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After a long season of scheduled league matches and independent tournaments, a select group of teams and individuals, who made it through the grind, descended upon Springfield’s Mass Mutual Center on March 1 and 2 to participate in the annual All-State Meet.
They all worked hard to qualify for this penultimate event on the high school wrestling calendar that pits the best against the best in each weight class to see who comes out on top as a state champion.
The Top 7 in each weight class will then keep on practicing to get ready for the March 7 All-New England Regional Meet in Providence.
“We had a great weekend in Springfield, which featured some of the toughest competition that we have seen this year,” said Assistant Coach Vitaly Napadow.
The Red & Black brought three to the All-States, and placed two – Kai Napadow Baquero and Eddie Donlan – that also includes them qualifying for the regionals.
The All-States consist of the top five high school grapplers in each weight class from the state’s three divisions that was determined at the divisional meet the previous week.
On his way to the finals, Napadow Baquero, at 120-pounds, defeated the Division 2 and Division 3 state champions in the quarterfinals and semifinals. But in the finals, he lost to the Division 1 state champ, while also making history to become the first WHS wrestler since Travis Tremblay in 2004 to reach the final round. In order to get there, he had to upset the Division 2 champ from Melrose in the quarterfinals after losing to him several times throughout his scholastic career.
Former legendary Winchester and current Melrose coach Larry Tremblay, the winningest wrestling coach in New England, is Travis’ dad, and ironically Kai accomplished the feat with Larry on the opposing sideline and his dad Vitaly, an assistant on Head Coach Ryan Errico’s staff, instructing him all the way through the process.
Dad Vitaly loved the symmetry of the historical moment, and how it came “full-circle” with Larry involved in the story.
“Donlon (138-pounds) also had a great tournament, going 3-2, to place in the All-States for the first time with a seventh-place finish,” said Napadow. “He beat some very tough opponents, and lost only to the eventual state champion and the Division 3 champ. But nonetheless, he will see his season continue for one more tournament, which is a huge accomplishment.”
Senior captain Ilyas Malik (175-pounds), unfortunately, was struck by injury, but stayed around to cheer on his teammates. He has had a fantastic four years, finishing up with a 107-40 record that includes going 44-7 this season. He was the captain of the team the last two years, and a two-time sectional champion.
“(Malik) has meant so much to this program throughout his entire high school career,” said Napadow.
The Top 7 Massachusetts wrestlers in each weight class are once again heading to Providence on Saturday, March 7, to participate in the regionals, including Napadow Baquero and Donlon. They will go up against the top five from Connecticut, and three each from Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
“I know Kai and Eddie will wrestle hard and give it their all, no matter who they draw,” said Napadow.
The entire team will next get together on Wednesday, April 8 at Winchester’s Wright-Locke Farm for the traditional end-of-the-year awards banquet.
Joe McConnell is a longtime, award-winning sports editor for numerous North Shore publications. He began covering Winchester sports for the News in November 2024 and is currently its Sports Editor. He can be reached at editor@winchesternews.org.
