Wrestling: Frontier’s Antes and Franklin Tech’s Laffond crowned at MIAA Division 3 State Championships

GLOUCESTER — With an emphatic slap of a referee’s hand hitting the mat, Jocelyn Antes of Frontier Regional and Dillon Laffond of Franklin Tech were crowned state champions on Saturday. Both Antes and Laffond won by pin at the MIAA Division 3 State Championship meet at Gloucester High School.

Antes won her second consecutive state championship for the Redhawks. She pinned (4:42) Mila Boucher in the third period to claim the crown in the 126-pound weight class. Two wins by fall sent Antes into the championship match.

In the quarterfinal round, Antes pinned (5:12) Ava Diprimio of Norton in the third period. Antes pinned Brooke Whedbee of Carver with 26 seconds in the semifinals.

“The first match was a little longer than I wanted,” Antes said. “I think I was knocking some rust off. A little bit of nerves.”

In the championship match, Boucher took an early lead with a takedown of Antes.

“The first period, we had to brush that off,” Antes said. “I wasn’t going to go down like that. It feels really good. I’ve always wanted to do it two times. When I was a freshman, I was dreaming about being a four time. But it was impossible because this tournament didn’t exist four years ago. “

Antes took full control in the second period. With another state championship, Antes hopes to inspire young female wrestlers. She had some mentors of her own, but they had to wrestle co-ed without a female tournament.

“My mentors were women wrestlers from all over,” Antes said. “They only wrestled boys. They didn’t have a chance to wrestle a girl. Let alone win a tournament full of them. I attribute all of this to them. All those people before me. Also all the ones after me.”

Laffond (285) exacted some revenge on Holyoke’s Parker Brunelle with a pin (3:32) in the second period. Brunelle defeated Laffond by decision in the semifinal round at the sectional meet on his way to a Western Mass. championship. The loss was disappointing for Laffond, but the state championship meet was a fresh start for the senior.

“I mostly tried to forget about it,” Laffond said. “I didn’t want it lingering in my head and then bringing it into the match. I try to bring a positive mindset into every match. “

Getting the win over Brunelle was nice for Laffond, but he and Brunelle are friendly competitors.

“It’s always sweet,” Laffond said. “But I wish him the best, he’s a great wrestler. Hopefully we see each other again at all states.”

Laffond plowed through the heavyweight bracket, winning three matches by fall to make the finals. Laffond took down Athol’s Nicholas Leblanc in the semifinals.

“I just got to what works best for me,” Laffond said. “Just try to dominate and use my abilities. My size and my skill.”

The sizable gymnasium of the Fishermen featured six mats with a packed crowd for the meet. Holyoke’s Steven Santiago made the championship match at 120 pounds. The sectional champion from the Purple Knights ran into a tough customer in Conlan Geary of Hanover. Geary won a 6-0 decision over Santiago.

Jesus Morales of Holyoke took third in the 215-pound bracket. Morales pinned (5:39) Carver’s Michael Brennan in the third-place match. Mohawk Trail Regional had a top three finisher in the girls field. Etta Thompson placed third in the 100-pound bracket for the Warriors.

Eighth grader Ainsley Southergill took third at 114 pounds for the Redhawks. Southergill made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to senior Brooke Lightfoot of Tewksbury by major decision (11-2).

Mikiadenise Johnson of Holyoke to took third at 145 pounds for the Purple Knights. Franklin Tech’s Ava Eddy went to the championship match at 152 pounds for the Eagles. Eddy lost to Riley Morais of Ludlow by pin (3:45). Gateway’s Emilee Silvagni took third at 165 pounds for the Gators.

Sara Tatro of Mohawk grabbed a third-place finish at 235 pounds. Ludlow won the team championship for the girls with 97.5 points. Frontier was sixth with 44 points. South Hadley placed tied for 14th (18 points). Franklin Tech, Mohawk and Holyoke tied for 16th (16 points). Gateway was 23rd with seven points while Mahar placed 30th.

Dedham took the team championship in the boys tournament. Holyoke was ninth with 69 points. Franklin Tech ended up 12th with 63.5 points. Athol (30th) Hampshire (32nd), South Hadley (35th), Belchertown (45th), Mahar (47), and Frontier (49th) rounded out the region.