Wrestling Prepares For Season
This past season, the Exeter wrestling team surpassed its own expectations as well as their of the coaches. Big Red finished with a great deal of wins as well as notable performances in the postseason tournaments.
The team finished off the season with a record of eight wins and three losses, including placing 1st at the Northern New England Invitationals, 1st at the Class As, 2nd out of 51 at New Englands and 17th out of 137 teams at Nationals. Three members of the team, lower Hayden Brown and seniors Joey Rossetti and Quinn Abrams, had particularly outstanding seasons and became All-Americans after placing at Nationals.
Along with other current seniors and Class of 2016 graduates, the three served as powerhouses for the team. “I was definitely happy with our finish at the New England tournament, placing first and being New England Champ. I was hoping to do well at Nationals, and I did that. I became an All-American, but looking ahead I obviously want to move higher up on the podium,” Brown said. “As a team, going into this season, our goal is to do better than last year,” he added, hoping to place in the top ten overall at Nationals and win another New England Championship.
"We all show up, work everyday and give our all. We’re all in it together and that’s what matters.”
In recent years, the wrestling team has been taking on many kids who are newer to the sport with reasonable potential to help the team grow and cultivate talent. The team boasts wrestlers who are nationally acclaimed and are in the best position to help groom upcoming talent. “I was new to the sport last year, and being around guys of this level gives you a weird sense of how good people are. It can be hard to gauge yourself when compared to wrestlers of their caliber, but it motivates you,” lower Cade Napier said.
Senior A.J. Pedro commented on the fact that a good portion of the wrestling team, comprised of the seniors, will be graduating this year. “It’s the last year in Red for a lot of us on the team and this is probably going to be one of the best teams the school will have. I just think we should all just enjoy this season and all the guys newer to the sport should take time to learn and enjoy it too,” he said. Looking to the future beyond the season, the team will be affected by the loss of its senior class, but they are looking to make the most out of this year.
Dave Hudson, the head wrestling coach said that the team has “a very strong senior class,” and while they might be graduating next year, he has full confidence in the potential of the team. “We have high expectations for this year and the goal is for everyone to stay healthy and ready so we can compete at our best.”
For the team, wrestling is a sport where team members share a bond like no other. Going through intense practices and preparations for a grueling six minutes where each person lays down everything on the mats creates a camaraderie like no other. “I don’t think I’m better than anyone here. We all show up, work everyday and give our all. We’re all in it together and that’s what matters,” prep Tyler Morris said.
Big Red wrestling is definitely looking forward to an eventful season, the curtain call for the senior class and an unveiling of hidden talents from the younger wrestlers. With the Battle at the Bay Tournament coming up and the Beast of the East this weekend, the team has a lot to look forward to. This season, all members of the team hope to once again, “Regain the Swamp.”