AUSTIN SHREWSBURY
SPRINGFIELD – The Whip City truly saved the best for last on the biggest stage.
Westfield heavyweight Austin Shrewsbury battled through several rounds of the Western Massachusetts Division I high school wrestling championship tournament, finishing runner-up in the final match of the night Saturday at Central High School.
Shrewsbury lost to Central’s Kamron Anderson, 4-1.
“I’m glad I made it this far,” Shrewsbury said. “It was a tough (finals) match, but I’m going to learn from my mistakes. I had a tough time getting up on the bottom.”
Shrewsbury dominated each opponent en route to the championship bout. The Bombers’ 285-pound wrestler pinned his first two opponents, Putnam’s Jonathan Argueta and Chicopee Comp’s Joel Rodriguez, in 44 and 60 seconds, respectively. He won a major decision (14-0) against Agawam’s Nick Hope in the semifinals.
As for the team, Westfield placed seventh overall with 96 points. Central overwhelmed everyone for the team title (288 points). Agawam (210), Putnam (143), Minnechaug (139), and Chicopee (128.5) rounded out the top five.
Shrewsbury and Westfield’s 170-pound wrestler, Dominic Liquori, will represent the team at next weekend’s state championships.
Liquori earned a third-place finish Saturday, losing to Ludlow’s Brian Cormier, 5-3, in the semis. Cormier established a slim lead in the match, and relied on stalling techniques, wrestling along the edge of the mat to escape victorious.
Liquori earned pins in wins over East Longmeadow’s Andy Frappier (2:13) and Minnechaug’s Benton Whitley (0:22).
“I’m disappointed. I could’ve been more aggressive,” Liquori said. “Third place doesn’t matter though. It just makes me the underdog … I’m just ready for states.”
Westfield’s Nick McDonald attempts an escape during his consolation finals match at 126 pounds against Ben Podmore of East Longmeadow Saturday at the Western Massachusetts Division I wrestling championship tournament at Central High School.McDonald lost, 7-8. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Westfield’s Nick McDonnald (126 pounds) and Sean Donofrio (145) each placed fifth.
“My guys wrestled hard all year long,” Westfield head coach Bob Coe said. “Things didn’t turn out how we wanted them to (today), but to take sixth or seventh overall is not a bad day … I’m proud as hell of all my guys.”
The individual champions were: Central’s Matt Garcia (106), Agawam’s Brennan Liebel (113), Minnechaug’s Ryan Monteiro (120) and Anthony Monteiro (126), Chicopee Comp’s Jason Vargas (132), Central’s Eric Rodriguez (138), Agawam’s Anthony Basile (145), Central’s Rick Viruet (152) and Jonathan Viruet (160), Central’s Jastice Bolden (170), East Longmeadow’s Connor Humphries (182), Central’s Matt Paris (195), Ryan Pinkham (220), and Anderson at 285.
