WAKEFIELD – Tewksbury wanted a powerful end within the finals to have any hopes of taking the staff state title in Division 3 wrestling after simply lacking out in 2022 and 2023 as state championship runners-up to Melrose.
Strong end is perhaps an understatement because the third time round proved to be the attraction.
The Redmen despatched 11 wrestlers to the state event, with eight grapplers choosing up factors en path to the staff capturing the Division 3 state championship at Wakefield High School for the primary time and second state title general with a Division 2 win in 1989.
The Redmen posted a rating of 151.5 and secured issues shortly.
Tewksbury swept the primary three state remaining bouts as Jack Lightfoot (106), Nick Desisto (113) and Benjamin Barrasso (120) took house particular person titles to place the staff title on ice earlier than the finals even obtained scorching.
Desisto, solely a sophomore, can now declare back-to-back state titles as he additionally gained in within the 106-pound division in 2023 as a freshman. He’s in rarefied air as solely certainly one of two first-year college students to seize a state title in Tewksbury historical past.
The state title win this 12 months coincides together with his one centesimal victory.
“Last two years we lost by like one point every time but this year we placed a lot more kids to wrestle. Now I’m going for an All-State title and try to place in New Englands,” mentioned Desisto, a three-time North Sectional champion as he began his path in eighth grade. “Back-to-back-to-back wins for us was special, I don’t think that has ever happened before.”
Barrasso sealed the staff victory in type with a 7-5 pin to ship the Redmen devoted right into a frenzy.
Hunter Johnson (157) picked up a 3rd place, Manuel Mengata took fourth within the 215-pound division, and Cameron Heichman (144), Sean Callahan (132), and Angelo Desisto (126) all picked up factors to showcase the depth for Tewksbury head coach Steve Kasprzak.
“Certainly depth but also experience as we’ve been here three years in a row and had that bitter taste in our mouths before and we just had a bunch of kids that wanted to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” mentioned Kasprzak, a wrestler again in 2003 for the Redmen. “They bought in and the reason we have success is because they push each other in the practice room. Jack, Benny and Nicky have been best friends since they’ve been five years old running around together. They go at each other every day, so there is no secret why those three have their success.”
Anthony Mann (Hanover) captured the trifecta of state titles with a 6-0 resolution over Miguel Borges (Marlboro). Mann competed in 138 as a sophomore, 145 as a junior, and completed the state title trophy shelf with a victory within the 150-pound division to turn out to be the primary wrestler in Hawks historical past with three consecutive particular person state titles.
Ashland was state runners-up with 124 factors, host Wakefield took third place with 120 factors, together with Gloucester (108.5) and Foxboro (77.5).
Speaking of Ashland, the Clockers shocked the sphere to win the women state championship of their first season as a program with 61 factors wins from Angie Nommi (145) and Nora Quitt at 138, and three third-place finishers.
South Shore (42) was the state runner-up. Bristol-Plymouth (40) and Franklin Country (40) tied for third. Ludlow took fifth with 34, with Samantha Bertini taking first place within the 100-pound division.
Quitt got here in because the top-seed and didn’t waste a lot time capturing the title with a 2-0 pin within the first spherical over teammate Carly Larson, who was third. Quitt gained an All-State title final season at 136 as she continues to pile up dominant victories for Ashland.
Nommi picked up pins over Elana Thomas (Carver) and Makayla Patrick (Pathfinder) on the best way to her state title win.
Head coach Adam Quitt has been with Pete Zacchilli’s Ashland program as an assistant and now heads the women program whereas watching his daughter Nora and her youthful sister Raina compete on the mat for the primary time collectively.
“We are a close program, we are really tight, and we do everything together. Without coach Zacchilli, we wouldn’t even have a girls program,” mentioned Quitt. “He did everything for me, the organization and we all do it together as a team, but this is an honor and what a great bunch of girls. We started three months ago and it’s great to see them come together and bring it home.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com