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There’s no doubt that the Winchester High School wrestling team (6-3) is getting better under the guidance of Head Coach Ryan Errico.
The Red & Black started the year dropping their first three matches, but since then they rattled off six straight wins to end the regular season with a winning record.
The Winchester boys are now in the process of showing the rest of the state just how much talent permeates the program. The postseason got underway last Saturday (Feb. 15) with the Division 1 state sectional meet at Malden High School.
“After a big week of conditioning and drilling, we made a big splash at the Division 1 Central / Metro state sectional tournament,” said Assistant Coach Vitaly Napadow. “We came in second place after leading the rest of the field of 12 teams going into the semifinals.”
The Red & Black ended up being edged out by Middlesex League rival Arlington, 221.5-182. The Spy Ponders also topped the local wrestlers in the season opener way back on Dec. 18, 33-29, again it was only one of three team losses that they experienced this season.
The Top 4 wrestlers in each weight class from the sectionals advanced to this week’s state divisional meet.
Henry Wallace (106) and Kai Napadow Baquero (113) led the way for Winchester with sectional championships last weekend, while Jack Allen (126), Eddie Donlon (132) and Ilyas Malik (165) picked up second place finishes. Yusef Ebeid (190) and Shaun Garrett (215) came in fourth in their respective weight classes to earn the right to join their aforementioned teammates at the state divisional meet.
Andrew Sim (120) and Luca Kovacev (175) will also go as alternates after finishing fifth in the sectionals.
“Having seven wrestlers advance to the state divisional meet, along with two alternates is a huge accomplishment for this year’s team,” said Napadow. “Of course, a big thanks to Ryan (Errico) and his staff for all of their work to get these youngsters to the next round.”
The Division 1 state championships will be held throughout the day on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 21, 22) at North Andover High School. The All-State Meet will then take place the following weekend (Feb. 28, March 1) at Methuen High School for all those who qualify from this weekend’s state divisional meet.
For the record, the final Division 1 Central / Metro state sectional standings are as follows: Arlington (221.5), Winchester (182), Concord-Carlisle (158.5), Brookline (146), Newton South (136), Cambridge (109), Needham (91), Catholic Memorial (88), Newton North (87.5), Waltham (82), Belmont (76.5), Lexington (68) and Malden / Everett co-op (53.5).
