The Londonderry High School Wrestling team began their Winter season with a very tough match-up. They were facing the Salem Blue Devils, at home, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, and the outcome wasn’t great for the Lancers, who placed third in the state last year.
Salem brought nearly 50 wrestlers to the Dual Meet and handed Londonderry their first loss of the season, winning all, but two bouts that evening.
The final outcome of the match was 71-12 in favor of the Blue Devils, who have built up a very impressive team of wresters over the past few seasons.
The meet began at the 215-pound weight-class, where Tyler Pavidis of Salem pinned Noah Pelletier in the first period.
At 106 lbs. Nikki Stylianos (LHS) fell to John Blocksidge in 3:04 minutes.
Salem went on to rattle off seven more pins before Lancer, Jonathan Millis, at 157 lbs., was able to hold off Cameron Monahan in a 20-5 decision that went to SHS.
The LHS team’s only victories came at the end meet.
At 175-pounds, junior David Pento, who finished last season undefeated, pinned Salem’s Henry Griffin at 1:11 in the match.
The final contest of the evening came from senior Patrick O’Connor, at 190 lbs., who pinned Mark Leone at 2:58.
Pento and O’Connor were both first-place finishers in the Division I State Championship last season.
On Friday night, Dec. 8, the team traveled to Massachusetts for the Westford Duals meet.
At that event, the Lancers fell 54-26 against Taunton High School and lost 52-20 against St. Johns Prep.
In the Taunton dual, Londonderry had just four wins:
Dylan Nadeau got a forfeit win at 120 lbs.; Caleb Holden had a pin at 138 lbs.; Manny Perez toughed out a 3-1 decision at 150 lbs.; Jonathan Millis (157 lbs,) finished with a quick pin; and David Pento (175 lbs.) scored a 19-2 technical fall at four-minutes.
Facing St. John’s Prep, Londonderry tallied another four bout wins.
Lancer victories were scored by Jake McClory (126 lbs.) with a Fall at 5:37; Perez (150 lbs.) had a 6-4 decision win; Pento (175 lbs.) got his second technical fall of the evening, scoring 19-2 at four minutes; and Patrick O’Connor (190 lbs) pinned his opponent at 5:19 in the match.