Wrestling Dominates Class A Tournament
Boys’ Varsity Wrestling placed second out of ten schools last Saturday at the Class A tournament, hosted by Phillips Andover. Four Big Red wrestlers—lower Christian Petry, upper Tyler Morris, senior Tabor Wanag and senior Henry Lagasse—came out on top in the 106, 126, 182 and 195 weight groups, respectively.
The matches were intense, as the stakes were higher and more schools were competing. Petry commended his teammates for “wrestling tough” and contributing to Exeter’s second-place win. “Even when our kids lost in the early rounds, they battled all the way back to take 3rd or 4th. These kids that still fight and win team points in the consolation bracket are just as important as kids getting to the finals and taking first or second,” he said.
“Personally, I helped my team win by taking first and getting bonus points along the way… from pins. I only wrestled for 1 minute and 29 seconds total, minimizing my risk of injury for future weeks and taking home a plaque in the process,” Petry said.
Morris explained the offensive strategy that helped him beat Noah Burstein of Northfield Mount Hermon for first place in his weight group. “I like to stay on the attack. If I’m pressuring my opponent to play into my game plan, then I feel very comfortable,” he said.
Upper Ethan Rosenthal lauded Morris for his hard-earned victory, recalling that “[Morris] tied it up in the third period and won it in overtime. It was sick.”
Other memorable matches included Petry’s win over Andover wrestler Arnav Bhakta. “Personally, I helped my team win by taking first and getting bonus points along the way… from pins. I only wrestled for 1 minute and 29 seconds total, minimizing my risk of injury for future weeks and taking home a plaque in the process,” Petry said.
The tournament was not entirely smooth-sailing, as a few players were down with Norovirus and unable to compete. “We didn’t have a competitor in every weight class. So from the very start we didn’t maximize our ability to get the most points possible,” Rosenthal said.
Nevertheless, these setbacks evidently did not stop Big Red from rising above its competitors. The team’s success served as another testament to the incredible season Big Red wrestlers have had this year and the hours of work they put in at practice.
Aside from strong competition, the tournament also offered wrestlers a chance to connect with opponents, old and new, off the mat. “The heavyweights from all the other schools like to hangout and talk, so it was a very friendly environment,” Rosenthal said.
Petry agreed, saying “the tournament had a bit more of a laid back atmosphere this year than last year.”
Exeter will be traveling to New Englands at Green Farms Academy this weekend and also expects a few wrestlers to compete next week at Prep Nationals, hosted by Lehigh University. Big Red Wrestling has a lot to look forward to before Spring Break.