There were both things to be proud of and stuff to be frustrated by for coach Jason Cucolo and his Londonderry High School wrestling team in the early segment of their 2017-18 season recently.
Last week, the LHS crew narrowly lost a dual-meet in Nashua despite impressive efforts from a number of sources, and days later they were at home for their own invitational at which they bagged a top-five team finish out of more than a dozen squads.
Despite strong performances from a number of varisty wrestlers, the Lancer wrestling squad got stung rather mightily by forfeits in a 42-39 loss to the Nashua High South Purple Panthers in the Gate City last Wednesday, Dec. 13.
The Lancers won six of the nine bouts in which they had competitors, but they wound up falling by that slim margin to the host Purple Panthers when they had to hand over four forfeits while the Nashuans gave up just one.
Londonderry captains Ben Psaledas, Alex Boucher, and Craig Santos tallied impressive pins, with Santos’ coming over a tough opponent in Purple Panther Tom Cullerton. Pins were also recorded by juniors Taylor Dyer at 285 pounds and Vincent Del Signore at 160, and a decision was notched by freshman Aiden O’Loughlin at the 120-pound level.
O’Loughlin’s fellow ninth graders Johnny McKinnon (132), Dylan Barnes (138), and Eugene Donovan (220) all suffered tough losses at the hands of South upperclassmen.
With that loss tucked behind them, the locals then prepared for their own Londonderry Holiday Tournament which was cancelled due to snow last year but this year brought teams from all over New England to the LHS gym on Saturday Dec.16.
The Andover (Mass.) program made some history for itself by winning its first-ever tournament with a team score of 150. The contingents from Marshwood, Me. (139) and Sanford, Me. (137) were second and third respectively, with the host Lancers fourth (121.5) and the St. Johnsbury, Vt. bunch fifth (118) out of 15 total teams.
LHS senior Santos powered his way to first place in his 145-pound class, Psaledas finished second in his division, thirds were claimed by Del Signore, sophomore Michael Watts at 170, and Boucher, and fourth places were bagged by sophomore Nick Walter at 182 pounds and junior Dyer.
Santos was named the “Outstanding Wrestler” at the tournament.
The Lancers completed the 2017 segment of their New Hampshire schedule this Wednesday, Dec. 20, by hosting Manchester Central after Londonderry Times press time. In the days after Christmas they’ll once again be involved in the huge Lowell (Mass.) Holiday Tournament.