It's not often that wrestling fans get to see a star-studded dual meet at any time, much less during the summer.
Yet, that opportunity has been created for this Saturday at the Wadsworth Training Center (40 Kenwood Circle) in Franklin for the New England All-Star Dual Meet. A fundraiser for spinal cord research, it will feature standout graduated seniors against underclassmen.
Not surprisingly, seven of the underclassmen are from the Merrimack Valley, including four from New England champion Timberlane and two from Methuen. All of them will have stern challenges.
Among the most intriguing matchups will be the first one, at 117, between a pair of New England champions — Timberlane's Zach Bridson (103) for the underclassmen and Newton North's Sam Shames (112) for the seniors.
That match will be followed at 124 with two standouts who didn't place at New England — Mount Anthony's Mike Bradley for the seniors and Methuen sophomore-to-be Paul Sughrue for the underclassmen. They split matches at 112 last year
Timberlane's Matt Morris and Methuen's C.J. Doherty will have their hands full at 140 and 150 respectively. Morris will take on New England champ Matt Sherman of Burlington while Doherty must contend with powerful Dan Telhada of Franklin, who is also a reigning New England champ.
Timberlane's Lawrence brothers, Nate and Nick will compete at 165 and 176 respectively with Nick taking on Algonquin's Mike Wrinn, who lost to Haverhill's Isaiah Williams three straight times at 171, including in the New England finals.
Finally, Haverhill heavyweight Terrance Jean-Jacques, who was an undefeated New England champ and who is transferring to Wyoming Seminary, will take on Derek Papagianopoulos of Buckingham Browne and Nichols. He finished fourth at the Prep Nationals.
The underclass team will be coached by Matt Smith, a Timberlane assistant and director of The Barn team from Danville, N.H.
Action gets underway at 6 p.m. and it should be tremendous. Tickets are $15.
Braveheart remains steady
Although it's changed a bit over the years, with Lawrence and Methuen wrestlers more prevalent than Greater Lawrence wrestlers, the Braveheart Wrestling Club remained steady through May and June with about 40 participants.
Led by Lawrence High head coach Rob Niceforo and Methuen coach Bill James, it accomplished its intention according to Niceforo.
"It gives you a chance to reach out to the kids and gives you a feel on who wants to really commit to be a better wrestler," said Niceforo.
Greater Lawrence coach Dan Alicea-Reyes, meanwhile, is in the middle of two weeks of a camp for Reggies and others, called the "Summer School of Wrestling."
New coach at Williams
Rich Hasenfus, who coached at Norwich for 13 years, has taken over as the new wrestling coach at Williams College. He replaces Dan DiCenzo, who left to become defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Wesleyan.
Hasenfus inherits a great situation at Williams, with seven of 10 starters returning from last year's top Division 3 team in New England. Among the returnees is two-time national runner-up Ryan Malo, the former St. John's Prep star from Georgetown.
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