down. How do we overcome that? Historically, I’ve been here eight years now, and we’ve never filled the lineup.”

And it cost them. The Lancers got some momentum at 126 as Kaden Stone began that five pin streak (David Pento followed at 132, Evan Madigan at 138, Michael Palma at 145 and Patrick O’Connor at 152) for a 30-18 lead.

But back came the Titans with Kole Ducharme pinning Lancer Jack Minahan at 160, and Finn Mullaly doing the same at 170. Add in a Lancer forfeit at 182 and North was back on top, 36-30.

One of the keys in Zibolis’ mind came next when North’s Bryson Borromeo avoided a pin in losing a 17-5 major decision to Lancer Matt Ritchey at 195, preventing the visitors from getting even more points as North held a 36-34 lead rather than be tied.

“We had some toughness,” Zibolis said. “Borromeo fought all the way to the end there. He did unbelievable. I’d say that was the best match of the night for him to fight through three periods and not get pinned. That was my favorite part of the night.”

That done, Brown wrestled but his match was ruled a forfeit and things were basically clinched. But just for good measure North’s Dylan McIntyre recorded a fist pumping pin over Londonderry’s Jason Senus at 38 seconds of the first period to account for the final 48-34 tally.

There was just a lot of energy, especially when the Titans ran out to the mat under the spotlight to start the warmup.

“It’s nice to get the light back on, get the crowd back here,” Zibolis said. “And the kids are out, excited about it. We’ve got tournaments this year, we didn’t have those last year, and we’re excited about it.”

With that, the spotlight is now shining on a brand new season.