Bulldog wrestler makes history at league meet

Chris Sullivan won his record-breaking 4th straight Hock title on Saturday. (Mike Barucci photo)

The postseason has not even started yet, but Chris Sullivan may have already solidified his place as the best wrestler in Canton High School history.

On Saturday at the Hockomock League championship meet at Oliver Ames, the Bulldogs’ all-time wins leader and former D2 state champion set a new league standard by winning his fourth title in as many years — this time in the 152-pound class.

The humble senior captain, who outlasted North Attleboro’s Austin Renzi 5-2 in the finals, was just as surprised as his coaches after learning of his historic achievement.

“We figured he would be joining elite company, but we didn’t realize that he was the first person in the history of the league to win four in a row,” remarked head coach Brian Caffelle. “It’s a huge honor considering the amount of talent that’s been produced from the Hockomock League over the years, and Chris deserves every bit of credit that goes with that kind of recognition.”

Along with the championship, Sullivan was also the recipient of the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award. Meanwhile, he got to bask in the glow of two other Canton titles, won by teammates Quinn Merrigan and Rob DiCalogero.

Merrigan, who like Sullivan belongs in any discussion of Canton’s all-time greats, captured his second straight league championship at 138 pounds with a dominant three-match sweep, capped off by a pin in the finals.

“At that weight class in the league, Quinn is just head and shoulders above everyone else,” said Caffelle. “In the finals, his opponent thought he was getting somewhere, but then Quinn put him right to his back and pinned him.”

As for DiCalogero, this was his first league title after he finished as the runner-up in the 145-pound class last season as a sophomore.

This year, he collected two straight pins before winning a tough finals rematch against an opponent from OA that he had beaten just three days earlier.

Rob DiCalogero, Chris Sullivan and Quinn Merrigan pose with their Hock championship medals. (CHS Athletics photo)

“The match was a lot closer this time around,” said Caffelle, “but Robby had the match won before sealing the win with a last-minute takedown. It was a great tournament for him — the first that he’s ever won — and we’re so proud of him as coaches.”

Caffelle said it was the first league tournament in recent memory — perhaps ever — that Canton came away with three championship trophies. And yet, surprisingly, they finished just seventh overall out of 11 teams, in part because Caffelle chose to rest several of his wrestlers so that they would be fresh for the upcoming sectional tournament.

Besides their big three, the Bulldogs did have a wrestler place fifth at the tournament — sophomore Brendan Lewis, who finished 2-2 at 126 pounds. Courtland Priest also wrestled well at 132 pounds despite losing both of his matches.

Canton also traveled to OA earlier in the week but struggled mightily as a team in a 55-21 defeat. Sullivan, Merrigan and DiCalogero all won their matches, but the team as a whole came out flat. “Oliver Ames has a great program, but I just thought we didn’t wrestle well at all that night,” Caffelle said.

Among the bright spots for Canton were two freshmen, Stephen Corkery and Sean Murphy, who both wrestled very well and continue to make strides, according to Caffelle.

The Bulldogs (6-9) were hoping to close out the regular season on a winning note this week with a home match against Stoughton on Wednesday and a quad meet at Barnstable on Saturday. The entire team will then head to sectionals on February 15 in hopes of moving on to the latter stages of the postseason.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=24083

Posted by Jay Turner on Feb 6 2014. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.