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South’s Fernandez unmatched again as he wins at MOC

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Feb 26, 2023

Nashua South's Anthony Fernandez wrestles Exeter's Joe Bernard during the final at 182 pounds at Saturday's Meet of Champions wrestling tournament at Bedford High School. Fernandez won, 11-4, to win the title and advance to the New England tournament. (Photo by Joe Marchilena/nh-highschoolsports.com)

Nashua High School South wrestler Anthony Fernandez went through some major changes for the the 2002-03 wrestling season.

But one thing did not change: He’s a state champion.

Fernandez, who worked out and put on enough muscle to move up nearly 50 pounds in weight class, captured the 182 pound title in Saturday’s Meet of Champions at Bedford High School.

In a tough, competitive match, Fernandez decisioned Exeter’s Joe Bernard, 11-4, to cap an unbeaten season. He’ll advance to next weekend’s New England Championships in Providence, R.I.

Nashua South was the top local team, finishing fifth overall in the co-ed division with 98.5 points.Salem was the best overall at 207, while Timberlane was scond at 149.5 and Bedford third (127.5). Londonderry (99) edged South by a half point (98.5). BG was seventh at 84, 10 points behind Keene.

Individually, other state champions from the area on Saturday included Hollis Brookline’s Caden Bruseo, who won a higly competitive 6-4 decision over Bow’s Adler Moura to win the title at 120 pounds.

In the first year of the Girls MOC, there were three local champions. HB’s Austyn Kump took first at 152, as she decisioned Pelham’s Presley Patterson 8-2 in the finals. Merrimack’s Emily Angelo won the 132 pound weight class, edging John Stark’s Kaycie Rhodes 6-5 in the finals. And finally, Souhegan’s Isabelle Brandt won the title at 145, winning on a technical fall over Spaulding’s Sadie Nadeau.

South’s Connor Comeau will join Fernandez in Providence, as he finished second at 220, pinned by Portsmouth’s Charlie Turner at 2:31.

Bishop Guertin will send Charlie Bellavance at 220 to the New Englands. He took third, downing John Stark’s Lukas Boulanger with a pin in 1:25.

Campbell’s Logan Allaire qualified for New Englands as well at 152, fighting his way back and taking third with a pin of Manchester’s Christian Morency in 35 seconds.

Besides South’s qualifiers, they had other wrestlers place. Colby Vancellete was fourth at 285 as was Connor Whitman at 160 and Damien Perez at 145.

Bishop Guertin has several place: Jack Kaler was fourth at 113, and the Cards had three fifths: John Forcier (132), Kaelem Wagner (160), and Zach Connerty (195). Austin Steinruck was sixth at 106.

Souhegan’s Logan Brown was fourth at 132, Milford’s Kyle Lajoie was fifth at 126, Alvirne’s Landon Calazo was fifth at 170, and Gavin Turcotte was sixth for HB at 113.

SEVERAL LOCAL GIRLS DO WELL

In other girls first-ever individual competition, Souhegan’s Maddie Brown took second at 113 and Katherine Voss was third at 152. Merrimack’s Avary Berardinelli was third at 132, while Alvirne’s Morgan Gora was fourth at 113.