Sports

New Hampshire Wrestling: Everybody chasing Owls again


Published: November 30, 2008

Londonderry

2007-08 record: 15-4

Returning starters (7): Cody Byrd, Sr., 152; Jesse Park, Sr., 145; Tom Manley, Sr., 215; Scott McGowan, Jr., 103; James Chase, Soph., 112; Andy Janowicz, Soph., 130; Joe Maio, Soph., 125

Returning lettermen: Same as above

Promising newcomers: Anthony Rizzitano, Sr., 285; Shane Fitzpatrick, Soph., 171; Cody Guilmain, Frosh., 189

Candidates in all grades: 28

Captains: TBA

Assistant coaches: Shames Marron, Ryan Murphy

Opener: at Concord Dec. 10

Odds and ends: Senior heavyweight Anthony Rizzitano returns to the program after taking last year off. ... Senior Cody Byrd was 44-6 last year and finished third in New England at 152 despite wrestling at 145 most of the season. ... . Second-year coach Jim Marron gave football players a two-week grace period and hopes to add to the roster, which is 18 wrestlers smaller than last year.

Coach Jim Marron (2nd year, 15-4): "I'm kind of hoping we can contend and push ourselves to some limits that don't look possible right now. We're a little green at 171 and 189, but I think we're pretty solid down the line. There are a couple of kids who didn't come out who we thought would, but we'll adjust. Cody Byrd is ready to go and should have a great year and I expect a lot from (215-pounder) Tom Manley."

Pinkerton

2007-08 record: 15-3

Returning starters (7): James Herlihy, Sr., 125/130; Kenny Smith, Sr., 135; Ian Beck, Jr., 145/152; Collin Crowell, Jr., 135; Steven Lord, 152/160, Jr.; Dylan Burke, Jr., 160; Dave Owens, Soph., 125

Returning lettermen: Jake Loder, Soph., 125; Alex Gerhot, Soph., 112

Promising newcomers: Tanner Burke, Frosh., 103; Patrick McCann, Frosh., 103/112

Candidates in all grades: 40

Captains: Ian Beck, Colin Crowell, James Herlihy

Assistant coaches: Jim Cherniack

Opener: at Winnacunnet Dec. 10

Odds and ends: Will Cordeau, who was 33-9 last year, is lost for the season as he recovers from a car accident in the spring. ... Corey Beck (41-12 last year) opted not to come out and is trying basketball. ... Trent Trammel, a New England qualifier as a freshman, is back on the team after taking last year off. ... The Astros have 40 wrestlers, which is an increase of 10, and only two are seniors. ... James Herlihy, who was fifth in New England last year, was 33-7 overall with five of his losses coming to Salem's Trevor Dearden. Ian Beck, who was 38-7 last year at 160, is moving down at least one weight class. He was 42-8 and a New England qualifier as a freshman at 140.

Coach Ken Najem (9th year, 103-56-2): "We'll be a little thin at the upper weights, but we're looking to have a good season. We have a real logjam of talent in the lower weights. If we can bring some kids along in the upper weights, and it's not a disaster, and we get pins at the lower weights, we'll be in real good shape. We'll challenge Timberlane up through 152 (pounds), but then it will be tough."

Salem

2007-08: 8-7

Returning starters (6): Steve Comtois, Sr., 171; Richie Cronin, Jr., 152; Devin Dearden, Soph., 119/125; Micah Dion, Soph., 119/125; Brett Pittera, Soph., 135; Jason Herrick, Soph., 140/145

Returning lettermen: Craig Lawlor, Soph., 189

Promising newcomers: James Malveira, Sr., 171; Cam Yergeau, Soph., 130; Chris Fox, Soph., 125; Tyler Dietrich, Soph., 140/145; Ryan Bolduc, Frosh., 103; Zach Hicks, Frosh., 112; Alex Lira, Frosh., 112

Candidates in all grades: 45

Captains: TBA

Assistant coaches: Ryan Carr, Phil Kalil, Joe Boucher

Opener: at Merrimack Dec.10

Odds and ends: Todd Oljey, a former New England champ at Plymouth State who wrestled at Triton and who has coached cross country at Salem the last two years, takes over as head coach for Ryan Carr, who had a 46-22 record in two years. Carr will remain as an assistant. ... The Blue Devils return only one senior starter, 171-pounder Steve Comtois, and three seniors overall. ... There were 24 freshmen on the roster last year and 11 frosh this year. One of the likely starters will be 103-pounder Ryan Bolduc, who is the nephew of former head coach Mike Bolduc. ... Sophomore Devin Dearden is the younger brother of three-time New England champion Trevor Dearden, who is a red-shirt freshman walk-on at Big 12 powerhouse Iowa State.

