The Concord wrestling team is accustomed to winning tournaments, but this victory – against its toughest competition and on its home mats – was extra sweet.
The Tide picked up its fourth major tournament victory of the season, besting 25 other teams to win the Capital City Classic at Concord High School on Saturday.
Concord junior Abbas Abdulrahman won the title at 195 pounds – pinning all four of his opponents – but what put the Tide over the top were contributions up and down the lineup.
Seniors Ethan Comeau (120) and GJ Gimaranzi (170) finished runner-up in their respective divisions, while junior Jack Sargent (138), senior Khan Amiri (145), sophomore Kody Rashed (182) and senior Sam Wagner (106) all finished third.
Senior Alec Galatis (fourth 160), senior James Bonnell (sixth 152), sophomore Jordan Reyes (sixth 126) and junior Trey Fortier (sixth 132) also placed, giving the Tide top-six grapplers in 11 out of 14 weight classes.
“It’s about the team winning the tournament,” Concord’s long-time head coach Ham Munnell said. “Everybody contributed. It’s a nice team like that, they focused on the big picture, not just their individual goals. This is the best we’ve done by far this season.”
Concord scored 218 points to take the team title against some of the strongest programs in New Hampshire – and New England – to remain undefeated against Granite State teams.
Despite the strong competition, Abdulrahman made it look relatively easy. He pinned Merrimack’s Gavin Mangum 46 seconds into their Round of 16 bout. Abdulrahman had another first-period pin – this time against Portsmouth’s Riley Huneke – in the quarterfinals. He had a 7-1 lead when he pinned Bishop Hendricken’s Luke Mead in the second period of his semifinal bout. Abdulrahman finished off his title-winning performance with a pin in the second period over Dave Harding of Holliston, Mass., but was already sitting on a 9-2 lead.
“Abbas – he’s great. He’s probably one of, if not our best, wrestler,” Munnell said. “He just gets better. He can score points at will against anybody. He’s so athletic. He’s a great wrestler and a huge competitor.”
Rhode Island’s Bishop Hendricken (164.5 points), Central Catholic of Lawrence, Mass. (135.5), Pinkerton (128.5) and Holliston (124) were the top five teams.
Burlington, Mass. (101), Haverhill, Mass. (93), Merrimack (80.5), Noble, Maine (80) and Vermont’s St. Johnsbury Academy (78.5) rounded out the top 10.
Even the teams towards the bottom of the ladder are forces to be reckoned with.
Team Zeras – comprised of Concord’s ‘B’ wrestlers – finished 16th with 56 points and had Evan Berube (fifth 152), Cortland Miller (sixth 160) and Aidan Fox-Morrill (sixth 145) place.
Defending Division III champions Bow finished 19th with 47.5 points thanks to Will Zachistal (third 285), Wyatt Rheinhardt (sixth 113) and Nick Wray (sixth 113).
It’s a tough tournament and its designed to be that way – especially with the state championships just three weeks away.
“There’s some kids who have been rolling,” said Munnell, referring to decisive victories at the Salem Blue Devil Classic, Keene Minickiello Holiday Tournament and Chelmsford Tournament earlier in the season, “but there’s a lot of great talent (at the Capital City Classic).”
One example of that was Sargent, who has commanded the mats in tournament action so far, but faced his stiffest competition of the season on Saturday.
Sargent won by pin in the first two rounds, before falling to Bishop Hendricken’s Isaiah Guerrero in a 10-8 decision in the semifinals.
Sargent responded well, defeating Pinkerton’s David Hammond in a 5-0 decision in the third-place bout.
“It was good to be exposed to (the competition),” Munelle said. “It’s good to get challenged anytime.”
The challenges will only continue for the Tide in the coming weeks.
Tournament action is done until the Division I championship on Feb. 22 at Londonderry High School, but the Tide still have a few duals, including its final contest of the regular season against the Timberlane Owls – the winners of 18 of the past 19 D-I crowns.
“Our goal is to go to Plaistow and win,” Munnell said.