After not having a wrestling season two years ago due to COVID-19, and last winter largely deterred by low numbers and the cancellation of the majority of tournaments, local high school coaches feel the 2022-23 wrestling season is a welcomed return to normalcy.
Programs are able to travel around and compete in tournaments throughout the state, and numbers are back up across the board, leading to optimism that the sport can grow again.
“We’re back to what it used to be which is good,” Franklin Tech coach Mike Aiken said. “Numbers are back and kids are excited to be wrestling.”
Athol, Franklin Tech, Frontier and Mahar will compete along with Granby in the Suburban League North while Mohawk Trail is in the Tri-County League with Gateway, Pathfinder, Smith Vocational and Duggan.
Aiken and the Eagles are tasked with trying to replace Josh Brunelle, who won over 100 matches and captured a Western Mass. Div. 3 sectional tournament title a season ago.
Brody Williams returns as the most experienced wrestler in the Tech lineup, slotting in at 220 pounds. Aiken is expecting him to step up as a leader and be a sectional placer this winter. Zaydrien Alamed is a sophomore who has impressed at 126 and looked good at the opening-season tournament in Athol.
Dylan Gagne has wrestled well at 132, Josh Lynde is working hard and will be competitive at 285, Kamryn Laster is a sophomore Aiken said is looking forward to getting back on the mat while Jacob Martin is another experienced wrestler stepping into a leadership role with the Eagles.
The rest of the Tech roster is comprised of wrestlers new to the sport, and Aiken is focused on teaching the correct form to prepare them for when they get on the mat during meets.
“It’s different for sure,” Aiken said. “You go back to the fundamentals of just wrestling and positioning. We’re in the process of incorporating all the new info into practice. We’re really focusing on the fundamentals. They’re all doing a great job of using the techniques and figuring it out as they go.”
Mahar coach John Speek thinks he had his best team four seasons ago in 2019, but this year’s group could challenge that team.
Abduli Gilmore took second at the Central Mass. Div. 3 tournament a season ago at 106 pounds while Domanic Cacciolfi earned third at 138. Both are expected to once again compete for sectional titles this winter.
Sayyid Roberts (132) placed fifth while Elias Roberts (113), Xander Roberts (152) and Luke Chiodo (160) each took sixth at sectionals, and with all returning, Speek likes the look of his squad early on.
“We have four great seniors returning,” Speek said. “I’ve been saying we had our best team ever four seasons ago but this team had more sectional placers returning than that team did. If all that we do is get these guys to move up and be more competitive, we’ll be right in line with that great team. We want to be a legit D3 state competitor and be competitive at D3 state duals as well.”
Frontier has numerous returners who competed at sectionals last year and are hoping to build on that success this winter.
Payton Sladeski won the Western Mass. sectional title at 120 and will be a tough part of the lineup to replace for Redhawks coach Brian Bagdon. Returning is Jake Mattson, who took second at 195 in the Western Mass. Div. 3 sectional a season ago and is someone Bagdon will rely on this season.
Wyatt Finch (third, 106), Ian Paciorek (fourth, 113) and Miles Keefe (fifth, 152) all placed at sectionals and will be looking to improve their placing in the postseason this year while Conner Hoffman and Javion Cabrera are two other wrestlers Bagdon has high hopes for.
“We have about six people who should place at sectionals,” Bagdon said. “Depending on where they finish, they could earn some medals. Hopefully we can get down to Northampton and drill with them a couple times. Once we get everyone on board, we’ll look pretty good. We’re getting our baselines and trying to improve.”
Athol’s Nate Torres took second in the Central Mass. Div. 3 sectional last year and will be in the mix again this season. The junior is off to a great start this winter, winning the Anthony Lisitano Memorial on Saturday in Wakefield.
Aiden Kirwan, Ryan Romero da silveira and Alexander Masaitis also picked up wins in Wakefield, hoping to keep that success rolling into the dual meet portion of the season.
Riley Reed, Shea Brennan, Dylan Nelson, Aiden Cowen and Doug Monte are just a few of the other wrestlers Bears coach Fred Marks is looking forward to seeing on the mat this season.
“If everything comes together I think we could take the [league title] this year,” Marks said. “As long as we remain injury free, I feel confident my guys can grab some wins.”
Mohawk Trail returns a sectional champ and runner up to its lineup this winter.
Will van Vleet won the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship at 220 while Logan Moore took second at 138. Both will serve as captains for the Warriors this season.
Eighth grader Izaya Romer is the only other returning wrestler, as the rest of the Mohawk Trail lineup is made up of first year middle schoolers. Mohawk Trail coach Mark Biagini has liked what he’s seen out of those newcomers, who are taking to the sport well.
“The new kids are picking it up quick,” Biagini said. “We want to get all the middle school kids up and running to the high school level so we can fill out each weight class and have competitive matches in our league. Thinking down the road to Western Mass., we hope Will and Logan can get back to the finals and Izaya can medal. We want to send at least two to states.”