Coach Todd Oljey (1st year): "We don't have the horses we have had in the past, but we're excited, I think we'll be a better dual meet team than we've had in the past.We've had good wrestlers, and we won't have to give up 12 points like we've had to the last year or two. We're young, but most of our kids wrestled at the Salem Boys Club and wrestled in the summer."

Timberlane

2007-08 record: 19-0-1, New England champion

Returning starters (10): David Clemens, Sr., 135/140; Shane Regan, Sr., 152/160; Cam Sullivan, Sr., 119/125; Brian Nicoll, Sr., 285; Eric Petrillo, Sr., 171/189; Alex Smith, Jr., 130/135; Nick Scali, Jr., 152/160; Dylan Lockard, Jr., 145/152; Matt Morris, Soph., 119/125; Nick Lawrence, Soph., 140/145

Returning lettermen: Matt Gouin, Sr., 140/145; Wes Grew, Jr., 171/189; Kevin Vadeboncoeur, Jr., 112/119; Nick Novaris, Jr., 103/112; Matt Wright, Jr., 285; Nate Lawrence, Soph., 160/171; Ben Tammany, Soph., 215; Tim Collins, Soph., 171/189

Promising newcomers: Tim Powers, Jr., 125/130; Josh Buckley, Jr., 171/189; Josh Joyce, Soph., 145/152; Zach Trafton, Soph., 215; Andrew Tanner, Soph., 125/130; Zach Bridson, Frosh., 103/112

Candidates in all grades: 58

Captains: TBA

Assistant coaches: Jason Bretton, Dan Donovan, Matt Marino

Opener: Hosts Exeter, Dec. 10

Odds and ends: Timberlane has captured nine straight Division 1/Class L titles. The Owls should once again be loaded at the top and bottom of their lineup. New England champ Brian Nicoll (45-4) returns at heavyweight and highly regarded freshman Zach Bridson will likely be at 103. ...Nicoll and David Clemens (43-9) were captains as juniors. ... Starter Cole Priddy moved to Oklahoma after last year, but there are rumors that he may return to New Hampshire. ... Timberlane returns five starters who had fewer than 10 losses last winter: Nicoll, Clemens, Cam Sullivan (44-6), Matt Morris (34-8) and Eric Petrillo (42-9). Sullivan, a New England runner-up last year, is moving up at least two weight classes. ... Sophomore Ben Tammany, who won two tournaments as a freshman, should make an impact at 215.

Coach Barry Chooljian (26th year, 365-40-5): "This is one of the more talented teams I've returned, but I've been reminding them that talent doesn't win you anything. Certainly, we'll be good, but my challenge to them is that you still have to work at it to be successful. We have a good freshman group, but it's going to be hard for a lot of them to break into the lineup."

Pelham

2007-08 record: 13-7

Returning starters (6): Mark Riddinger, Sr., 152; R.J. Riddinger, Sr., 145; Roger Allen, Sr., 125; Justin Isabelle, Sr., 135; Mike Perruccio, Jr., 119; Richard Sullivan, Soph., 140

Returning lettermen: Ryan Cannizarro, Jr., 112; Josh Lynde, Soph., 130; Warren Greenhalgh, Soph., 160

Promising newcomers: Chris Salazar, Jr., 285; Josh Medeiros, Frosh., 103

Candidates in all grades: 19

Captains: Mark Riddinger, R.J. Riddinger, Roger Allen, Justin Isabelle

Assistant coaches: Vinny Cannizarro, Mike Fuller

Opener: at Franklin Dec. 10

Odds and ends: Junior Mike Perruccio led the Pythons last year with a 34-11 record while Richard Sullivan was 31-13 as a freshman at 125. He has moved up to 140 this year. ... Junior heavyweight Chris Salazar is a transfer from Chelmsford, where he wrestled in the youth program. ... Three wrestlers expected back did not return, but second-year coach Bob Riddinger is hoping to pick up some football players from the Division 5 championship team. Riddinger's sons, Mark and R.J., are among four senior captains.

Coach Bob Riddinger (2nd year, 13-7): "I'm hoping to at least match last year (13-7) and possibly take it to another level. We're a little thin on the upper weights, but we hope to develop a couple of kids."