Led by first-year coach Jason Cucolo, the Londonderry High wrestling team is doing one heck of a convincing impression of a steamroller these days.
Coach Cucolo’s crew did simply masterful work both in dual meets and at a tournament last week, closing out that span by winning the annual Merrimack Hall of Fame tourney last weekend and collecting plenty of hardware.
After throttling Nashua South by a 64-10 tally at LHS last Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 7, the Lancers trounced the illness-racked Pinkerton Academy Astros by an even larger margin (65-4) at Londonderry High that night.
In the hammering of South’s Purple Panthers in the afternoon, coach Cucolo’s host team received pin wins from Jake Barr at 152 pounds, Kyle Byrd in the 160-pound contest, Sebastian Rozczenko at 182 pounds, Kevin Robischeau at 106 pounds, Craig Santos in the 113-pound bout, Tyler Byrd at 120 pounds, Ryan Cabezas in the 132-pound battle, and Jean-Luc Lemieux in the 138-pound contest.
Technical falls were delivered by Richard Bilodeau at 195 pounds and Colin Reardon at 145 pounds.
Missing four of its top grapplers, Pinkerton was absolutely no match for the Lancers in the Ball Family Trophy match between the arch rivals later that day.
Mahdi Achab began the fun for the host team by nabbing a pin of Astro Christian Sullivan with just 17 seconds left in the first period of their 170-pound bout.
Next at 195 pounds, Bilodeau pinned Jacob Weishaar just 44 seconds into their bout, and after Nehemyah Dion took a forfeit at 220 pounds Kevin Robischeau grabbed a last-second, 7-6 win over Derek Wilson.
At 113 pounds, freshman Craig Santos snared a pin of Keygan Nacos with 24 seconds left in the first period, but 120-pound LHS grappler Tyler Byrd lost a major decision to PA standout Shayne McCann.
Ryan Cabezas then claimed a pin of Nathan Barnhart late in the second period of their 126-pound bout, but Drew Chase saw a 9-8 decision get away in the final seconds against his 132-pound opponent Eric Daigle.
The hosts then completed the match with convincing wins from Lemieux (16-0 major decision), Reardon (early second quarter pin) and Barr (early second quarter pin).
The victorious LHS bunch also received a forfeit win from Rozczenko.
And the production simply kept on coming at the Merrimack Hall of Fame event last Saturday, Jan. 10, with the Lancers taking first place as a team with 197 points (Salem was a distant second with 127) and no less than eight LHS grapplers making it all the way to the finals in their respective weight classes. Senior star Lemieux was also named the top wrestler at that event after powering his way to a divisional title.
Weight class crowns were claimed by Robischeau at 106, Santos at 113, Lemieux in the 138-pound division, Kyle Byrd at 160 pounds, and Bilodeau at 195.
Barr, Achab, and Rozczenko were runner-ups in their divisions, and third places were claimed by Tyler Byrd and Cabezas.
Fourth place finishes were registered by Caleb Moscoso at 120 pounds, Chase at 132, and Reardon at 145.
“I was pleased with the overall performance,” said coach Cucolo. “We had a few upsets in the semifinals, and I was pleased with Ryan and Colin’s ability to wrestle back strong and not give up. They both showed a lot of heart with that.
“I was also happy with the fight and heart the whole team showed, and how we continue to get better each day.”
Regarding senior stalwart Lemieux’s wrestler of the meet status, coach Cucolo stated, “I was very pleased. He has been working hard and seems to have refocused himself and was very dominating.”