Mt. Hope wrestling preview: Team looks to 'make some noise' at states

Huskies place third in annual holiday tournament

Photos and story by Richard W Dionne Jr
Posted 12/12/18

The Mt. Hope wrestling team placed third, scoring 158 points as they hosted the annual Sharon Lombardo Holiday Tournament to kick off the season on Saturday. Franklin High School placed first scoring …

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Mt. Hope wrestling preview: Team looks to 'make some noise' at states

Huskies place third in annual holiday tournament

Posted

The Mt. Hope wrestling team placed third, scoring 158 points as they hosted the annual Sharon Lombardo Holiday Tournament to kick off the season on Saturday. Franklin High School placed first scoring 211.5 points and Hope High School placed second, scoring 180 points.

Huskies wrestlers Nick Gomes (106 pounds), Aidan Bennett (178 pounds) and Corey Grifka (182 pounds) placed first in their weight class.

Liam Mallon (113 pounds) placed second. Ethan Bland (120 pounds) and Ryan Bennett (220 pounds) placed third. The Huskies had three fourth place finishers.

The team

The Huskies placed sixth in the state last year and graduated seven seniors leaving some big holes to fill for the 2018 team.

“We have a really young team this year mostly freshmen and sophomores,” said senior captain Aidan Bennett. “But we have a really talented group coming up. The season should be good.”

Bennett, Noah Mallon and Adam Orwiler are the team’s three seniors.

Bennett placed fifth in the state last year at 138 pounds. This year he has moved up to 152 and looking to break the top five.

“Aidan is looking to make some noise this year and hopefully push for the finals,” said Head Coach Eric Francis.

“I’m a little faster than most of the wrestlers my size. They may have a little size on me, but I can make up for it with my speed.”

Noah Mallon plays in the band and was absent from the match. Coach Francis says the team should get him back soon.

“Noah had a very good season last year. He was a match away from placing at the state tournament” Francis said.

Adam Orwiler is making a case to crack the starting lineup. He placed sixth at the tournament.

“Adam makes you work the whole match,” said Bennett.

Underclassmen

Sophomores Nick Gomes and Corey Grifka finished well last season and look to crack the top five this year along with Liam Mallon and freshman Ethan Bland.

Grifka is one of the best kids on our team,” said Bennett. “We think he can win states this year. We have high hopes for him.”

Grifka moved up two full weight classes this season, from 160 pounds to 182.

“Corey grew quite a bit,” said coach Francis. “He grew a couple of inches and put on a ton of weight. He brought his weight down at the end of football season so he would be set when he started. He should do well at 182. He should make top four in the state.”

106 pound sophomore Nick Gomes also should make the top five in his weight class.

“Nick should be in the hunt this year,” said Francis. “Last year he placed sixth in the state. He lost to the third place winner last season at 106. That wrestler moved up, but Nick stayed at 106.”

113 pound sophomore Liam Mallon was a match away from placing last year as well according to coach Francis.

120 pound freshman Ethan Bland placed at the middle school level last season said coach Francis.

“Ethan is a scrappy kid,” said Bennett.

Up and comer

The biggest up and comer in more ways than one is giant 285 pound freshman Atley Jenness who placed fourth in the tournament. Jenness never played sports until this year. He is quick as he is large and excelled at football as a right tackle and nose guard for the Huskies. He especially liked the physicality.

“I just like hitting kids. I like running into kids. I don’t know, I just fell in love with the sport.”

His coaches urged him to wrestle to gain balance, strength and leverage.

“This is my first ever wrestling tournament. I lost the first one and then won the second one,” Jenness said.

“I’m excited. I want to get in the weight room and get more wins,” said Jenness.

“The coaches and my friends wanted me to play sports. I just never did. This year I tried it and I’m really liking it,” Jenness said.

“We think when we have our team at full strength we’re going to be a really hard team to beat,” said Bennett.

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