Wrestling
Wrestlers of the Year
John Marsh, New Bedford
 DIVISION 1 |
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Marsh was a true monster of Massachusetts mats this winter, going undefeated until the New England championships, where he placed fourth. Until then, Marsh swept the 135 titles at the Division 1 South, Division 1 state, and All-State meets. He captured Oustanding Wrestler honors in the first two and shared the title with Joe Fendone at All-States. It was a true breakthrough postseason for Marsh, whose previous best was second at the Division 1 meet as a junior. He finished the year at 43-2 and was 120-16 overall in his career. Marsh is considering attending Norwich, Roger Williams, and Rhode Island College and hopes to continue wrestling. In his spare time, he enjoys rock climbing and snowboarding. | |
Joe Fendone, Central Catholic
DIVISION 2 |
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If there was any doubt that Fendone is one of the greatest high school grapplers in state history, consider this: The Red Raider senior compiled a 40-0 record despite a serious ACL injury. Fendone won his fourth consecutive North sectional championship at 215 pounds and is the only wrestler in history to win All-State titles all four seasons (189 a freshman, 215 the past three years). He also captured his third Divisional, state, and New England titles in his high school career. Fendone, who also played on the school football team, finished at 185-6 over four seasons, which includes 35 pins. He will attend Edinboro (PA) College in the fall on a full wrestling scholarship. | |
Joe Donnelly, Carver
DIVISION XXX |
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Very few wrestlers were able to outlast Donnelly this winter. The Carver senior was most clutch in the biggest meets, winning both the Division 3 state and the All-State heavyweight titles in extra sessions (All-State in double OT). That capped a methodical career climb in which Donnelly, who first placed in the sectionals as a freshman, the Divisionals as a sophomore, and All-States as a junior, broke through for an outstanding 37-3 season. His All-State victory made him the fourth such champ in school history. He placed third at the New England meet. Donnelly, whose career record is 127-38, coaches youth wrestling and is involved in the Orange Crush club program. He will wrestle at Bridgewater State next winter. | |
Coaches of the Year
Tim O'Keefe, Lowell
DIVISION 1 |
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Anyone who had any doubts about whether Lowell's tradition of wrestling excellence was going to end after legendary coach George Bossi stepped down had their fears quelled with O'Keefe's debut season. The Red Raiders posted a 20-2 regular-season record, then rolled to both Division 1 North and Division 1 state titles. That was the 13th state championship in Lowell history. O'Keefe's own mat credentials are impeccable: Not only did he compete for Lowell (class of 1990), but he grappled collegiately at Edinboro (PA) under former Olympic gold medalist Bruce Baumgartner. When not coaching wrestling, O'Keefe enjoys fly fishing, running, and spending time with his eight-month old daughter, Molly. | |
Nick Peachy, Somerset
DIVISION 2 |
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This was the year Somerset arrived on the scene, and in a big way. The Blue Raiders won the Mayflower League championship, had a 27-1 meet record, and rolled to several tournament championships along the way, taking titles in the Cranston (R.I.), Marshfield, and Canton tourneys. Somerset climaxed its season with a Division 2 South sectional title, capping what Peachy calls the best team he's coached in his 14 years at the school. A native of Portland, Oregon, Peachy competed in football, wrestling, lacrosse, and track as a youth and attended Bowdoin College in Maine (class of 1972). Peachy said this was his "most enjoyable and satisfying season coaching." | |
Bryan Fraser, Mansfield
DIVISION 3 |
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If the Fraser name sounds familiar, it is for good reason - Bryan's brother, Jim, coaches the juggernaut that is Foxboro wrestling. This year, though, was Bryan's turn to shine. Fraser's Hornets compiled a 14-4 regular-season record, then placed third at the Division 3 state championships. Individually, Mansfield wrestlers fared well in the postseason, too. The Hornets boasted the first Division 3 state individual champion in school history in Jason Noonan (160 pounds), and both Noonan and Jim Connors (275) placed at the All-State meet. Fraser is 81-41 in four years at Mansfield; he was also an assistant coach on the football team, which went undfeated en route to the Division 3 Super Bowl. Fraser is a 1993 graduate of Foxboro High, where he wrestled. | |
The All-Scholastics
Casey Boyle, Lowell
JUNIOR |
