PROVIDENCE – Massachusetts was effectively represented on the 2024 New England Wrestling Championships with 20 wrestlers finalists on the Providence Career and Technical Academy.
But just one can say they’re now a Hall of Famer.
Nate Blanchette from Central Catholic put a stamp on his illustrious profession with a 3-1 choice over Preston Marchessault to seize his third consecutive New England Championship flag. With the trifecta of titles, Blanchette robotically is enshrined within the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame.
This could also be Blanchette’s remaining time on the mat for his profession as he’s headed to Rutgers on scholarship to wrestle on the subsequent stage and will have to skip the Nationals to start out coaching in New Jersey.
In a cat-and-mouse fashion match tied 1-1 into the third, Blanchette took benefit of a shoot by Marchessault that was from too distant and hit an underhook for the two-point takedown inside the ultimate minute of regulation for the victory.
“I realized as we started, he didn’t want to touch me and he was faking a lot and moving side to side and making it hard to take him on straight, but I ended up winning as it’s the little things that matter in wrestling,” mentioned Blanchette. “Three years flew by quick, but it’s been a long run, a long journey, and I remember coming in as a sophomore and being the underdog and honestly to this day that was one of my favorite moments in my career.”
Another three-peat was heavyweight Thomas Brown (Chelmsford) who took house his second straight New England Championship with a 6-0 shutout choice over Alex Bajoras (St. John’s Prep). This was Brown’s third victory in as many weeks over his rival from the Eagles with a 1-0 win at Division 1 States, a 12-3 main choice at All-States and now holds a 6-1 file over Bajoras as they’ve cross paths since grade faculty on the mat.
“This (title) feels better than last year. My dad is the biggest part of my success. If it wasn’t for me pushing me, bringing me to doughboy practices, I wouldn’t have nearly the amount of success I’ve had,” mentioned Brown, who can also be the defending National Champion at 285.
The Shawsheen Tech dynamic duo of Sidney Tidsley and James Tidsley have been within the combine as effectively however the shocking end result was Sidney Tidsley’s loss within the semifinals to Joseph Joyce (Ponaganset, RI) after being the two-time defending New England Champion at 138-pounds.
But his sophomore brother James Tidsley took house his first-ever New England championship with an 8-6 choice over Victor Petkov (Ridgefield, CT) in a come-from-behind victory.
Down 2-0 and feeling the consequences of a abdomen virus, Tidsley battled again within the first minute with a fast break and a takedown that rolled right into a cradle for 3 factors and the decisive transfer of the match. Outside of a locked fingers penalty Tidsley held on the remainder of the way in which.
After grabbing his first All-States title, Brent Nicolosi (Haverhill) continued his story and eventually broke by with a 10-1 main choice over Andrew Reall (Ponaganset, RI) in 165 for his first New England title.
The two-time All-American now fashions a 208-12 file as a senior heading to Nationals the place he positioned third final season.
In whole, 18 wrestlers for the Bay State reached the semifinals with 10 reaching the ultimate platform.
The women additionally competed for the primary time in New Englands and didn’t disappoint additionally with 10 Massachusetts finalists general.
Nora Quitt, who swept the postseason in fashion with pinfalls in each match, ended her highschool profession on a excessive word with a pinfall at 1:31 of the primary over Kan-yah McCarthy (Fairfield Ludlowe) to assist stamp an impressive season for Ashland of their first yr as a woman’s program.
Head coach Adam Quitt felt it was bittersweet however such a thrill to look at his daughter shine on the mat as a head coach and her dad.
“I raised her so it’s certainly emotional as it’s her last high school match. We’ve been working for this for 12 years, 5:30 a.m. every day, seven days a week since she’s been seven years old,” mentioned Quitt, who shared an embrace with boys’ head coach, Pete Zacchilli proper after the win. “It’s awesome to have the boys with the girls here at the New Englands in front of a packed house and for her to go out like that is pretty special.”
Sharon additionally made a press release on the mat with two finalists as Meghan Wiebe outpointed Emma Leonido (Hanover) 4-0 in an all-Massachusetts remaining at 165. Wiebe acknowledged the impression her crew and others are making in women wrestling for the primary time competing at New Englands as a gaggle.
“Girls’ wrestling is just starting out and there is huge potential, and you have to go against all of these guys, working so hard, and then you get to the end of the season, and you get to wrestle girls and it is so exciting,” mentioned Wiebe. “Sharon is a great program because we aren’t treated any differently. They treat you like you are any different and that’s how you build great wrestlers and it’s wonderful.”
Madeline Li (Andover) completed off the first-place medals for Massachusetts within the 114-pound division.
Source: www.bostonherald.com