Southwick senior wrestler Trevor Desruisseaux jogs out to a round of applause by fans on “Senior Night” Wednesday against Hampshire. Desruisseaux has truly been a man among boys this season as the senior has emerged on a young team laden with seventh and eighth graders. (Photo by Chris Putz)
SOUTHWICK – During the glory days of Southwick High School wrestling, the Rams were a powerhouse program, shutting the lights out on the competition rather routinely for much of former longtime head coach Eddie Martinez’s tenure.
Martinez stepped aside this past offseason, handing the reigns over to his understudy Dave Whalley, a former wrestler himself.
Whalley inherited a young team laden with seventh and eighth graders, fundamental to keeping the program alive as Southwick rebuilds and looks to future successes.
While Southwick did not necessarily shine on the scoreboard at Tuesday’s final home meet of the 2017-18 regular season – Hampshire won 52-22 – the Rams managed to post several highlights and the team’s lone senior basked in the spotlight one final time in front of his home crowd.
Southwick senior Trevor Desruisseaux (20-9) trotted out to a round of applause by family, friends, fans, students, and coaches in a very brief pre-meet ceremony that nearly equaled the Desruisseaux’s short match.
A short time later, Southwick’s senior wrestler registered a pin. It took just 45 seconds.
“I feel like I’ve been mostly babysitting the underclassmen,” Desruisseaux said, jokingly. “They’re all good kids. I love them to death.”
Although inexperienced, Southwick displayed a spirited effort.
In just the second match of the day, Isiah Wood upended Hampshire’s Waverly Kanelong. Wood took down Kanelong, slamming him to the mat en route to posting a 15-7 win. Wood nearly pinned Kanelong as the third period buzzer sounded.
Southwick wrestlers Logan Dubois (132 pounds) and Nazar Tkach (138) both enjoyed leads in their respective matches before each of their opponents exited with injury forfeits.
While Desruisseaux credited going into the matches with a clear head and sticking to the basics as his key to success, he offered a word of advice to his younger teammates.
Said Desruisseaux: “Keep working hard and don’t quit ever. If you get hit down, you’ve got to come out eventually.”
One day in the not-so-distant future as the young wrestlers gain valuable experience, they will likely all come out together – on top.
Schieppe sends Bombers soaring to victory
Westfield 42, Ludlow 30
Westfield heavyweight Johann Schieppe put the team on his back, and Westfield walked away with a hard-earned “W”.
With the outcome in doubt, Schieppe entered the final match of the night. With sheer determination, he worked diligently to pin his opponent, Zac Dunn.
Westfield improved to 12-5.
Senior captain Isaac Santos (126 pounds) and sophomore Cam Foster (152) earned pins for Westfield.
Also, in what turned out to be the match of the night, Westfield junior Kirill Ohkrimenko and Ludlow’s Arda Ibas wrestled to a 2-2 tie through regulation. It remained that way through the first overtime period and was deadlocked after a second OT, 3-3, until when in sudden death Ohkrimenko was awarded two points in the final seconds for a dramatic victory … or so the fans thought.
After the referee was told by the official scorekeeper that the two points was awarded fractions of a second after the buzzer sounded, the call was reversed and Ibas was awarded the victory.
“The gym was so loud I honestly didn’t hear the buzzer myself,” Westfield coach Chris Malinowski said. “It’s been a long time since our gym has been that loud.”
Senior captain Josh Larriu (113), junior Ed Borodin (120), and junior Vitally Borodin (138) also had impressive showings for the Bombers.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Saints upend Pioneers
St. Mary’s 46, Pathfinder 41
St. Mary’s rallied from four points down in the fourth quarter with two big 3-pointers from Jared Russin (9 points), and one from Andrew Florek (7).
Pathfinder overcame an 11-point, halftime deficit but could not get past St. Mary’s.
Jake Butler led St. Mary’s with 14 points. Saints’ Mark Nelson had nine.
Southwick senior Trevor Desruisseaux looks toward the official who slaps the mat for a pin 45 seconds into a match of 182 pounders. (Photo by Chris Putz)
