The Londonderry High School wrestling team has gotten off to an absolutely exceptional start to the 2014-15 season for new coach Jason Cucolo. And it kept right on rolling in a positive direction last week.
The Lancer crew claimed a lopsided win over Exeter late in the week and then followed up that fine bit of work by winning its first Londonderry Holiday Wrestling Tournament – an annual event which it took over hosting from Bow High School this year – over the weekend.
The Lancers powered their way past the visiting Exeter High Blue Hawks in a 58-16 blowout at LHS last Thursday, Dec. 18.
Londonderry victories were bagged by Jake Barr at 152 pounds (6-2 decision), Kyle Byrd in the 160-pound bout (on a fall just 25 seconds in), Mahdi Achab at 170 pounds (12-4 major decision), Sebastian Rozczenko in the 182-pound contest (6-3 decision), Richard Bilodeau at 195 pounds (fall, 1:48), Kevin Robischeau in the 106 bout (forfeit), Craig Santos at 113 pounds (fall, 1:14), Tyler Byrd in the 120-pound action (fall, 1:13), Ryan Cabezas at 126 pounds (fall, 34 seconds), Andrew Chase in the 132 bout (fall, 3:15), and Jean-Luc Lemieux in the 138-pound match (fall, 1:59).
And in the 2014 Londonderry Holiday Wrestling Tournament last Saturday, Dec. 20, the locals bested the other 12 competing teams in attendance by having five wrestlers win their weight classes, three finish second, three claim thirds, and one finish fourth.
The Lancers’ weight class champions were Lemieux at 138 pounds, Barr at 152, Kyle Byrd at 160, Roszczensko in the 182 division, and Bilodeau in the 195 class.
Second places were claimed by Robischeau at 106, Santos in the 113 division, and Cabezas at 126 pounds. Thirds came from Tyler LeBlanc at 106 pounds, Tyler Byrd at 120 pounds, and Colin Reardon in the 152 division. The lone fourth place was collected by Mahdi Achab at 170 pounds.