Wrestling AGV at National Prep Wrestling Championships

10 Andover Wrestlers compete at Nationals; Girls are National Champions

The 86^th annual National Prep Wrestling Championships were held at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD on Friday February 25 and Saturday February 26^th. The boys division began on Friday. Leading the way was co-captain Colin Nugent ’23, who was seeded 12^th at 145 lbs. In the round of 32 he defeated his Poly Prep opponent 4-1. In the round of 16 he lost 16-0 to the eventual 4^th place wrestler. In the consolation round of 16 he pinned his St. Benedict’s Prep opponent in the first period, and in the consolation round of 8 he pinned his Greens Farms Academy opponent in the 2^nd period. In the second consolation round of 8, known as the “blood round,” Nugent had a rematch against his New England finals opponent from Belmont Hill. Nugent made some adjustments and improvements in this rematch, and the score was 2-2 at the end of the third period. There was a good scramble in the one minute of overtime, but his Belmont Hill opponent eventually scored the takedown, and Nugent lost the match 2-4. He went 3-2 at the tournament and had an impressive run to cap an equally impressive season. He is 17-4 this season, Class A champ, and New England runner up.

At 113 lbs George Ryckman ‘24 pinned his Bishop Lynch opponent in 28 seconds in the round of 32. In the round of 16 he lost to a wrestler from Mount Saint Joseph, who eventually placed 5^th at the tournament. He lost in the consolation round to an opponent from St. John’s College. He went 1-2 at the tournament. He ends the season 14-4, Class A runner up, and 3^rd at New Englands.

In the round of 32, 126 lbs Arnav Bhakta ’22 lost to his Western Reserve Academy opponent, who ended up placing 2^nd at the tournament. In the first consolation round Bhakta won by forfeit, be he lost his next match to a wrestler from Loyola Blakefield. He went 1-2 at the tournament. He ends the season 13-6, Class A champ, and 6^th at New Englands.

In the round of 32, 132 lbs Miles Palmer ’23 lost his first match 1-8 to an opponent from Covenant School. In the round of 16 he lost 2-8 to an opponent from First Baptist Academy. He went 0-2 at the tournament. He ends the season 13-7, Class A runner up, and 4^th at New Englands.

The girls division began on Saturday morning. At 107 lbs Sakina Cotton ’24 had a bye in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals she defeated her Friends Central opponent 13-2, and in the finals she pinned her Portsmouth Abbey opponent in a minute and thirty seconds. She went 2-0 at the tournament and is Prep National Champion at 107 lbs.

At 120 lbs Eva Murphy ’25 pinned her Sidwell Friends opponent in the second period in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals she lost a tough 10-0 decision to her Abington Friends opponent, but she rebounded with a first period pin in the consolation semifinals against her Deerfield opponent. She lost her place match 3-11. She went 2-2 at the tournament, and placed 4^th at the Prep National Championships at 120 lbs.

At 126 lbs Wendi Zheng ’24 pinned her Sidwell Friends opponent in 36 seconds. In the semifinals she pinned her Deerfield opponent in 35 seconds. She lost a tough 2-15 match in the finals to her Blair opponent. She went 2-1 at the tournament, and placed 2^nd at the Prep National Championships at 126 lbs.

At 132 lbs Dani Nugent ’25 pinned her Sidwell Friends opponent in 17 seconds. In the semifinals she pinned her Friends Central opponent in 48 seconds. She won a solid 8-0 major decision in the finals against her Fort Worth Country Day opponent. She went 3-0 at the tournament and is Prep National Champion at 132 lbs.

At 152 lbs Giselle Jones-Mollod ’22 had a bye in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals she lost a close match to her St. Mark’s opponent. She rebounded with a 2-0 win over her Sidwell Friends opponent. She went 1-1 at the tournament and placed 3^rd at the Prep National Championships.

At 235 lbs Nor Dehoog ’24 exhibitioned against the champion of the 165 lbs weight class from Deerfield. She scored a takedown in the first period, and in the second period she scored a reversal with a switch. Her Deerfield opponent also reversed her, but Nor was able to escape, and won the match 5-3. Nor DeHoog went 1-0 at the tournament and is Prep National Champion at 235 lbs.

Phillips Academy won the team title with 95 team points. The second place team, Sidwell Friends, had 46 points.

Before the finals rounds, Coach Kassie Archambault ’06 was awarded National Prep Head Coach of the Year, as voted by the National Prep Board.

This concludes our wrestling season!