He is just under three months away from his high school graduation, and Nate Blanchette has already made his first hall of fame.
The New England Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Central Catholic’s Blanchette made it three straight New England titles on Saturday, triggering his automatic entry into the Hall and capping an amazing career for the Raiders.
“I didn’t know about (the immediate Hall of Fame induction) until this year. That will be pretty cool,” said Blanchette, who finished his Raider career with over 180 wins and just three losses.
The only thing that might have stopped him from being a four-year New England champ was the pandemic.
There was no tourney his freshman year.
“You never know, maybe I could have,” he said.
Blanchette noted that the physically toughest challenge he faced over his career was the finals match at New Englands back in 2022.
But this year was the hardest on him in a different way.
“Mentally, this was my toughest. You don’t want to be the guy who chokes. There’s a lot of pressure on you (as a two-time defending champ),” he said. “People’s expectations are just so high. If I lose, I’m going to get posted everywhere. Who needs that?”
Fortunately, Blanchette now doesn’t have to worry about that. He has turned the page. A reigning national champ, he’s not sure about defending. It might be time to focus on preparing for college.
“The four years went by a lot faster than you think,” Blanchette said. “There were some hard times for four years, a few tournaments, a few matches that you don’t want to be there. There was a lot of learning, too, a lot of maturing.”
The senior 175-pounder, a Rutgers commit, was one of two area champs on the boys side at the New Englands.
The most decorated and winningest wrestler in school history, Haverhill’s Brent Nicolosi added the only piece to elude him in Brown and Gold, claiming the 165-pound championship.
“Last year, I was wicked close and didn’t get it. That drove me,” said Nicolosi, whose brother Jake was the last Hillie to win a New England title.
“I thought the finals match was going to be a little closer. I beat him last year, it was close though.”
He gathered bonus points in all four victories, with two major decisions, a tech fall and a pin, helping the Hillies to the third-place finish overall as a team.
“There was a good amount of pressure on me,” said Nicolosi. “Winning is a big relief. It caused a lot of stress, but there’s a lot of joy, too.
“I just tried to put the pressure aside. I mean, it doesn’t matter, just go and wrestle.”
Nicolosi is still unsure about where he will wrestle in college. He’s down to two schools but likely won’t make his final decision until after Nationals in April.
Haverhill was the top Massachusetts team in the field, scoring place winners in five different weight classes.
New England notes
All three Methuen High qualifiers hit the podium, led by 157-pounder Vinny DeMaio, who reached the finals, only to be denied the title for the third straight week by Saint John’s Prep’s Jayden D’Ambrosio. …
Andover’s Yandel Morales was the fourth finals qualifier from the region. The sophomore was second at 126 pounds.
“I got third last year. This is one step in the right direction,” said Morales. “I wrestled tough. It hurts a little bit losing, but little mistakes I had in the match. It might have closer. It’s something to build off of for the future.” …
The Merrimack Valley Conference placed six wrestlers in the finals, with Chelmsford heavyweight Thomas Brown winning, and Tewksbury 113-pounder Nicky Desisto falling to Connecticut’s Raekwon Shabazz. …
Pelham senior 144-pounder Michael Harrington did not place, going 2-2, but earned his 100th career win in the process. He’s a three-time divisional state champ and a Meet of Champions winner in New Hampshire. …
Speaking of the Granite State, it was not a great year. Portsmouth’s Elijah Josey was the lone NH wrestler to reach the finals, falling at 190 pounds. The Clippers tied for 31st, the best showing from a team in the state.
New England Championships
Team Scores: 1. Ponaganset (RI) 209; 3. Haverhill 95.5; 9. Methuen 51; 14. Central Catholic 32.5; 27. Andover 22; 41. Timberlane 17; 75. Salem 8; 93. Pelham 6; 93. Windham 6; 133. Pinkerton 2
AREA PLACERS
113: 3. Michael Morris (Hav); 4. Dom Gangi (Meth)
120: 6. CJ Wood (Hav)
126: 2. Yandel Morales (And)
138: 6. Shea Morris (Hav)
157: 2. Vinny DeMaio (Meth)
165: 1. Brent Nicolosi (Hav); 6. Joey Bolduc (Meth)
175: 1. Nate Blanchette (CC)
215: 6. Matt Harrold (Hav)
OTHER AREA COMPETITORS
Andover: Jason Ballou 0-2
Central: Cole Glynn 1-2
Haverhill: Aiden Morris 2-2
Pelham: Michael Harrington 2-2
Pinkerton: Anthony Caruso 0-2; Camden Arbogast 1-2; Evan Landry 0-2
Salem: Brody McDonald 3-2; Caleb O’Rourke 0-2; Dom Murphy 1-2; Spencer Buscema 0-2
Timberlane: Ben Mann 1-2; Jacob Andrade 1-2; Spencer Sierra 2-2; Talon Oljey 2-2
Windham: Dylan Suliveras 0-2; Con Isaac 1-2