Massachusetts wrestling

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Though still not as popular as hockey or basketball, high school wrestling is a burgeoning sport in Massachusetts. It is regulated by the Massachusetts Intersholastic Athletic Association. According to Wrestling USA Magazine, 3804 boys and 38 girls wrestled in the state in 2004.

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[edit] The season

Like all MIAA-sanctioned winter sports, the Massachusetts wrestling season officially begins on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. Teams participate in dual meets and tournaments until the second week of February, when the postseason begins. Currently, the official postseason is divided into four rounds, each occurring a week apart: Sectionals, States, All-States and New Englands (which is not overseen by the MIAA). Some leagues also hold their own tournament a week before Sectionals.

There are twelve sections in three divisions:

  • D1 Central, North, South and West
  • D2 Central, Metro, North and South
  • D3 Central, North, South and West

Sections range from 13 teams to over 20. They are one day tournaments with double-elimination brackets (once a wrestler loses his first match, he is bumped to the consolation bracket) and team scores are not officially kept. Qualifying rules vary, but every weight in every section sends 4 wrestlers, and an alternate who places 5th.

Division 1, 2 and 3 state championships take place a week later. The top six placers in each weight compete in All-States. The highest-scoring team score is kept at All-States, and the top six wrestlers go to New Englands.

The Dual Meet Tournament competes every Wednesday and lasts until after New Englands. The Winners of the first Dual Meet Tournament in the 2005-2006 season were D1 Springfield Central, D2 North Andover, and D3 Wayland. Team sectional champions are also decided via the dual meet tournament for each of the twelve sections.

[edit] The off-season.

Massachusetts has often been criticized in the past for failing to represent itself at major national tournaments. Recently, rapid strides have been made in this area. Aaron Polansky, head coach at Hudson High School, was named Massachusetts state chairman for USA Wrestling, a major national governing organization. Polansky has established several new off-season tournaments and clubs, as well as founding the Stance In Motion Initiative, a program designed to help foster new wrestling teams in the state with financial support and training for coaches. Over the last two years, he has taken Massachusetts teams to the Junior National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, the most prestigious high school wrestling tournament in the country. Several Massachusetts wrestlers have placed here, and Rollie Peterkin of Wellesley is a two-time champion.

[edit] Colleges

Currently, Massachusetts has two Division I wrestling programs: Boston University and Harvard University. BU, coached by Carl Adams, competes in the Colonial Athletic Association while Harvard, coached by Jay Weiss, is a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. In 2004, Harvard senior Jesse Jantzen was national champion at 149 pounds and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the national tournament.

Massachusetts is home to a number of Division III programs, including Bridgewater State College, Springfield College and Williams College. These teams compete in the New England College Conference Wrestling Association. The University of Massachusetts Lowell once had a Division II program, which was eliminated due to budget cuts; the University of Massachusetts at Amherst currently has a club team. Though they still lag behind other states, Massachusetts wrestlers are well represented in college, competing for such top programs as the University of Nebraska, Edinboro University, University of Pennsylvania and Franklin and Marshall College. Several Massachusetts alum qualified for the 2005 D1 championships, though none were All-Americans.

