CHS wrestlers shine at D3 sectional tourney
By Jay Turner
Junior Quinn Sullivan dominates an opponent in an earlier season match. (Mike Barucci photo)
Update: Junior Quinn Merrigan defeated Hudson’s Pat O’Connell to win the Division 3 state wrestling title in the 138-pound class. Teammate Chris Sullivan (132 lbs.) took home second place after falling in the finals to Hampton Charter’s Abbas Tamaradze.
The Canton High wrestling team had an excellent showing at Saturday’s Division 3 south sectional meet, led by junior standouts Chris Sullivan and Quinn Merrigan, who both captured their respective weight classes after finishing second at the same tournament a year ago.
Sullivan, who is not too far from his 100th career victory, looked to be in complete control as he cruised past his opponents in the 132-pound class en route to the title.
“Chris definitely was dominant for the entire tournament,” said head coach Brian Caffelle. “He faced a tough opponent from Hingham in the finals and he took it right to him. He was a man on a mission.”
Merrigan was similarly dominant in the 138-pound class, proving himself worthy of the No. 1 overall seed with a hard-fought win over Pembroke’s Ian Horkan in the finals.
“Quinn put a lot of pressure on himself to win — almost too much pressure,” said Caffelle, “but he was definitely in control of the match, and now that he has that out of the way I expect him to be a lot more loose at states this week.”
Joining Sullivan and Merrigan at this week’s D3 state championship will be sophomore Rob Dicalogero, who also impressed at sectionals with a second-place finish in the 145-pound class.
Caffelle said Dicalogero, who is wrestling above his weight class, produced several convincing wins before making one mistake in the finals against the top-seeded wrestler — a senior from Bristol Agricultural. Nevertheless, he took a huge leap from his freshman season, when he finished fifth at sectionals, and the coaching staff is excited to see how he responds at states, which was scheduled for this Tuesday and Wednesday in Wakefield.
In addition to the Bulldogs’ “big three” of Sullivan, Merrigan and Dicalogero, Canton also had three wrestlers who end their season on a high note with at least one sectional victory: senior Pete Sheehan, who took sixth place in the heavyweight division, as well as Binah Smith (195 lbs.) and Waleed Chakir (160 lbs.).
Due to the recent blizzard, the entire wrestling postseason had to be condensed, meaning that whoever finishes among the top six at states will have only a few days off before heading to the All-State tournament, scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday at Salem High School.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=19063
Posted by Jay Turner
on Feb 21 2013. Filed under High School, Sports.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
