The Ultimate 2025 New Englands Recap
- Mar 12
- 13 min read
What an amazing past few months! This past weekend was electric as 14 boys were crowned New England champions and 12 girls earned the title in the second ever girls New England championship.
*2/26 Boys Rankings used
*2/26 Boys Team Rankings used
A Look at the Numbers
It was Connecticut this year who took home the most hardware in total, edging out Massachusetts by eight total placers. Maine saw a slight increase in its total placers and New Hampshire essentially doubled their amount of wrestlers on the podium from last season. Massachusetts took home the most gold medals both in total and in the boys division. Maine and Massachusetts tied for the most champions on the girls side.
Big thank you to Aaron Wolfang for providing the graphs below.
Girls Team Scores (Top 10)
Norwalk (CT) - 63
Trumbull (CT) - 60
Massabesic (ME) - 58.5
Noble (ME) - 57
Lowell (MA) - 43.5
Amity (CT) - 38.5
T-7. Bridgewater-Raynham (MA) - 36
T-7. Scituate (RI) - 36
9. East Haven (CT) - 35
10. Northeast Metro Tech/Bishop Fenwick (MA) - 30
It was a very close race that went to the final match of the tournament. Norwalk (CT) was leading most of the way, sending all three wrestlers to the semi-finals. Massabesic (ME) and Noble (ME) followed soon after in the standings.
On day two, though, it was Trumbull (CT) that launched itself into trophy range as they battled hard in the consolations and earned a finals berth, catapulting them behind their Connecticut rival. Norwalk got it done after New Britain (CT)’s Kaydence Atkinson defeated Trumbull’s Marangelie Teixeira 3-2 in the 165lbs finals.
Finals Recap
Starting at 185lbs (like the event) was Kayli Morris (Platt, CT) vs. Hillary MacDonald (Lawrence, MA). After a scoreless first period, Morris chose bottom and within 15 seconds was out. 30 seconds later, she was up 4-0 after scoring a takedown. She’d get four nearfall points before MacDonald would escape and choose bottom. Morris would get the pin 21 seconds into the third period, giving the junior her second consecutive New England title.
Jeily Euceda (Norwalk, CT) met Ameliyah Martinez (Lowell, MA) in an electric 235lbs championship bout. The Norwalk Bear jumped out to an early eight point lead but Martinez chipped away with three reversals and got Euceda to her back where she put herself in front 12-8 and eventually got the pin.
2024 New England champion Hannah Perro (Noble, ME) stepped onto the mat with confidence for her 100lb championship final. 18 seconds in, she scored a takedown and even chose top heading into the second period. She would pin Sophia Gordon (South Windsor, CT) 44 seconds into the period to earn her second New England title.
After getting injured and losing in last year’s New England final, 2024 Fargo champ Samantha Bertini (Ludlow, MA) knew she had a job to do, this time up a weight class at 107lbs. But it was Allison Patten (Pilgrim, RI) who got the first takedown of the match. Bertini would reverse it quickly after and Patten would choose neutral up 3-2 heading into the second period. Bertini would grab another takedown and that would be all she wrote as the Ludlow Lion picked up her first New England crown.
It was Connecticut champion Sybella Landrie (Berlin, CT) against Massachusetts third-place finisher Brooke Lightfoot (Tewksbury, MA) for the 114lbs title. Landrie would be the aggressor, going up 7-0 in the first period, and choosing neutral in the second and grabbing another takedown. In the third Lightfoot chose top, Landrie got a reversal and the pin.
In what was a great finals match at 120lbs, Delaney Frost (Noble, ME) bested Adriana DeGroat (Framingham, MA), 9-7. Frost grabbed the first score, going up 3-0 into the second, and got another takedown to go up 6-0. DeGroat however was not deterred and escaped and got her own shot off as well and eventually chose neutral heading into the third. Frost would grab another takedown but Degroat would get the reversal. Frost would be able to hold on for her first title.
126lbs was a match that had two national caliber wrestlers and went very quick as 3x NHIAA Co-Ed DIII Champion Liz Donovan (Pelham, NH) would grab the lightning fast 29 second pin over freshman Chloe Ross (Scituate, RI) to cap off an excellent high school career. Donovan would also win the Most Outstanding Wrestler award of the tournament.
At 132lbs, 2024 New England Bronze Medalist Rylee Donohue (Norwalk, CT) took on Nevaeh Grunhuvd (Massabesic, ME). Grunhuvd would try to throw a headlock in the first period, but Donohue would counter and end the first period up 3-0. Grunhuvd would opt for neutral in the second and would get a big takedown and four backpoints to take a commanding 7-3 lead. Grunhuvd would give up a point due to technical violation but got the 7-4 win.