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Boyle cemented his reputation for toughness with the single most memorable match of the postseason, his All-State final against Tyler Laracy of Foxboro. Boyle sustained a nasty bloody nose early in the match, and had the fight stopped four times to stop the bleeding, but still gutted out a 3-1 win. That was just one accolade among many for Boyle, who captured all of the four Grand Slam (Sectional, divisional, All-State and New England) in his weight class. Boyle, who has 140 career wins, is a three-time Division 1 state champ and a three-time All-State finalist. The bad news, for his opponents? He's a junior, so he'll be back next year. | |
Rob Doherty, Woburn
SENIOR |
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Doherty, who had never won a state title coming into this season, peaked in his senior year. He won a Middlesex League title, the racked up championships in rapid fashion, claiming first in Division 2 North, Division 2 states, and the All-State meet, where he dominated Sean Nye of Quabbin by a score of 14-5. His Division 2 title came after two years of coming up short in the finals round. Doherty placed sixth at the New England meet, capping his season at 47-3. Overall, he was 146-19 in four years on the Tanners mats. An honor roll student who also competed in cross-country, Doherty will attend Johnson and Wales in the fall. He also competes for the Red Raider wrestling club. | |
Dan Fox, Needham
SENIOR |
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There was little that Fox didn't attain in his senior year. In rolling to a 49-2 record, the Rockets grappler attained championships in the Lowell, Wayland, North Attleboro, Woburn, and Weymouth tourneys. Then in the postseason, he captured Division 2 North and State championships and an All-State crown. His All-State victory, over fellow All-Scholastic Bryan Siafakis, saw him squander a 6-3 lead, then rally for a last-second 8-7 victory. Fox won 90 matches over the past two seasons and was a captain of both the school's football and wrestling teams. He placed fifth in the New England meet. Though undecided on his college plans, Fox would like to continue wrestling next year. He lists kayaking and walks on the beach among his hobbies. | |
Aaron Horowitz, Weston
SENIOR |
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Horowitz is used to being on the winner's podium after big meets: He's a four-time Dual County League All-Star, and won the third sectional championship of his career. He added to his list of accolades this season by winning his first ever Division 3 state title, as he edged Steve Barry of Scituate in the title match's waning seconds. Horowitz also placed second at the All-State meet and fifth in the New England meet in New Haven (Conn.). Horowitz has been a starter on the Weston lacrosse team since his freshman year, and plans on attending Syracuse University in the fall. He finished his season at 34-3 and was 123-21 for his career. | |
Jesse Leighton, Foxboro
SENIOR |
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Leighton is no stranger to success, as he was a part of three Foxboro state championship teams and helped captain the Warriors to their 10th consecutive Division 3 South sectional team title in February. Leighton rolled to Hockomock League, Division 3 South, and Division 3 state championships. His Division 3 state title helped propel the Warriors to a second-place team finish. He took second at All-States and fourth at New Englands. Leighton is a two-time champion in the Hockomock (and a four-time finalist) and in both the Division 3 sectionals and states. He is also a former AAU national champ. Leighton plans on attending Virginia Tech in the fall. | |
Sobhan Namvar, Needham
SENIOR |
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The Iranian immigrant has only been in the United States for two years, but that has been all he's needed to make his mark on the wrestling scene. Namvar was All-State champion at 160 pounds last season, and followed up this year by taking that crown at 171. Namvar amassed a 46-2 record on the year (86-3 in two seasons), and won at the Lowell, Weymouth and Woburn tourneys before his big postseason, which also included a Division 2 Central sectional title and a Division 2 state crown. Namvar, who placed third at New Englands, will attend Boston University on a full wrestling scholarship in the fall. In his free time, he enjoys music, other sports, and family time. | |
Peter Nolin, Dracut
SOPHOMORE |
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No one in New England can claim to be a better 103 than Nolin. That's because he took on all comers and beat 'em. Nolin was a sterling 41-0 on the season, and along the way, became the youngest Grand Slam winner of the season as just a sophomore. Nolin, whose best placement as a freshman was second at the Division 2 state meet, first served notice of his arrival by winning his bracket at the Lowell tourney, then swept through the postseason with Division 2 North and state title wins (helping the Middies to a state title in the process), an All-State title, and then beat champs from three different states en route to his New England title win. Lest any question his dedication, Nolin lists wrestling as his only hobby. | |
Wes Parker, Natick
SENIOR |
