HOLLISTON — Henry Gilmore and Peter Tattan became the first-ever sectional champions for the Mahar Regional School wrestling team at the Central Mass. Division 3 championships at Holliston High School on Saturday.
In their respective finals’ matchups, Gilmore pinned Jason Beaulieu of Tri-County at 152-pounds while Tattan won a hard-fought 2-0 decision over Cameron Jones of Wayland at 170-pounds.
“We practice all the time together,” Tattan said of his teammates. “We grind together. It’s the result we have been hoping to see over the years with the program. I am super proud of Henry. I feel like he had a much more astonishing win than I did.”
Gilmore struck first for the Senators, pinning Beaulieu in the second period. It was just like any other match, according to the junior.
There was never really any doubt in the final. At the time of the pin, Gilmore held a 4-0 lead.
“It felt the same” Gilmore said. “Just another opponent I had to face. I just went for it and tried my best.”
Once the match ended, Gilmore went over to the Mahar contingent that made the trek to Holliston to celebrate.
“I was really excited,” Gilmore said. “We worked together as a team. It just happened. If you work hard, you will get it.”
During his match with Jones, Tattan avoided mistakes to take the close victory in a match mostly fought on the ground.
“I kept telling myself over and over that I am a good enough wrestler,” Tattan said. “I know if I don’t make mistakes like I have in the past that it can be my match. I am just glad I was able to carry it through the match.”
Jones and Tattan had a familiarity with each other going into the finals.
“I have wrestled him at least once the last three years,” Tattan said. “I know how he wrestles. He is really good at defending shots. That’s why I was stuck underneath him for an entire period.”
Both wrestlers now head to the Division 3 state meet next week at Wayland High School.
“Most important thing is that I am bringing more teammates with me,” Tattan said. “It’s great to have a good team effort and people there to support you.”
Wayland won the team championship on Saturday with 248½ points. The Senators placed fourth overall with 165 points, within 21½ points of second place.
“It’s a whole new level for us,” Mahar coach John Speek said. “We broke into the top teams. Now we are there with them. That’s where we want to be. We have plenty of building to do.”
Five total wrestlers from Athol High School and Mahar made it to a final in their respective weight classes.
In the 113-pound finals, Mahar’s Jon Mahony fell to Benny Herrera of Ashland by technical fall.
In the 145-pound final, Athol’s Caleb Cox had the upper-hand with a 4-0 lead against Patrick Griffin, who he had faced once prior back in middle school. In period two however, the muscular and mustached Griffin used a head-hook to pin Cox at 3 minutes, 28 seconds.
“He got caught,” Athol coach Brandon Jeffrey said of Cox. “But overall it was a good day for us.”
John Hicks made it to the 195-pound finals for the Red Raiders but was pinned by CJ Brown of Wayland.
Athol placed ninth as a team with 81 points.
Mahar’s Todd Chiasson took third at 160-pounds. In the consolation final, Chiasson won a 7-4 decision over Julian Vasquez of Keefe Tech.
The top four members of each weight class move on to state competition with fifth-place finishers serving as an alternate.
“We’ve been able to step it up as a team,” Tattan said. “We’ve become a well-known program.”
Newcomer to wrestling Issa Gilmore made it to the podium in the 106-pound weight class for Mahar, and he ended up finishing in third.
Gilmore pinned Bernier Wayland of Wayland in the consolation final (3:30).
Mahar’s Jeff Kidwell placed fourth in the 120-pound weight class. Athol’s Sawyer Lefsyk took sixth in the same weight class.
At 126-pounds, Mahar’s Domanic Cacciolfi placed fifth. Teammate Luke Chiodo took fifth at 138-pounds.
Logan Kirwan notched a fifth-place finish for the Red Raiders in the 152-pound weight class.
Anthony Nye was fifth for the Senators at 182-pounds. Athol received two sixth-place finishes from Nate Torres at 220-pounds and Thomas Seamans at 160-pounds.
