The Varsity Wrestling team posted a strong finish to its season this week, placing 6th out of the fourteen teams in the Class A division at the League Championship tournament. Andover placed seven wrestlers in the top six of their weight classes, and the team score of 133.5 points was a huge jump from last year’s mark of 100.5. Leading the way were Gabe Worgaftik ’06 and Mark Shvartsman ’05, both of whom reached the finals and took home second place. Phillips Exeter Academy boasted five champions in winning their second Class A title in four years. On Sunday, the Big Blue sent its three female wrestlers to compete in the New England Girls Tournament. The female grapplers fared even better, with Jardine Wall ’04 and Kassie Archambault ’06 both placing second in their weight classes. The wrestling started early Saturday morning, and Andover advanced all twelve of its wrestlers into the second round, with a series of lightning quick pins and byes. With five wrestlers in the semifinals, the Big Blue were in good shape. Worgaftik and Shvartsman won their semifinals matches to advance at 112 and 119lbs, but Captain Leon Fay ’04, Jeff Peña ’04 and Nick Constantino ’04 were knocked off and forced into the consolation bracket. Also advancing in the consolations were Dan Fromson ’05, who recorded his first varsity pin in his first round match, Lars Trautman ’04, Taylor Yates ’04 and John Atay ’03. Phil Caruso ’03 was knocked out early in the tough 152lb weight class, and fellow senior Erik Trautman ’03 was forced to withdraw due to injury. In the end, Worgaftik and Shvartsman both placed second, while Fay and Peña battled back to take third in their classes. Yates and Constantino won their matches with last-minute heroics to take fifth at 145 and 125 respectively, while Atay manhandled his rival from Loomis to win his fifth-place match at 189. On Sunday, Andover Wrestling’s three girls traveled to Canton High School. Wall, the first Andover female ever to record a varsity win, led the Big Blue, scoring two dominating pins en route to a second place finish at the 118lbs weight class. Archambault followed suit, tearing through the first two rounds with pins before losing a close match in the finals to take second at 114. Lolita Muñoz ’04 also wrestled well before an injury forced her to withdraw. The Big Blue Wrestling team now looks ahead to sending its best to the Prep National Tournament this week, and the Prep New England Tournament a week later. With only three Seniors in the starting varsity lineup and six class A placewinners returning, the Andover Wrestlers can look forward to even greater successes next year.
