Coach Dave Rhoads and his Pinkerton Academy wrestling squad dealt with plenty of both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat at two competitive events last week.
Rhoads’ roster gave it the old college try against the juggernaut from Timberlane Regional High School of Plaistow in Derry on Wednesday, Jan. 14, but fell to that powerful opponent by a 51-24 tally. And three days later the academy grapplers hosted their first Border Wars Duals Tournament, tallying a 1-1 record and watching the arch-rival Londonderry Lancers bag the tournament title by besting all three opponents they battled.
In the head to head meeting with Timberlane, the Astros received individual bout victories from Derek Wilson at 106 pounds (16-2 major decision), 120-pound stalwart Shayne McCann (15-0 tech fall), Tyler Wilson at 160 pounds (10-4 decision), Dylan Barreiro in the 195-pound contest (pin just 51 seconds in), and heavyweight grappler Deene Hill (pin at 3:20).
At the Border Wars duals event in Derry last Saturday, Jan. 17, Rhoads and his athletes played host to Londonderry, Concord, Windham, Nashua North, and Winchester, Mass.
The Astros defeated the Nashua entry by a solid 47-27 tally, but got downed by the tough Concord Crimson Tide in a 47-23 decision.
McCann, Eric Daigle (at 126 pounds), Tyler Wilson, Barreiro, and Hill all posted perfect 2-0 bout records on the day, while Keygan Nacos (113 pounds), Seamus Dolan (160), and Jake Weishaar (220) all went 1-1.
The Londonderry High Lancers won the inaugural tourney by defeating North (51-24), Windham (47-27), and Concord (35-26).