In a Maine state championship rematch, Sophie Grunhuvd (Massabesic, ME) faced off against Maxine Spencer (Erskine Academy, ME) for 138lbs. Having just watched her sister win a title, the Massabesic Mustang made quick work of her in-state opponent, getting a takedown halfway through the first and the pin 30 seconds later.
A rematch of their semi-finals match in the Massachusetts All-States, Janessa Santiago (Methuen, MA) met Tessa Master (Watertown, MA) for the 145lbs title. Santiago ended the first period up 3-1. She’d get another takedown in the second period but Master was able to get the reversal. Santiago would gain control back before the whistle and head into the third 8-4. A quick escape and a takedown would be all Santiago needed as the Methuen Ranger got the eventual pin for the title.
At 152lbs, Massachusetts champion Shelby Galex (Northeast Metro Tech/Bishop Fenwick, MA) took on Maine state champion Ava McGinnis (Nokomis, ME). Galex would get a takedown in the first and a reversal after McGinnis chose top in the second. Galex would get the pin while up 5-0.
In the final girls bout of the tournament, and as mentioned above one that had big implications on the team score, Connecticut runner-up Marangile Teixeria (Trumbull, CT) faced off against Connecticut champion Kaydence Atkinson (New Britain, CT). Teixeria was up 1-0 heading into the third period with Atkinson choosing bottom. a technical violation on Teixeria would even the score and a stalling call would put her behind. Atkinson got an escape with 35 seconds left to seal the deal with a 3-1 win.
Girls 1st Place Matches
Girls 3rd Place Matches
138: Amelia Petersen CT (Haddam-Killingworth) M FOR Josephina Piel CT (New Milford)
Girls 5th Place Matches
145: Maddie Cooper CT (East Haven) M FOR Mackenzie Lacoss NH (Spaulding)
235:Tiyana Taylor CT (Norwich Free Academy) F Elaine Pinto MA (Duxbury), 1:58
Boys Team Scores (Top 25)
(1) Ponaganset (RI) - 205
(3) Xavier (CT) - 93
(4) East Hartford (CT) - 79
(5) Newtown (CT) - 77.5
(2) Shawsheen Tech (MA) - 75
(12) Central Catholic (MA) - 62.5
(6) Fairfield Warde (CT) - 59.5
(8) Milford (MA) - 58
(9) East Lyme/Norwich Tech (CT) - 55.5
T-10: (14) Bridgewater-Raynham (MA) - 55
T-10: (7) St. John’s Prep (MA) - 55
12. (10) Andover (MA) - 53
13. (19) Simsbury (CT) - 39.5
14. (11) Haverhill (MA) - 39
T-15: (21) Pinkerton Academy (NH) - 38
T-15: (NR) Ridgefield (CT) - 38
17. (15) Tewksbury (MA) - 37
18. (NR) East Providence (RI) - 34
19. (NR) Ledyard (CT) - 32.5
20. (18) Chelmsford (MA) - 32
21. (NR) Ashland (MA) - 31.5
22. (17) Franklin (MA) - 30
23. (NR) Bishop Hendricken (RI) - 28.5
24. (20) Billerica (MA) - 27
25. (NR) Leominster (MA) - 26.5
It was all Ponaganset (RI) this year again as they placed nine, and four brought home gold medals. Xavier (CT) placed second, getting four on the podium. East Hartford (CT) placed three, all in the top three, and Newtown (CT) placed all four wrestlers they brought. Shawsheen Tech (MA) was the only other team with multiple champions and rounded out the top five.
Finals Recap
The boys finals started at 190lbs and like last weekend in Connecticut it featured No. 1 Max Konopka (Simsbury, CT) and No. 2 Brayden Soleau (East Lyme/Norwich Tech, CT). Soleau once again proved to be the only wrestler in New England that can go the full six minutes with Konopka. After a scoreless first, Konopka got an escape and takedown to go up 4-0 and got another takedown in the third to win his second New England title by a score of 7-0.
215lbs Super 32 placer No. 1 Lincoln Carlson (East Lyme/Norwich Tech, CT) took the mat as the one seed against now 2x New England finalist No. 2 Matt Harrold (Haverhill, MA). Carlson showed off his offensive arsenal, scoring five takedowns in the 15-4 win.
In what seems like the hundredth time, No. 1 Thomas Brown (Chelmsford, MA) faced off against No. 2 Alex Bajoras (St. John’s Prep, MA) - but this time it mattered more. Brown always seemed to get the close 3-1 or 4-2 win, but this time the now 3x New England champ opened up with a takedown and three nearfall points to jump out to an early 6-0 lead. Another takedown in the third and some stall calls in favor of Bajoras gave Brown his third title and an induction into the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame.
106lbs featured a rematch of the Massachusetts state final with No. 1 John Wodall (Franklin, MA) taking on No. 5 Antoine Jackman (Greater Lowell, MA). Jackman would be the first to score but Woodall would get the escape and a takedown of his own. An escape for each wrestler would be the rest of the points scored as John Woodall captured a title with a score of 5-4.
