DiCalogero, Prentice key CHS grapplers’ strong start

Senior captain Rob DiCalogero is a man on a mission this season. (Mike Barucci photo)

Anchored by three talented seniors and a rising junior standout in the 126-pound class, the CHS varsity wrestling team is off to a strong start in 2014, with three team victories and several outstanding individual highlights through the season’s first two weeks.

While the Bulldogs are still adjusting to life without the legendary duo of Chris Sullivan and Quinn Merrigan — both former state champions and two of the greatest wrestlers that Canton has ever seen — head coach Brian Caffelle has been encouraged by the team’s development and has placed a lot of faith in the returning veterans, including senior captain Rob DiCalogero (145 lbs.) and senior Wavol Prentice (heavyweight).

DiCalogero, who captured the league title last year as a junior and placed second at both sectionals and states, has returned with a vengeance this season and is currently undefeated at 8-0 with seven pins.

“He’s looked really good out there,” Caffelle said of his top wrestler. “He’s still aggressive; he’s still attacking. I think he relishes the fact that this is his team now, and he wants that attention and wants to prove himself. He’s determined to win a state title this year.”

Prentice, meanwhile, has looked similarly dominant in the early going for the Bulldogs, winning seven of his first eight matches, including a huge pin in Saturday’s quad meet at CHS to cap off a 42-41 comeback victory against Acton-Boxboro.

Other rising stars for Canton include junior Brendan Lewis and senior captain Reda Chakir. Lewis, who finished strong last year with a third-place finish at sectionals and a top-eight placement at states, has won all eight of his matches, including what Caffelle described as a “measuring-stick” victory against a very talented Hingham opponent in the quad meet. Chakir, who worked hard in the offseason to earn the captainship and a varsity starter’s role, has been nearly as impressive at 152 pounds, winning seven of his first eight matches.

“Reda’s only loss on the season was to a returning state place-winner in the Scituate (individual) tournament,” said Caffelle. “He has really shown flashes of brilliance. He’s shown a willingness to grind out takedowns to put points on the board, and he’s starting to gain confidence out there on the mat.”

Other top performers for the Bulldogs include junior Chris Carstairs, who earned the nod at 138 pounds and has rewarded the team with a 6-2 start, and junior John Cudmore, who took second place at 160 pounds in his first varsity tournament and also had a big win in the team’s 45-35 victory over Taunton.

“He’s really come out on fire,” Caffelle said of Cudmore, a first-year wrestler. “His raw power and athleticism has really made the difference for him on the mat. He’s also a good listener and is always asking questions in practice. He’s a wonderful addition to the team.”

As for Carstairs, Caffelle said he is now thriving in a starter’s role after serving as a valuable backup over the past few seasons. “Chris has made the most of his opportunities,” he said. “He’s real scrappy, and he has that potential to catch guys, and when they make a mistake he really makes them pay for it.”

Beyond the individual successes, the Bulldogs are also off to a strong start as a team, opening 3-2 with wins over Taunton, Acton-Boxboro, and North Quincy (36-21). Both of their losses have come against very strong opponents — King Philip and Hingham — and they were due to face another tough test this week with a home meet against Franklin on Monday.

The Bulldogs are off for the remainder of this week and will return to action after the New Year beginning with a road match against Foxboro on Wednesday, January 7.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Dec 26 2014. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.