[edit] Prominent Massachusetts Wrestlers

  • Jim Peckham (Weymouth Mass): Coach Peckham is a multiple time Olympic Wrestling Coach for both Freestyle (Asst. Coach 1972 - Munich) and Greco (Head Coach 1976 Olympics). Coach was a member of the 1956 Olympic Greco Team and placed 7th. Coach Peckham has coached multiple World Cup Teams for the USA and coached in many international tournaments such as the Tbilisi Tourney in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Coach Peckham is a Distinguished Member of the Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater OK - You can read much more about him by visiting www.wrestlinghalloffame.org and go under FIND for James Peckham and read all about his career. Two local wrestlers whom Coach Peckham took under his wing who later achieved fame are Ken Mallory and Colin Kilrain. Coach Peckham also helped numerous high school and college wrestlers in the Boston area through the Boston Union Gym and private "camps" at his home in Weymouth.
  • Fred Smerlas (Waltham): Fred, better known for his 13 years in the NFL, where he played in 5 Pro Bowls and was twice named NFL defensive lineman of the year. In the two seasons of 1974 and 1975 Fred was the most dominate wrestler in not only Massachusetts, but in all of New England as he compiled a record of 65-0 with 63 pins, many of those coming within the first 30 seconds of the match. In 1974 Fred went 30-0 and did not allow a single point against him and was an honorable mention All American. In 1975 Fred compiled a record of 35-0 allowing only 5 points all year (scored in the state finals on a missed throw). Fred finished his high school wrestling career with 4 pins at the New England Championships which included a 14 second pin in the finals. Also in 1975 Fred was named first team All-American and the number 1 ranked high school heavyweight in the country.
  • Ken Mallory (South End-Boston): Ken never had a high school team and learned his wrestling by coming across Jim Peckham (Hall of Fame Olympic Coach, Numerous time World Cup Coach: see above) at the Boston Union Gym. Ken became the first NCAA Div.3 Champion to ever go on and win an NCAA Div. 1 title for Montclair State, in New Jersey in his junior year of College. Mallory won more than one D3 title and placed, though injured, again in the D1 Championships.
  • Sam Kline (Amherst): After being a D1 state champ, Sam attended Rutgers University in NJ. Sam did not feel that he would have the support at Rutgers that he would need to win a national title, so he transferred to West Virginia. At WVU, Sam was able to place 3rd in the NCAA Div.1 championship. After college, Sam was living at the Olympic Training Center and climbing the Olympic ladder. He even won a major international tournament, the Henri Deglane Challenge in France. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by a severe spinal infection in 2000.
  • Rodney Smith (Putnam): Rodney, a sectional champ in High School was a D3 college New England champ for WNEC. After college, Rodney joined the US Army and became a member of its World Class Athlete's Program. Rodney made two Olympic teams at 68 kg (150 lb). In 1996, he earned an Olympic Bronze and in 2000 he was captain of the team but did not medal.
  • Mike Carolan (Ludlow) Mike was a New England Champ in high school. After High School, Mike joined the US Navy. While wrestling for the Navy, he won a national Greco Roman title and was the Olympic alternate in 1988 at 198 lb (90 kg). Mike placed in many national tournaments while competing at 198 lb (90 kg) and 220 lb (100 kg).
  • C.J. Colace (Franklin): After winning a national tournament in July 2004, Colace had one of the finest seasons in Massachusetts history. His total record was 49-0; until the New England tournament, no opponent made it into the third period with him. He was especially feared for his mastery of the Jantzen ride, a series of moves from the top position that very few wrestlers can defend against. 46 consecututive pins
  • Michael Parziale (Woburn): Parziale compiled a 173-13 record for Woburn. He won three State and New England titles and is now wrestling at Hofstra.
  • Michael Pedro (St. John's Prep): Mike compiled a state record 213-7 record. 154 career pins. 4x sectional champ, 4x State Champ, 3x All-State Champ, & 2x NE champ. Sr. season 61-0, 53 pins. Captain at Brown University. Academic All-American as a senior.
  • Nathan Cote (St. John's Prep): 168-20, 3x Sectional, & 3xState Champion. All-State & NE Champ senior season, 58-0 record. Wrestled varsity for Lehigh University.
  • Rollie Peterkin (Wellesley): In three years, Peterkin was a two-time All-State champion and one-time New England champion. He transferred to Blair Academy, the nation’s top wrestling school, and was rated as one of the country’s best high schools wrestlers at his weight. He now attends the Wharton school at the University of Pennsylvania and wrestles for Penn.
  • David Shunamon (Tewksbury): Shunamon is the last Massachusetts wrestler to place at the D1 national championships, earning 6th place for Edinboro University at 197 pounds in 2001 In 2005, Dave returned to MA to coach Westford as well as the Doughboy Wrestling club in Lowell.
  • Mike Atlas (Burlington): Atlas won two All-State titles at 112 pounds (51 kg) and placed 6th (All-American) at Senior Nationals wrestling 103. He owns and runs MassWrestling.com.
  • Sean Harrington (Dracut): Harrington won Div 2 state stamp and NE champ as a senior. Sean went on to UMASS-Lowell and was a NCAA Div 2 All-American(4th 2x '95-'96)and 3x time qualifier. He later went on to recognition on the National scene wrestling for NYAC. He was consistently ranked on the senior national level and was a USOC resident athlete as well. Sean was a US Nationals All-American as well as a 2x Olympic Trails Mini tourney qualifier. He also was a member on the Texas Shooters on the inaugural season of Real Pro Wrestling on PAX.
  • Frank Sforza (Rockland): Was a 4x Division III State Champion in 4 different weight classes.
  • Mark Laramee (Rockland): Was a 4x Division III State Champion in 4 different weight classes.
  • Bobby Lewis (Carver): Was a 4x Division III State Champion in 4 different weight classes.
  • The two winningest coaches in Massachusetts are George Bossi from Lowell and Dave Castricone from North Andover
  • Hamilton Munnell (Weston) continued on to Miami of Ohio University where he was an All-American placing 7th in D-I Nationals. Now he coaches Concord High School in New Hampshire.
  • Andrew McNeil (King Philip) was accepted into the 1964 Olympics but couldn't compete due to a knee injury.

[edit] Leagues

  • Dual County League: Acton-Boxborough, Boston Latin, Concord-Carlisle, Holliston, Hopkinton, Lincoln-Sudbury, Newton South, Wayland, Westford, Weston

Wayland and Weston are the traditional powers in this league: they have won almost every title for the last 30 years. Traditionally, their Christmas Eve meet decided the winner of the league. In 2003-04, however, Lincoln-Sudbury won its first league championship ever; the next year, Concord-Carlisle won its first title in over a decade.

  • Middlesex League: Burlington, Woburn, Lexington, Wakefield, Melrose, Winchester, Reading, Belmont, Watertown (No wrestling team as of 12/2005: Stoneham)

Greater Boston League: Arlington, Waltham, Cambridge, Malden. (No wrestling team: Everet, Somerville, Medford, Revere, Peabody.)

