Wrestling Wraps a Successful Season
Last weekend, eight members of the varsity wrestling team traveled to Tabor Academy to compete in the New England Tournament. Two weeks ago, Exeter kicked off the competition in the new William Boyce Thompson Fieldhouse with a one-point win over Northfield Mount Hermon in the Class A Tournament. The long day ended in another consecutive Class A Tournament championship under the Exeter team’s belt. The New England tournament, however, did not end the way the boys were hoping.
Last year at the New England tournament, Big Red was crowned the New England Champion with a first place finish over 47 teams. This year, the team maintained its high position, but finished fourth overall. The tournament was a qualifying event for Prep Nationals this upcoming weekend. The top six wrestlers from each weight class will wrestle at the national event. Senior and team captain Kevin Lyskawa, lower Tyler Morris, senior Nasir Grissom, prep Christian Petry and upper Henry Lagasse will be representing Exeter at Lehigh University.
Petry explained the team’s response to their fourth place ranking during the New England tournament. “We were pretty satisfied with the tournament results as a team,” Petry said. “A few of us were a little disappointed in where we finished individually, as we thought we would have finished one place higher in some cases, but we were glad to go out there and post a good showing before prep nationals this weekend.”
Upper Michael Indelicarto maintained a positive mindset after the competition, saying, “Some days you win, some days you lose.” Going into the tournament, Exeter acknowledged that it would be tough to beat Belmont Hill, Northfield Mount Hermon and Brunswick schools. Their teams not only brought larger teams to qualify, but were on the higher ends of their weight classes.
Lyskawa led his weight class throughout the tournament and ended the day as the New England Champion at 152 pounds for the second time in his Exeter career. Indelicarto chalked Lyskawa’s win up to hard work and experience. “Kevin is the oldest age you can be to wrestle in the tournament and is big for his weight class, giving him a significant advantage over his competitors,” he said. Indelicarto and prep Thomas Voelker both agree that Lyskawa makes a great captain. “He encourages teammates to work hard during practice and holds team huddles at the end of every practice to give a quick pep talk to encourage team morale and keep spirits high throughout the season,” Voelker added.
Morris hopes for an auspicious turnout at Prep Nationals. “We are keeping our heads straight and just pushing forward,” he said. For the five qualifiers going to the event, the season isn’t over just yet. To prepare for the important tournament, Indelicarto believes the boys need to practice smarter wrestling by honing their skills to prevent mistakes that could cost them a pin or even a match.
“We are just trying to get some little injuries out of the way and get in a good mental state of mind knowing we’re about to go out against the best kids in the country in 3 or 4 days,” he said. “There isn’t much we can do physically this late in the season—we just need to keep working hard and reach a good mental state.”