Sports Roundup: Winchester Wrestling Dominated Winter Season

The Winchester wrestling program may not have had the dominant talent it's used to having, but the Sachems still won each league match by at least 25 points this season to claim their in 30 years.

"We weren't a state championship power like in the past, but everybody gave 100 percent and that's all you can ask as a coach," coach Larry Tremblay said. "I never thought that we would dominate the league like we did."

Despite the heavy losses from graduation after the 2010 season, Tremblay didn't back down from scheduling tough out-of-state competition again this year.

"We don't duck anybody," Tremblay said. "Steel sharpens steel."

 After beating up on Division I 54-17), the Sachems swept their to improve to 7-0. Ryan MacDonald and Michael Stern pinned all three of their opponents in the holiday meet, had two pins and then moved up a weight class and won by decision.

Winchester extended its unbeaten start to 11-0 by winning the which featured 12 teams from New England, New York and Connecticut. The Sachems defeated Pine Bush 57-24 in the finals as Don Muir, Doug MacDonald, Vinnie McBeck, Dan Fallon, Michael Stern, Gregory and Nick Cashion all won by pin, while Stephen Spry won by decision in triple-overtime and Ryan MacDonald and Nowell won by default.

The Sachems were dealt only their fourth loss in five seasons when they were defeated by Winchester did win five weight classes — Fallon, Cashion and Ryan MacDonald won by pin, Spry won by decision and Gregory won by technical fall.

The Sachems bounced back by dominating the quad meet in hosted. Winchester improved to 19-1 by beating The four co-captains — Cashion, Muir, Ryan MacDonald and Newell — won all three of their matches, along with Fallon.

Tremblay credited his captains for continuing the team's winning tradition.

"We've had years where we've had a lot more talent but they cared about themselves," Tremblay said. "These guys knew the goal and they kept focused on obtaining it."

All four captains — Cashion and seniors Nowell, Ryan MacDonald and Muir — qualified for the along with seniors Stern and McBeck, junior Spry and sophomore Gregory.

During the state meet at Marlborough — where the top six finishers in each weight class advance to all-states — MacDonald (140 pounds) placed third, Cashion (119) finished fifth and Gregory (112) was sixth — which meant Winchester sent three wrestlers to the MIAA All-State Championships at Salem.

At that meet MacDonald lost in the state quarterfinals, but went 3-1 in the consolation rounds to take fifth place and advance to the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships. Cashion lost his first match but then went 4-1 to claim the sixth and final spot at regionals.