Westfield senior Cam Foster puts pressure on Minnechaug’s Aubrey Barbeau, winning the matchup of 160 pounders at the Western Massachusetts Division 1 championships Saturday at Central High School in Springfield. (MARC ST.ONGE / THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
SPRINGFIELD – Senior wrestlers made lasting impressions and underclassmen showed promise at the latest version of the Western Massachusetts wrestling championships.
Westfield earned an eighth place finish with six medals at the Division 1 finals. The Bombers compiled 59 points. West Springfield (274.5 points) and Springfield-Central High School (273.5) dominated the field, placing first and second, respectively.
Senior captain Cam Foster led the way for Westfield, claiming a bronze medal. Foster had pins over Minnecahug’s Aubrey Barbeau (1:22), Putnam’s Nyzaire Smith (5:47), and Ludlow’s Gabriel Simard (4:58) to advance to the state championships for the second straight year.
“Cam is a true leader and he did so today, showing younger wrestlers what it takes to make it to the states,” Westfield High School wrestling coach Chris Malinowski said.
Westfield produced multiple state qualifiers.
Westfield juniors Cam Clauson (182 pounds) and Chris Barber (220) earned their first state championship berth. Clauson recorded a 13-9 win against Northampton’s Natneal Walton and a victory against Putnam’s Mazen Abdelrahman. Barber pinned Minnechaug’s Cesar Mendonca and posted a positive 10-6 decision against Agawam’s Eavan Cruz.
Westfield’s 113-pound freshman Tristan Connnors, 126-pound junior Zack Cernak and 145-pound freshman Daniel Ptashuk also medalled.
Cernack had a thrilling last-second, come-from-behind bictory by fall over Holyoke’s Ethan McClain. Ptashuk pinned Ludlow’s Nathan Calabrese in 43 seconds, and earned a 12-7 decision against Chicopee’s Avery Porter.
At 132 pounds, Westfield freshman Anthony Gustafson pinned Agawam’s Jaedyn Perez in 44 seconds.
Sophomore Blake Braceland and freshman Jeffery Robinson also wrestled hard for Westfield.
“Our guys have worked very hard all year and it showed today,” coach Malinowski said. “I’m very excited about the future of Westfield wrestling.”
In Division 3 action, Hampden Charter School of Science won the team title with 198 points. Southwick finished seventh overall (94 points).
Southwick’s 113-pound freshman Isiah Wood logged his team’s highest finish, placing fourth. Wood pinned Sabis seventh grader Michael Stebbins in nine seconds and Mount Everett freshman Tyler Candelari in 1:07 before eventually falling to Hampshire sophomore Alex Willard in 1:37 in a battle for third place.
SWIMMING & DIVING
STATE DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS
Two gold medals and a pair of records for Russell & Co.
It was a record-setting day for Westfield senior Tommy Russell and some of his fellow Bombers on Sunday.
Russell won the 50 freestyle with a school record-breaking time of 21.19, and finished first in the 100 backstroke (51.86) for the second straight year.
Russell, Anton Bonacci, Jack Beaulieu, and Matt Morash swam to a sixth place finish in the medley relay with a time of 1:39.50, also a school record.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
STATE DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS
Drugan, Bean lead Bombers
Westfield junior Shea Drugan had a field day in tracking down some solid results against some of the best competitors in all of Division 2 during the state boys indoor track and field championships Thursday at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.
Drugan placed sixth in the 55 meter dash, but even more importantly set a school record with a time of 6.75.
Drugan also teamed up with fellow teammates – junior William Brewster, senior Robert Piper and senior Brian Rawson – to record a fourth place finish in the 4×200 relay (1:34.05).
Westfield junior Catie Bean posted a fifth place finish in the 300 meter dash (42.44) and a seventh place finish in the 55 meter dash (7.51) in the girls’ competition.
Bean also helped Westfield’s 4×400 relay team, which also included junior Nina Prenosil, senior Nicole Servetnik, and senior Emily Bone to a 10th place finish (4:18.98).
Fri., Feb. 14
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Rams cause Turners to fall
Southwick 33, Turners Falls 28
Southwick celebrated “Senior Night” with an action-packed league victory Friday night. The Rams built a 16-10 first half lead, and held off a late Turners rally.
Hannah Burke led the offensive attack for Southwick with nine points. Burke extended the Rams lead in the second half with a key 3-pointer. She went 2-for-4 from the free throw line.
Southwick seniors Kathleen Shea and Maura Wurster scored eight points apiece, senior Emily martin chipped in seven, and senior Julia Gardner provided a solid defensive effort, making several blocks and stealing the ball.
Southwick sophomore Annette St. Jacques added a free throw late in the fourth quarter.
