Minutemen Youth Wrestling

The Berlin Minutemen were represented at the first New England Kids Wrestling Tournament held in Hudson, MA. Connecticut wrestlers amazed 356 team points to place first distancing Massachusetts in second place with 208 points in the Division 1 age groups. First up in Division 2, was Jacob Eliades at 80lb. Jacob won his first match by fall in 3:39. He then last to the Massachusetts champion 11-6. His next match was against Matthew McAlister from Connecticut who he had beaten at the CT State Tournament 6-5, this time McAlister got the best of Jacob and beat him 2-0. At 90lbs was Nick Mangiafico. He lost his first match to a wrestler from Maine and then won 5-2 before dropping his third match by fall. Next at 95 lbs was Wotjus Zak, who lost his first match to the Rhode Island Champion 2-0 and then lost his second match 9-0. Coach Moss said, "Wotjus didn't wrestle in a lot of tournaments this year so to even be at this meet shows great strides in his developement as a wrestler. I was very happy with his matches." Brendan Butler wrestling at 105 lbs. won his first match 6-3, lost his second match to eventual champion from Connecticut Elliott Antler. In the consolations match he beat the champ from Maine 5-3 and the second place finisher from Maine 5-3 to take third place, our first medalist. In the Middle School Division II Berlin was represented by Tyler Cunningham and Mason Powers. Tyler competed in the 100 lb division where he won his first match by fall, second to Maine Champion 1-0 before losing to eventual champion Brad Myers 7-0. Tyler then lost 3-2 before beating Tyler Tibe from Connecticut for 5th place. Cunningham had lost to Tibe in the Connecticut qualifier and State Tournament before beating at New Englands'. Coach Moss added, "Tyler wrestled really tough in his last match and pulled off the 3-0 win which really was satisfying seeing he had lost to him before." Mason Powers came into the Tournament as the third place finisher from Connecticut in the 137 lb division. He won his first match by fall in 2:30, and then dropped a 2-0 decision to the Massachusetts State Champion. Mason then had to come from deep in the consolation bracket beating Mike Sullivan from New Hampshire 1-0 another New Hampshire wrestler 7-5, the Maine champion 2-0 and winning in the consolation final 2-0. Coach Moss summarized the tournament as follows, "This was a chance for our wrestlers to wrestle in a big time tournament with the best from other states. It should really open their eyes to see what they need to do to improve and compete at the next level. It also should give them some goals to wrestle in the High School New England Tournament before they are Seniors."