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Natick has dominated Bay State Conference wrestling for quite some time - this season was the Redmen's 10th title in 11 years - and Parker was a major reason why. The Natick senior won Division 2 Central sectional and state championships for the second consecutive year. Parker stumbled at the All-State meet, losing a tough 5-2 decision to Brian Sheehan of Lowell, but he rebounded in stellar fashion by claiming the New England championship the following week with an overtime victory. Parker belongs to the Cobra wrestling club and lists video games and chess as his hobbies. He plans on joining the Air Force upon graduation. | |
Tony Pallaria, Central Catholic
SENIOR |
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After Pallaria was upset in the All-State semifinals last year, he made a vow to come back and win it in his senior season. Pallaria made good on that vow. The Red Raider racked up a 45-2 record on the season, collecting nearly every title to be had along the way, with Division 2 North and State titles and an All-State crown on his resume. He's a four-time sectional champ and two-time Divisional state champ. Pallaria, who took second at the New England meet, finished his career at 157-25. A nose guard on the Central Catholic football team, he's been accepted to Rutgers, Roger Williams, and Clarion (PA) and is still making a final decision. Running and weightlifting are his hobbies. | |
Rollie Peterkin, Wellesley
JUNIOR |
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Just a junior, the 5-foot-3-inch Peterkin has already established himself both as of the great lightweight wrestlers in Massachusetts history and a crowd favorite wherever he competes. Peterkin rolled to an All-State title at 103 last year, then moved up to 112 and was just as dominant. Peterkin swept titles at the Lowell Holiday tourney, Division 2 central, Division 2 state, All-State, and capped his season with his first New England championship. He's a three-time Division 2 sectional and state champ, a three-time Bay State Games champ, and boasts a national Freestyle Cadet title. An honor roll student, Peterkin trains in the offseason with the Kendall Cross wrestling club. | |
Dan Rokas, Central Catholic
SENIOR |
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Rokas missed much of the early season with an injury suffered during football season, but he was determined to come back and go out a winner as a senior. The Red Raider made the best of his abbreviated season by racking up a 19-1 record and claiming his first All-State championship in the process. He also claimed sectional and Divisional state championships, his third of each. He also placed third at New Englands, his third time placing at that meet. Rokas, a former Bay State Games champion, has a career record of 128-19. He has a 3.4 grade-point average and will attend Roger Williams in the fall. He likes to lift weights and golf in his free time. | |
Bryan Siafakas, Woburn
SENIOR |
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Siafakas is this year's best example that perseverance pays off in the end. The Tanners senior kicked off his postseason by winning his weight class at the Division 2 North sectional meet. Then he came up agonizingly short at both the Division 2 state and All-State meets, where he twice lost in championship rounds. Siafakas stuck with it, though, and finished his high school career by winning the New England championship. The senior finished the season 48-5, is 139-19 on his career, and holds the school record for pins with 28. Siafakas also plays lacrosse, and dabbles in dirtbikes and motorcycles in his spare time. A high honor student, he is considering attending Wentworth in the fall. | |
Brian Sheehan, Lowell
SOPHOMORE |
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Sheehan was a pivotal part of Lowell's Division 1 state championship. Considering the Red Raiders' depth and Sheehan's sophomore status, that could very well be the case for the next two years as well. Sheehan served notice he was ready to compete with the elite last year as a freshman, as he captured Division 1 North sectional and state championships. This season, he retained both of those titles, and added his first All-State crown to go with it. He also added a fifth place finished at the New England meet, which leaves him with a title to shoot for over the next two seasons. Sheehan ran varsity cross-country and plays wiffle ball in his spare time. | |
Patrick Wayne, Lowell
SENIOR |
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On the surface, it might look like Wayne had an off-year, as he had six of his 13 career losses this season. But the senior was money in the bank when it mattered most, as he captured Division 1 North sectional, state, and All-State championship honors and helped the Red Raiders to the Division 1 state team title. Wayne's All-State win was a dramatic 2-1 double-overtime victory over Winchester's Travis Tremblay. He finished the season with a record of 43-6 and went 121-13 overall in his high school career. Wayne, who competes with the Red Raider Wrestling Club, lists wrestling, running, and hanging out with friends as his hobbies. He is undecided on college plans. | |
