Westfield’s Aundre Popchuck, top, competes in the 152-class during last night’s wrestling meet with Ludlow. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
LUDLOW – The Westfield High School wrestling team battled injury, illness, and sweeping forfeits to escape Ludlow with a narrow 39-36 victory on the road Wednesday night.
Jordan Cree (160 pounds) and Austin Shrewsbury (285) were the lone Westfield wrestlers to achieve pins, with Cree pinning Justin Domingos in 1:23 and Shrewsbury pinning Josh Paullo in 29 ticks. Bombers’ 152-pounder, Aundrey Popchuk defeated Ludlow’s Brandon Maczunike 4-2.
Popchuk broke a 1-1 third period tie, nearly pinning his opponent in the final 30 seconds and nabbing three points for the victory. Maczunike earned a point in the waning seconds.
Popchuk led 1-0 following two periods. The match was scoreless at the end of the first period.
Westfield 120-pound wrestler, Dominic Liquori lost a tough match to Brian Cormier 2-0.
“I’m not making excuses, but Dom was sick all week,” Bombers coach Bob Coe said, regarding one of his elite wrestlers.
Liquori, Popchuk, Cree, Shrewsbury, Nick McDonald, and Sean Donofrio, have each enjoyed marked success this season.
“We’re a little bit banged up right now,” said Coe, who plugged a few holes in his lineup Wednesday night with some JV wrestlers. “That will help get us some experience.”
Ludlow also earned pins from Brandon Moreau (106 pounds, 1:01 pin), Dominic Coeero (120, 00:32), and Matt Conners (182, 3:52); and, a 10-5 win from 113-pounder Ryan Aagnan.
Westfield’s Thomas Flaherty and Ryan Bucko received forfeit wins at 195 and 220 pounds, respectively.
“Tom Flaherty is coming along, and Ryan Bucko is going to make some noise at Western Mass.,” coach Coe said.
Coe also said Trevor Lucia, who weighs nearly 20 pounds less than his wrestling weight of 106, has been relentless, and that Ray Pacheco, a 106-pounder wrestling at 113, has also risen to the challenge.
With a couple tournaments and key matches against Northampton, Longmeadow, and West Springfield still remaining, there is still much ahead for the Bombers to prove.
“Once we get our whole lineup together – and in – we’re going to compete with anybody,” Coe said.
Coe has predicted on numerous occasions this season that the Whip City faithful should not be surprised if his team produces four to five champions at New England, and at the very least, several contenders in Western Mass.
In other wrestling matches, Southwick-Tolland traveled to Hampshire Regional, and Gateway was at Franklin Tech. No details were provided as of press time.
