The Londonderry High School wrestling squad had eight of its stalwarts test their mettle against the very best competition Granite State high schools have to offer at the state Meet of Champions at Nashua High School South last Saturday, Feb. 24.
The Lancers had had 10 of their grapplers compete in the Division I Meet on their home mats at LHS the previous Saturday, with eight of them advancing to the prestigious MOC’s.
Along with 145-pound weight class winner Craig Santos the 195-pound division runner-up Alex Boucher, the home-standing Lancers had junior Vincent Del Signore, junior Ben Psaledas, and sophomore Michael Watts snare fourth places at 160, 182, and 170 pounds respectively. Sophomore Brandon Drake bagged fifth place at 126 pounds, and freshman Johnny McKinnon and junior Taylor Dyer claimed sixth place finishes at 126 and 220 pounds respectively. Freshmen Aiden O’Loughlin and Dylan Barnes also competed at the D-I event but didn’t advance to the MOC’s.
“We brought 10 and eight are going to the MOC’s,” said LHS coach Jason Cucolo following the D-I competition, at which his Lancers finished sixth as a crew. “Obviously we wanted all 10 to go. It’s never enough unless you get everybody qualified. You set the bar high, because it has to be.”
But things didn’t go as well as planned for the Lancer squad at Saturday’s MOC tourney.
Londonderry Lancer star, and Division I “Outstanding Wrester,” Craig Santos (145 lb.) was taken out of first place contention by Timberlane’s Dylan Musgrave. Santos wound up settling for fourth place with another tough loss to Julien Hovan of Merrimack High.
Alex Boucher (195 lb.) also wound up in fourth place that evening also, losing 7-0 to Clement Sherwood of Hollis Brookline in the medal round.
Boucher was one of the recipients of the annual Referee Scholarship that was awarded at the meet.
Ben Psaledas, (182 lb.) and sophomore Michael Watts (170) both metaled with fifth place finishes.