The Salem High wrestlers take their first giant step on Saturday in their bid to make it three straight New Hampshire state titles when they host the annual Blue Devil Classic.
Always a rugged event with a loaded field, the tourney kicks off the first real Saturday of wrestling in the region, offering a major test and a strong field.
Salem is, of course, loaded for battle, paced by a pair of two-time all-state champs in Spencer Buscema and Evan Lynch.
Seniors Dominic Murphy and Caleb O’Rourke each have state championship pedigrees on a loaded Blue Devils’ roster that features five other returning state place winners.
As one of them, senior Talen Walton stated this week, Salem is “ready to make a statement with Salem wrestling, not just in the state but in New England.”
Here’s a look at the entire region’s wrestling hopes as the action on the mat his full speed this weekend.
Pinkerton Academy
Reigning Division I state champ Anthony Caruso heads up a deep cast at Pinkerton.
Lance Bordeleau and Landon Mackiernan were both late season standouts, hitting the podium in the postseason.
“We have very high numbers this year and a lot of new athletes and returners who hope to fill in some of the holes left by graduation,” said coach David Rhoads. “Our foundation is very solid, anchored by Bordeleau, Mackiernan and the Carusos (Anthony and James).”
Timberlane Regional
Ben Mann, a returning state champ who will hold down either a spot at 106 or 113, leads the Owls into battle this winter.
Per usual, coach Tim Brown’s Owls will face an aggressive schedule, with guys like Talon Oljey, Cole Seuss and Kyle Lindblad leading the way.
“We have a junior heavy class this year and the entire team is hungry to take the mat,” said Brown, who noted there is power in Division I, not just from the defending champ Salem but from the likes of Pinkerton, Keene and Concord as well.
Windham High
Returning state placers Liam McGrail and Henry Palmer top the bill at Windham, while captain Jack Hoyt, Liam Shambo and Evan Ortolani picked up some serious experience a year ago and should be ready to make a little noise.
“We have a younger team this year, mixed with some strong returners,” said coach Corbin Decker. “They are eager to learn and making improvements day by day.”
Pelham High
Captain Liz Donovan returns as a three-time state champion to pace the Pythons, who feature three other returning state placers in Billy Nicolls, Ben Maslanek and Joel Llibre.
“We lost a lot of wins to graduation but the underclassmen have a lot of experience and we can plug some of those holes,” said coach Bob Riddinger. “We had nine wrestlers make the MOC’s last year of which six will return. There is great energy in the room and we look forward to making a push for the championship title.”
COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE Greater Lawrence Tech
Kaelib Reynolds‘ stirring run to the Division 2 state final last winter was a microcosm of the energy that has engulfed the Reggies program.
“Numbers continue to rise and the prestigious Greater Lawrence wrestling culture seems to be making a comeback,” said coach Juan Nieves. “I’m feeling the energy in the room and where the team is headed. I’m looking for a breakout season that will soon be the norm here at Greater Lawrence.”
An influx of football linemen should help lengthen the lineup at the higher weights.
Speaking of football, senior Dylan Smith (2nd in Division 2 North last year) had a big fall and is ready for another fine campaign on the mat.
Whittier Tech
Six sectional placers are back for the Wildcats, paced by seniors Aiden Fogarty, Luke Massaro and Logan Hauck.
Matheus Binda is back for his junior year at 190, and sophomore Logan Souza should be strong at 106.
“We have a great group of kids willing to work hard to be successful and a solid core of returners with some up-and-coming kids ready to fill in where needed,” said coach Ryan Richards. “As long as we stay healthy, the team should be very competitive.”
MERRIMACK VALLEY CONFERENCE Andover
Still just a junior, Yandel Morales is a three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star and already a two-time all-state champ and New England finalist.
He leads the way for first-year head coach Kelvin Davila, a Golden Warrior alum himself.
Jason Ballou and Anthony Archambault, both New England qualifiers, are a threat to win any tourney they enter.
“Our goal this year as a team is about being consistent and having fun,” said Davila. “We have a very young team but our captains and upperclassmen are great representations of what Andover wrestling is all about. I believe they can lead us to another great season.”
Central Catholic
Captain, Eagle-Tribune All-Star and defending all-state champ Cole Glynn anchors the Raiders, with a lineup that includes state placers Iziah Santiago, Caden Smith, Caden Chase and Brian Waller-Reitano.
North sectional champ Jackson Meehan also returns, along with standout sophomore Rhys Dewar.
“It’s a solid young lineup with lots of promise,” said coach Jamie Durkin, who leads the Raiders in their quest to defend their MVC championship.
Haverhill
Call it the Brent Nicolosi effect, if you’d like. Or maybe just everyone loves a winner.
Haverhill’s all-time win leader may have graduated after leading the Hillies to their first-ever Division 1 state title and a third-place in New England, but his impact lives on with 66 wrestlers crowding the mat in the Hillie program this winter.
“We have the largest turnout of athletes ever,” said coach Tim Lawlor. “It’s packed and they’re working hard and having fun. They’re a great group and I expect a lot of them to have success however they define it.”
There are high-caliber returners, paced by two-time all-state champ Cale Wood Jr.
Mike Morris, Shea Morris and Matt Harrold have all hit the podium at New Englands already and are hungry for more.
Lawrence
If the numbers are big at Haverhill, they are astronomical for first-year head coach Christian Guzman at Lawrence High.
“The freshman class made of 46 kids appear to have some rising stars in the making, and as a whole the team looks poised for a promising season,” said Guzman.
The boys in the room have some catching up to do with the girls as Guzman welcomes back state D-1 champ Katelyn Belanger and all-state champ Hilary MacDonald back to the fold.
Denzel Morales, JeanCarlos Martinez and Dom Armano are returning sectional placers looking for more postseason hardware.
Methuen
Methuen High coach John Sughrue’s crew will be led by the DeMaio boys, Anthony and Vinny – the latter of whom earned Eagle-Tribune All-Star honors last winter.
The Rangers may not be as deep as they have been in recent years, but there is certainly talent in the room.
“This group has extremely high potential and I am excited what they will accomplish this year,” said Sughrue.
North Andover
The Scarlet Knights continue to build numbers, both overall and in the girls ranks with eight on the mat, including state placers Alexia Henriquez Silva and Cydney Rice.
“This is the biggest team we’ve had in about 10 years. It includes 25 freshmen and eight girls,” said coach Larry Coughlin.
“We have great leadership in our upperclassmen who are all great role models. I think we have a few kids who will surprise a lot of people this year.”
Senior big man Frank Gouveia, who was third in a rugged Division 1 North sectional at 285 a year ago, has his eyes on a giant final season for North Andover.