Wrestling team shows strength at Cheverus Invitational

Assistant Coach Chris Smith, Jason Hart, Gabe Rosado, Andrew Martin, Owen McDuffie, Scott Ingalls, Garrett Allen, Head Coach John Nicholas. Submitted photo

By Matt Pascarella

Windham/Gray New Gloucester (GNG) travelled to Cheverus High School for the second annual Cheverus Invitational which took place on Saturday, January 18^th. The meet had ten other competing schools/teams: Biddeford/Thornton Academy, Cheverus, Deering, Fryeburg Academy, Gardiner, Kennebunk, Monmouth, Mountain Valley, Oceanside and York.

Scott Ingalls wrestled first in the 138-weight class against Kennebunk. Ingalls quickly escaped his opponent’s grip and after a short time pinned Kennebunk.

Gabe Rosado wrestled Kennebunk in the 126-weight class. Rosado fought hard and locked his hands to keep his opponent in position. Rosado flipped his opponent and pinned him.

Owen McDuffie wrestled Gardiner in the 152-weight class. He was aggressive and slammed his opponent to the mat. McDuffie was quick and escaped the hold of his opponent. He pinned Gardiner for the ‘W.’

Jason Hart wrestled Cheverus in the 182-weight class. He got a take down and pinned for the win.

Garrett Allen took on Mount Valley in the 285-weight class.  He pinned his opponent less than 30 seconds into the first period.

In the 160-weight class, Dante Felix wrestled Biddeford/Thornton Academy. He pressured by lunging after his opponent. Felix took Biddeford/Thornton Academy right to the mat and held them there. Neither team was able to pin the other, but Felix got the win.

Andrew Martin wrestled in the 170-weight class against Deering. Martin’s intensity got a take down and held his opponent to the mat, until pinned.

Ingalls, Rosado, McDuffie, Hart, Allen and Martin all made it to the finals. After several good matches; Martin was the champion; McDuffie and Allen came in second; Ingalls third; Rosado and Hart fourth.

“It felt good to just feel dominant,” said senior Andrew Martin. “Coming out and winning a tournament for a school that’s coming up and making people [see] that we’re on the rise.”

“Any time you can bring home six medals with nine kids, is a pretty good day,” remarked coach John Nicholas. “I was happy with the day overall. The kids are working hard and we’re doing really well. The ultimate goal is to push as many kids through to states, so we still got a couple weeks to work it out.”