Wrestling AGV at New Englands

Rios '26, Nugent '25, Elliott '27, and Akyali '28 are New England Champions

This weekend Andover Wrestling traveled to the NEPSWA Championships hosted by Phillips Exeter. Six boys competed in the Prep Division, and ten girls competed in the Girls Division.

In the Prep Division, co-captain Julian Rios ’26 became a 3x New England Prep Champion at 113 lbs. In the quarterfinals he pinned his opponent in 13 seconds; in the semifinals he pinned his opponent in 53 seconds. In his final match he defeated his opponent 4-2 to win the championship. Julian was also voted one of the “Outstanding Wrestlers” of the tournament by the coaches’ association. Julian will compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

At 120 lbs Brady Haskell ’28 went in as the 6 seed. In the round of 16 he pinned his opponent in 48 seconds; he lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual 3^rd place wrestler. In the consolation bracket he pinned his next two opponents to advance to the consolation semis, where he lost to the eventual 4^th place wrestler. He then pinned in his placement match to place 5^th. Brady will compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

At 106 lbs Christian Robinson ’28 went into the tournament unseeded. In the round of 16 he pinned his opponent in the third period after outscoring him 14-4. He lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual champion, but won his consolation match 17-5. He lost his next two matches and placed 8^th. Christian will compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

Also competing well for Andover were Reese York ’26 (0-2), James Bae ’26 (0-2), and Sebastian Haferd ’25 (1-2). The team placed 12^th out of 42 teams.

In the girls division, co-captain 138 Dani Nugent ’25 made NEPSAC history by becoming the first female wrestler to win four New England Championships in her career. She won her quarterfinals match with a 37 second pin; she won her semifinals match by tech pin, scoring 14 points before pinning her opponent in 1:32. She won her finals match in dominant fashion, scoring 9 points before pinning her opponent in 1:26. Dani was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the girls division by the coaches’ association for the second time in a row. Dani will compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

Andover had two other champions in the girls division. At 185 lbs Toni Elliott ’27 had a bye to the semifinals, where she pinned her opponent in 20 seconds, and then she pinned her opponent in the finals in 1:23. At 100 lbs Serra Akyali ’28 wrestled in a best two out of three bracket, and she pinned her opponent twice (2:55 and 2:47) to win her bracket. Toni and Serra will also compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

Andover had five other placers in the girls division. At 126 Ophelia Lee ’26 won her quarterfinals match by pin in 1:19, and she won her semifinals match by pin in 3:45 after an exciting back and forth match, before she fell in the finals to a returning New England champion. Ophela Lee placed 2^nd. At 132 Tasha Bohorad ’26 won her quarterfianls match by pin in 2:29, and qon her semifinals match by technical fall 15-0 in four minutes, before losing a tough finals match 5-18 to a returning New England Champion. Tasha Bohorad placed 2^nd. Both Tasha and Ophelia will compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

At 165 lbs Bella Shmuylovich ’25 won her quarterfinals match by pin in 1:24; she lost a heartbreaking 0-1 match in the semifinals, but rallied with two first period pins to claim 3^rd place. Bella will compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

At 152 Eva Murphy lost her quarterfinals match to a tough opponent, but rallied in the consi-semis with a first period pin and placed 4^th. Eva will compete in the National Prep Championships next weekend.

At 145 Cindy Zhou went 1-2 and placed 4^th. Also competing well for Andover were Alessandra Woo ’27 and Lisa DeBoer ’26. Andover placed 2^nd overall as a team in the Girls Division.