Bulldog wrestlers pin Durfee for season’s first win
By Jay Turner
The CHS wrestlers earned their first win of the season last week versus Durfee. (Photo courtesy of CHS wrestling)
After a challenging past few seasons marked by uncertainty and upheaval, the Canton High wrestling program is excited for a fresh start under new head coach Nick Matt.
Taking over the reins from Dave Delpico, who filled in admirably as a temporary coach during the COVID years, Matt brings institutional knowledge — and built-in Bulldog pride — to the role as a former CHS wrestler and team captain.
“I helped out the team as an assistant coach last season and I just fell in love with the job,” he said. “Now as head coach, I want to take the program to heights it hasn’t reached before. I want to expose them to high-level wrestling, but also high level team wrestling and just to raise the bar.”
Adopting a team motto this season that “nothing is given; everything is earned,” the Bulldogs have embraced a rebuilding mentality and are prepared to learn as they go while navigating a gauntlet of tough opponents and competitive tournaments.
With a roster consisting of several first-year wrestlers, Matt is not expecting instant results. And the growing pains could be seen right out of the gate with an 0-3 showing at the first quad meet on December 10 in Sandwich.
Yet there have also been some encouraging signs, most recently in a road match against Division 1 Durfee, where the Bulldogs rode a flurry of pins to their first team win of the season, 42-36.
With the score tied going into the final bout, the Canton side was electric as senior captain Julian Prentice (285 lbs.) downed his opponent to clinch the victory. Fellow captains Anika Valluri (106 lbs.) and Max Kupferman (145 lbs.) also picked up pins to help fuel the win, as did teammates Ruairi Ritson, Matt Sica, Conor Hanlon and Zach Xayvethy.
“I was so proud of our wrestlers,” Matt said of the Durfee win. “It was not only a great way to get our first win as a team; it was also a testament to the buy-in that we’ve seen so far and it was just awesome to see.”
Kupferman, the team’s breakout star from last season, is off to another strong start with several wins already, while Ritson looks like a potential star at the 195-pound weight class. Valluri, with a reputation as the hardest working wrestler in the room, is now locked in as a lineup regular, and Prentice looks poised for a big senior season as well.
There are also several newcomers on the squad who have shown some promise to date, including Owen Sasin, Seamus Brown and Hanlon.
After traveling to a tournament in Wilmington last week, the team was due to host Sharon on Wednesday and will return to action after the holiday recess.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=99011
Posted by Jay Turner
on Dec 23 2022. Filed under High School, Sports.
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