The Barrington High School wrestling team opened the regular season with a split on Wednesday night, Dec. 21 — the Eagles defeated Mt. Hope and lost to Bishop Hendricken.

In the 54-21 win over the Huskies, Barrington forfeited the bout at 106 pounds, and there was a double forfeit at 113 pounds. 

Kevin Robinson, a junior standout for the Eagles, won his match by forfeit at 120-pounds. Mt. Hope’s Andrew McCarthy defeated Barrington’s Logan Lane at 126 pounds, and the Huskies’ Elijah Bland defeated the Eagles’ Jack Tutalo at 132 pounds.

Barrington senior Parker Hughes won by forfeit at 138 pounds and James Rocco, a freshman for the Eagles, won by forfeit at 145 pounds.

Mt. Hope’s Mason Furtado defeated Barrington’s Joe Grillo at 152 pounds, winning by an 8-1 decision. Barrington senior Aidan Pine won his match at 160 pounds, pinning Mt. Hope’s Sebastian Moniz, and Eagles’ sophomore Jackson Cortese pinned the Huskies Keaton Fisher in the 170 pound match.

Barrington picked up two wins by forfeit — Brandon Medeiros at 182 pounds and Nate Gravelle at 195 pounds. 

Barrington’s Matt Zimmerman pinned Mt. Hope’s Brian Conway in the 220 pound bout and Thomas Marvelli, a senior for the Eagles, pinned Mt. Hope’s Demetri Tavares in the heavyweight match. 

Barrington High School wrestling coach Sean Magee was happy to see his team get the win over Mt. Hope.

“That was good,” Magee said, adding that the Huskies had defeated the Eagles in previous years. 

Magee said he has been impressed by his team’s hard work so far this season, and praised the leadership of his senior captains, Hughes and Marvelli. 

“Parker is a great leader. He sets a good example,” Magee said. “He works extremely hard. He doesn’t complain. He’s grown quite a bit as a person. He’s more devoted to this.”

Magee said Marvelli is equally dedicated to the sport.

“He works extremely hard. Right now he’s working through some injuries, and he continues to train and have success,” Magee said, adding that Marvelli always brings a bit of humor to the practices and matches. “He’s always smiling.”

The coach said his team has a good mix of juniors and seniors and underclassmen. 

“We have a lot of freshmen. They work hard. They wrestle hard. They’re pushing each other,” Magee said. “They show up and try to improve.”

Magee said Barrington will need a total team effort this season, battling in the always-challenging Division I.

“The level of competition… it’s going to be harder for us as a team,” he said. “But I want them to see that next level of wrestling. Some of the best teams in Rhode Island are also the best teams in New England.”

Scituate tournament

Barrington finished in fourth place in a wrestling tournament in Scituate, Mass. recently. 

Leading the way were three Eagles. Hughes won the 138-pound class. It was his first time winning a high school tournament. 

Fellow BHS senior Tyler Herrera won the 182-pound weight class — he pinned every opponent he faced along the way. It was also Herrera’s first time winning a high school tournament.

Not to be out-done, BHS sophomore Matt Zimmerman pinned every single opponent he faced in the 195-pound weight class and won the tournament. It was the first time Zimmerman won a high school tournament.

“Zimmerman is the surprise of the season so far,” Magee said. “He is undefeated and has pinned all of his opponents.”

Marvelli finished second in the 285-pound weight class, while Robinson finished in third place in the 120-pound weight class, Rocco finished third at 145 pounds, and Pine was third at 160 pounds. 

Waterford tournament

A number of BHS wrestlers celebrated strong performances at the Lancer Tournament in Waterford, Conn. recently. 

Sophomore Charles Potter won the 152-pound weight class. It was his first time winning a high school tournament. 

Grillo finished second at 152 pounds, while Herrera was second at 182 pounds. Marvelli, Hughes and Rocco each finished third in their respective weight classes.