Waltham tends to be the powerhouse in the GBL in almost all sports. However last year Arlington became co-champions with Waltham after defeating them.

  • Merrimack Valley Conference:

St. John's Prep has won 10 overall league titles, BC High 2 and Xaverian 1. (BC High and SJP tied for the conference 1 season).

  • Valley League: Agawam, Cathedral-Springfield, Central-Springfield, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Minnechaug, Westfield, West Springfield. Called the A Division until 2001. Ludlow won league title eight straight years prior to Central winning it in 2005. Agawam dominated before Ludlow's streak.
  • Valley Wheel: Amherst, Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Gateway, Northampton, Putnam-Springfield, South Hadley, Southwick. Up to 2000, Western Massachusetts had only two divisions, then was split into four divisions for 2001 and 2002, and finally three divisions for the last three seasons. East Longmeadow, Amherst and South Hadley won the last three Valley Wheel titles.
  • Suburban League: Athol, Dean-Holyoke, Granby, Hampshire, Franklin Tech, Frontier, Pioneer Valley, Sabis International, Greenfield. Pioneer Valley of Northfield won Suburban title last season. Gateway won it three straight years before moving to Valley Wheel.
  • Patriot League: Duxbury, Rockland, Hanover, Scituate, Hingham, Silver Lake, Middleboro, and Pembroke

Duxbury, Rockland, and Pembroke all shared the 2006 Patriot League Championship.

  • Atlantic Coast League: Nauset, North Quincy, Plymouth South, Quincy, Sandwich, Whitman-Hanson. Plymouth South is the defending Atlantic Coast League Champions.
  • Berkshire County League: Pittsfield, Taconic, Monument Mountain, Mount Greylock, Hoosac Valley, Mount Everett.

Mount Greylock has won 84 consecutive league matches and seven straight league titles

  • Crandberry Conference: Tri-County,Plymouth-Bristol Tech, Holbrook, Norwell, Carver, Southeastern Vo-tech, South Shore Vo-tech, Cohasset.In 2007 Cohasset won the league with an undefeated leauge record (7-0).

[edit] MassWrestling.com

Founded by Weston wrestler Ted Chan in 1999, MassWrestling.com has become an integral part of the Massachusetts wrestling community. Chan set the precedent for the main features of MassWrestling.com which still survive today - rankings and colloquium. Chan featured rankings by Andy Starr, articles, event results, and a yahoo group discussion forum, which was soon switched to an UltimateBB cgi based forum. Remnants of the Chan-era site are available on the internet archives.

Mike Atlas took over on February 22nd, 2004 during his spring semester of his freshman year at Northeastern University, Boston. Ted Chan had graduated from Swarthmore College and decided it was appropriate to focus on his consulting career and that it would be best to hand the site over as a community resource to someone he trusted. Mike saw the potential for the site to take advantage of Open Source Content Management System-ware, and began work implementing the site in the e107 CMS. No longer was it necessary to FTP newly made HTML documents for every new tournament result, article, or rankings. e107 provided a way for the site to be maintained without ever editing files and uploading them - a web interface for adding content to the site made this easier than ever before. Old tournament results were imported into the results archive of the database and an intuitive layout was conceived to deliver the right information quickly to the users of the site - the Massachusetts amateur wrestling community.

During the first wrestling season under Atlas' direction, the site's popularity wavered. Andy Starr's rankings seemed to be missing in action, and results were not being sent in to Atlas to publish on the site, due to the break in ownership and loss of old contacts through Ted Chan. Towards the middle of January, 2005, a loyal user and fan in the community, Jason Ganz (username: Donny Jason), of Newton, stepped forward and started his own set of rankings, which were immediately deemed by Atlas to be the official rankings of MassWrestling.com. Soon, new users came flocking to the site again in droves to see and disuss the hotly contested rankings. Starting in the summer of 2005, the first MassWrestling.com produced DivX video of the Bay State Games was provided for download online using the BitTorrent protocol, with future plans to distribute many of the upcoming state final in a similar fashion.

The wave of new users prompted Atlas to begin providing more features for the community. In February of 2005, Atlas debuted a boxscoring module written in PHP and making use of the MySQL database already employed in e107. Registered users of the site could now easily submit dual meet boxscore information to be displayed for the world to see. Users could now keep the community up to date with boxscores from their team's dual meets for the public to see - regardless of newspaper coverage. Shortly thereafter, a Wrestler of the Week module was deployed in a similar fashion as boxscores, and an Event Calendar fashioned specifically for wrestling events was also rolled out to the community for public consumption.

The most popular feature is the forum, which has hosted many heated discussions and attracted many distinct and memorable personalities. These include Hill Billy and EoghanJames (Owen James), older wrestlers who often talk about the wrestling scene of their day and make cultural references incomprehensible to younger posters; Donny Jason, who posts the rankings and often incites controversial discussions; and The Birdman, an endlessly self-confident Wayland wrestler. The visitors of the site include parents, coaches, wrestlers, and fans from all over the state, New England, and abroad. Web traffic to the site during the 2004-2005 season peaked to about 9,500 unique visitors a month and a regular visits of about 1,000 unique visitors per day.

[edit] External links

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