Looking for his second New England title, No. 1 Cole Lemovitz (Ponaganset, RI) was the first to score and saw himself up 3-0 against No. 6 Kylan Berry (Marshwood, ME). But after Lemovitz chose bottom to start the second, Berry locked up a cradle and got four back points and held him there until he gave up a reversal at the whistle. Lemovitz would ride Berry out for the whole third period to win his second title.
A battle of runner-ups happened at 120lbs with freshman Connecticut second-place finisher No. 7 Lukas Boxley (Ledyard, CT) taking on Massachusetts second-place finisher No. 2 Nick Desisto (Tewlsbury, MA). Boxley was dominant out of the gate, scoring seven in the first thanks to a takedown and four back points. He wouldn’t look back as he would win the finals with a pin in the second period while up 11-1, earning his first New England title and Most Outstanding Wrestler honors.
A truly remarkable story at 126lbs. With only four years of wrestling under his belt, but all the grit and determination in the world, No. 5 Ethan Buonanducci (Enfield, CT) met his in-state opponent No. 6 Alex Oberc (New Milford, CT) in the finals for a second consecutive weekend. After a scoreless first and starting on bottom, Buonanducci fired off a shot and was up 4-0. Another takedown in the third would seal the deal 7-4 as Buonanducci became the first Enfield wrestler to win New Englands.
After losing in the finals last year, No. 1 Yandel Morales (Andover, MA) looked to be the top dog this year. He encountered No. 2 Lance Bordeleau (Pinkerton Academy, NH) in the 132 lbs finals and made a quick start, up 7-0 after the first. An escape in the second and a takedown in the third would be all Morales needed for his first New England title coming via an 11-0 win.
The second wrestler who made history on Sunday was No. 2 Sidney Tildsley, who capped off an amazing career at Shawsheen Tech (MA) that includes the all-time Massachusetts wins record (245), four Massachusetts All-State titles, and three New England titles. He teched No. 6 Charles Phillips (East Providence, RI) 23-6 for his third title at 138lbs, in a bout that was named the most exciting finals.
For the second year in a row, but this time at 144lbs, No. 1 Joe Joyce (Ponaganset, RI) met No. 2 Jaeckez Mendez (East Hartford, CT) in the finals. Joyce got the win 8-1 and earned his second New England title. Mendez ends his extraordinary career at East Hartford as a 3x New England finalist.
150lbs featured pure dominance as No. 1 James Tildsley (Shawsheen Tech, MA) teched No. 2 Antonio Arguello (Newtown, CT), 19-4, scoring six takedowns in the 3 minutes 34 second long match. This is Tildsley’s second title and he can follow in his brother’s footsteps and become the second one in the family to win three titles next year. Tildsley finished his junior year with a season record of 61-0 with no opponent making it through a whole six minute match.
Another dominant run was made at 157lbs, when No. 2 Michael Boulanger (Milford, MA) proved me and others wrong as he showed he was the top wrestler, taking out No. 1 Carnell Davis (Ponaganset, RI) 17-5, scoring five takedowns in the bout. This is Boulanger’s first New England title and Davis is now a 2x finalist.
In a battle of Ivy League commits, Future Brown superstar No. 1 David Perez (Ponaganset, RI) left no doubt as he got the pin in dominant fashion over Columbia-bound No. 3 Marc Maurath (Newtown, CT). The Ponaganset Chieftain led 6-1 heading into the third before scoring another three takedowns and getting the pin while up 16-3.
At 175lbs, Brown commit No. 1 Preston Marchesseault (Ponaganset, RI) took home the 4-0 decision win over No. 5 David Pento Jr. (Londonderry, NH). It was scoreless heading into the third, but an escape and a takedown thirty seconds in was the difference maker as Marchesseault won his first New England title.
Boys 1st Place Matches
Boys 3rd Place Matches
106: No. 6 Zack Dixon CT (Xavier) M FOR No. 8 Cole Desiano CT (Ridgefield)
175: No. 2 Lucas Alvan MA (Ludlow) M FOR No. 6 Vincent Demaio MA (Methuen)
190: No. 6 Caden Chase MA (Central Catholic) DEC No. 10 Fletcher Rinke MA (Bridgewater-Raynham), 5-1
285: No. 3 Kazmeier Morosetti RI (North Kingstown) F No. 16 Geza Labancz ME (Fryeburg Academy), 4:31
Boys 5th Place Matches
150: No. 8 Troy Greaney MA (Leominster) M FOR No. 9 Brady Ouellette ME (Noble)
165: No. 6 Matthew Pappas RI (Bishop Hendricken) M FOR No. 4 Joseph Lathwood ME (Biddeford/Thorn.)
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