PROVIDENCE – Massachusetts was well represented at the 2024 New England Wrestling Championships with 20 wrestlers finalists at the Providence Career and Technical Academy.
But only one can say they are now a Hall of Famer.
Nate Blanchette from Central Catholic put a stamp on his illustrious career with a 3-1 decision over Preston Marchessault to capture his third consecutive New England Championship flag. With the trifecta of titles, Blanchette automatically is enshrined in the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame.
This may be Blanchette’s final time on the mat for his career as he is headed to Rutgers on scholarship to wrestle at the next level and may need to skip the Nationals to start training in New Jersey.
In a cat-and-mouse style match tied 1-1 into the third, Blanchette took advantage of a shoot by Marchessault that was from too far away and hit an underhook for the two-point takedown inside the final minute of regulation for the victory.
“I realized as we started, he didn’t want to touch me and he was faking a lot and moving side to side and making it hard to take him on straight, but I ended up winning as it’s the little things that matter in wrestling,” said Blanchette. “Three years flew by quick, but it’s been a long run, a long journey, and I remember coming in as a sophomore and being the underdog and honestly to this day that was one of my favorite moments in my career.”
Another three-peat was heavyweight Thomas Brown (Chelmsford) who took home his second straight New England Championship with a 6-0 shutout decision over Alex Bajoras (St. John’s Prep). This was Brown’s third victory in as many weeks over his rival from the Eagles with a 1-0 win at Division 1 States, a 12-3 major decision at All-States and now holds a 6-1 record over Bajoras as they’ve cross paths since grade school on the mat.
“This (title) feels better than last year. My dad is the biggest part of my success. If it wasn’t for me pushing me, bringing me to doughboy practices, I wouldn’t have nearly the amount of success I’ve had,” said Brown, who is also the defending National Champion at 285.
The Shawsheen Tech dynamic duo of Sidney Tidsley and James Tidsley were in the mix as well but the surprising outcome was Sidney Tidsley’s loss in the semifinals to Joseph Joyce (Ponaganset, RI) after being the two-time defending New England Champion at 138-pounds.
But his sophomore brother James Tidsley took home his first-ever New England championship with an 8-6 decision over Victor Petkov (Ridgefield, CT) in a come-from-behind victory.
Down 2-0 and feeling the effects of a stomach virus, Tidsley battled back in the first minute with a quick break and a takedown that rolled into a cradle for three points and the decisive move of the match. Outside of a locked hands penalty Tidsley held on the rest of the way.
After grabbing his first All-States title, Brent Nicolosi (Haverhill) continued his story and finally broke through with a 10-1 major decision over Andrew Reall (Ponaganset, RI) in 165 for his first New England title.
The two-time All-American now fashions a 208-12 record as a senior heading to Nationals where he placed third last season.
In total, 18 wrestlers for the Bay State reached the semifinals with 10 reaching the final platform.
The girls also competed for the first time in New Englands and didn’t disappoint also with 10 Massachusetts finalists overall.
Nora Quitt, who swept the postseason in style with pinfalls in every match, ended her high school career on a high note with a pinfall at 1:31 of the first over Kan-yah McCarthy (Fairfield Ludlowe) to help stamp an outstanding season for Ashland in their first year as a girl’s program.
Head coach Adam Quitt felt it was bittersweet but such a thrill to watch his daughter shine on the mat as a head coach and her dad.
“I raised her so it’s certainly emotional as it’s her last high school match. We’ve been working for this for 12 years, 5:30 a.m. every day, seven days a week since she’s been seven years old,” said Quitt, who shared an embrace with boys’ head coach, Pete Zacchilli right after the win. “It’s awesome to have the boys with the girls here at the New Englands in front of a packed house and for her to go out like that is pretty special.”
Sharon also made a statement on the mat with two finalists as Meghan Wiebe outpointed Emma Leonido (Hanover) 4-0 in an all-Massachusetts final at 165. Wiebe recognized the impact her team and others are making in girls wrestling for the first time competing at New Englands as a group.
“Girls’ wrestling is just starting out and there is huge potential, and you have to go against all of these guys, working so hard, and then you get to the end of the season, and you get to wrestle girls and it is so exciting,” said Wiebe. “Sharon is a great program because we aren’t treated any differently. They treat you like you are any different and that’s how you build great wrestlers and it’s wonderful.”
Madeline Li (Andover) finished off the first-place medals for Massachusetts in the 114-pound division.