Wrestling Preview: Returning deep and talented squad, Franklin Tech has eyes on Suburban League North title
Published: 12-20-2024 5:39 PM |
Mike Aiken and the Franklin Tech wrestling team have waited a long time to have a roster like the one they’ve got this year.
The Eagles will have an advantage over just about every team in the area during dual meets, seeing as for the first time in program history Franklin Tech will be able to fill out every weight class in its lineup.
After splitting the Suburban League North title with Athol a season ago, the Eagles return a talented squad that has its eyes on taking the league title outright this winter.
“We’ve never [filled every weight class out] before,” Aiken said. “We’re always giving people points and trying to find a way to win. For once there’s no more freebies. It really only helps us in duals. In the tournaments you win by having kids go out and place. Duals you’re giving up six points no matter what if you can’t fill the spot.”
It’s not just the Eagles’ sheer numbers that make them a contender for league and Western Mass. titles: it's the talent Tech is returning to its lineup.
The Eagles have three Western Mass. finalists — Landon Purington (138), Dillon Laffond (285) and Collin Eddy (190) — returning to the lineup while Izaya Romer (175), Carsten Couture (126) and Jackson Morey (165) all placed at Western Mass. last year.
Jonathan McIntyre (106), Paul Giard (113), Mason Thurston (120), Maxon Brunette (132), Connor Herzig (144), Cam Laster (150), Benjamin Baker (157), Travis Eastman (165) and Seamus Collins (215) joined the lineup in the opening meet of the season against Hampshire, with Aiken noting that he has a deep bench of athletes who could get into the mix on any given night.
“We’re still fairly young but we have experience,” Aiken said. “Only three kids in the lineup are first year wrestlers. Everyone else has competed before and won. We have a few seniors who are pretty important but we have a lot of kids coming up through the program. We have a couple kids that will end up being backups that probably could start for a lot of teams. It’s a good problem to have. ”
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After a second place finish at the Bear Invitational last weekend — only falling to Natick, a Div. 1 program — where eight Eagle wrestlers placing in the top four of their respective weight classes, the Eagles are especially confident going into this season.
“We’re looking good,” Aiken said. “We have experience. We feel good about the league. Last year we overachieved for sure and got a share of the league title with Athol. This year we’re probably the favorites but it’s different because everyone will be coming after us. We have to take care of business in the league, which has a lot of good teams.”
The Franklin Tech girls also return a pair of state placers, as Mia Marigliano came in third at the MIAA All-State Championship at 126 pounds while Jacqueline Churchill placed second at 235.
Here’s a look at how each team is shaping up this season:
Athol
COACH: Fred Marks
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban North/Central/3
ROSTER: Raynaldo Nieves, Emytt Allaby-Ladebauche, Kayden Rodriguez, John Robertson, Brohden Whitney, Aaiden Hippler, Samantha Oquendo, Jada Cowen, Evan Ke, Jayden Garcia Davis, Simeon Neeland, Adam Rodriguez, Payden Ross, Lillian Fairbrother-Rivera, Antoniyo Bourque, Adam Lavorgna, Dasaratha Smith, Brycen Perez, Koi Lanoue, Ayden Cowen, Alexander Casarim, Jack Inniss, Benjamin DeWitt, Zackary Marcoux, Jaiden Santer, Robert Sprague, Mathew Gould, Damien Cunningham, Nicholas Leblanc, Brady O’Connell, Mason Lehman, Anthony Lopez-Hippler, Marc Gould, Akeem Gerand, Franchesca Jimenez Vega, Sawyer Lefsyk, Landon Collins, Joshua Stevens, Timothy Gerry, Warren Taylor
OUTLOOK: The Bears split the Suburban League North with the Eagles last year and have their sights set on retaining the title this winter.
Ke (120) took third and Adam Rodriguez (120) placed sixth at the Central Mass. Div. 3 state tournament a season ago while Inniss, O’Connell, Gerry and LeBlanc are fellow athletes who got starts in the lineup last year.
Franklin Tech
COACH: Mike Aiken
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban North/West/3
ROSTER: Johney McIntyre, Paul Giard, Mason Thurston, Carsten Couture, Maxon Brunette, Landon Purington, Mia Marigliano, Conner Herzig, Owen LeBlanc, Nathan Warger, Camryn Laster, Madix Whitman, Emery Ladner, Wyatt Whitman, Benjamin Baker, Camden Bonnett, Travis Eastman, Oliver Schwenger-Sartz, Izaya Romer, Keith Warger, Collin Eddy, Jackson Morey, Seamus Collins, Elijah Oberempt, Hunter Parker, Jacqueline Churchill, Dillon Laffond
Frontier
COACH: Brian Bagdon
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban North/West/3
ROSTER: Javion Cabrera, Kaden James, Jocelyn Antes, Max Hunter, Ber Calhoun, Konnor James, Zachary Brown, Jaxson Byrne, Thomas Bagdon, Massimo Dibari, Liam Jaklevic, Jonathan Olvera, Ainsley Southergill, Matthew Taraburka
OUTLOOK: The Redhawks earned a fifth place team finish at the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship a season ago and return a squad ready to compete once again for a sectional title.
Senior Cabrera took third at the D3 West meet and eighth at D3 states at 285 while fellow senior Kaden James (220) placed fourth at the D3 West championship.
Calhoun, a freshman who impressed football coaches with his toughness, bumps up to 113 this winter after placing second at the D3 West Championship at 106 last year. Fellow freshman Konnor James earned fifth at 150 at the D3 West championship.
Antes, a junior, placed third at the MIAA Girls All-State Meet and is looking to take home the title this season.
Mahar
COACH: John Speek
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Suburban North/Central/3
ROSTER: A roster was not provided
OUTLOOK: The Senators were a young team last year, graduating just one senior.
Abduli Gilmore, who won a Div. 3 sectional and state championship at 113 during the 2022-23 season, spent last season at Athol but returns back to Mahar this year, where he will be looking to regain his state title. Gilmore placed second at the Central Mass. Div. 3 sectional last year.
Tristen Gaj took fourth at 157 while Elias Roberts came in fifth at 132 during sectionals a season ago.
At the MIAA Division 3 Girls Wrestling Championships meet, Delana Fausett placed second at 165.
Mohawk Trail
COACH: Bob Mastorakis
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Tri-County/West/3
ROSTER: Logan Moore, Rocky Landry, Luke Read, Brianna Bowie, Karly Cawthron, Rowen Lewis, Liam Smith, Hayden Church, Wade Purington, Danny Gougeon, Chris Gianfrancesco, Savannah Page, Matt Eggen, Etta Thompson, Derik Pazmino, Ryan Westort
OUTLOOK: Moore is in line for a big senior season after placing third at Western Mass. at 150 last winter. Moore comes into the season with 80 wins and has his eyes on reaching the 100 win milestone.
Purington, just an eighth grader, placed fifth at Western Mass. at 106 while Read, a sophomore, took sixth at 113 a season ago. Pazmino, wrestling at 132, is also just a seventh grader but a wrestler to keep an eye on.