Isaac Novod leads Team Massachusetts freestyle men in wins

The 126-pounder picked up 7 after an opening round loss

By AJ Traub

Isaac Novod didn't let a tough first round draw slow him down

Win after win, Isaac Novod bulldozed his way through the consolation bracket.

Though he ended up one match shy of placing, the 126-pounder from Medford racked up a team-high seven wins at the Fargodome.

“I trained for this,” said the rising junior at Belmont Hill. “I trained my cardio a lot, so I just kept going and took the loss lightly. I kept my head in the game and didn’t worry about it, didn’t worry about how many matches I needed to win, just my next match.”

Novod battled New Jersey champion Paul Kenny, who placed third at world team trials, in the first round to a 4-2 loss, but gritted out a 6-5 win in his next match. He finished the day with a pin in 5:18 to reach the second day.

He started his Tuesday with a first-period technical fall, before winning another close decision 3-2. Two more technical falls later, and he’d reached the final day.

He owned the second period of his first Wednesday match to secure a 19-12 win over Czar Quintanilla (Washington), before Utah’s Lander Bosh put an end to his run.

“Proud of the heart Isaac showed to battle back and win seven in a row to blood round,” said coach Matt Dehney.

Isaac Novod racked up 19 points against Czar Quintanilla

Elliott Humphries went down with an injury in his blood round match at 175 pounds. The UPenn-bound grappler, whom Dehney called “one of the toughest kids I ever met,” had a breakout senior season, starting with last year’s finals run at Fargo and culminating in an NHSCA national championship.

Humphries, Reese Spiro (190 pounds), Yandel Morales (138), and Shea Morris (144) all finished with five victories in junior men’s brackets. Julian Rios (113) went the furthest on the top side, reaching the quarterfinals by recording four wins.

“Julian is one of the best kids in the country,” Dehney said. “I feel for him right now. Did everything right to prepare, just had a bad day.”

Julian Rios fought a pair of close bouts on the third day

Preston Burroughs led the 16U group with three victories at 165 pounds. He’s part of Team Mass competing in Greco-Roman, starting Friday.

16U men's freestyle update through 4 rounds

Burroughs bounces back creatively to reach the final day

By AJ Traub

Preston Burroughs flipped himself over Kevin Kilpatrick to score big points in his first match of the day

On the heels of a tough loss, Preston Burroughs seized his very next opportunity.

The 165-pounder saw an opening and pounced, pinning Arizona’s Ryland Moss in 49 seconds. It was a bright spot to end the day where the rest of the 16U men on Team Massachusetts bowed out.

It’s also the first time Burroughs will wrestle on the third day of the tournament at Fargo.

“It was really important for him to get refocused,” said Nate Burroughs, Preston’s father and a Team Mass coach. “There are some things he needs to work on… defending his legs, but mentally he got it together and that was really what was important.”

Through two days, 10 Bay State grapplers combined for 16 wins. Everett Bluman (94 pounds), Johnny Woodall (106), Charles Holt (144), and Bryant Mason (175) joined Burroughs in recording multiple triumphs.

Everett Bluman picked up two wins on the back side

“Overall, I thought the 16 group did pretty well,” said coach Matt Dehney. “We had a lot of inexperienced kids, so hopefully it was eye-opening for them and see where they need to be.”

After Burroughs had a bye in the first round, he has recorded three wins on the mat. His funky style was on display in his first match where he earned a 13-5 win over Georgia’s Kevin Kilpatrick, and then the pin of Moss where he escaped a tricky position.

“I always have faith that Preston can pull something out of the bag because he’s a very unorthodox wrestler and he’s pretty fearless, Nate Burroughs said, “So it was great to see him pull off one of his signature bunny-out-of-the-hat [moves].”

Johnny Woodall made the round of 32 with a tech fall and a decision

Junior men's freestyle update through 4 rounds

Rios wins a thriller to reach the quarterfinals

By AJ Traub

Julian Rios had the criteria to win his round of 16 match

As the last minute ticked away, Julian Rios made sure the lead he built was just enough.

The 113-pounder from Lowell scored a takedown, rolled Analu Woode (Hawaii) for more points, and built up an early lead.

Though he allowed two takedowns in the last minute to tie, Rios knew he had the criteria advantage, and held on with an 8-8 result. The rising senior at Phillips Andover will wrestle on the third day at Fargo for the first time.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “There are high nerves going into that match because I’ve never made it to the third day… I cleared my head through the match, got it done, put the points on the board, just kept working to my next move.

“There’s still a lot more to go, because I haven’t placed yet.”

Julian Rios put up stout defense to hold onto his advantage

Rios entered the Fargodome with the goal to reach the podium, and though he is the only Team Mass junior grappler still top side, Isaac Novod (126) and Elliott Humphries (175 pounds) are still standing.

In two days, Team Massachusetts junior men racked up 58 victories. Reese Spiro (190 pounds), Yandel Morales (138), and Shea Morris (144) led the eliminated group with five apiece.

“The fact that we were competitive, we competed hard, that’s where as a coaching staff, we want to see that,” said coach Matt Dehney. “I feel for the kids that didn’t reach their goals. We lost some close ones at the end that we could have won.”

Elliott Humphries is back into day three after reaching the finals last year

Junior men’s wrestling resumes with the quarterfinals at 10 a.m. central time tomorrow, and Rios knows he will need to be on the attack. His opponent scored as the match wound down, but he kept battling.

“You’re still fighting yourself through that moment, because your brain and your body want to tell you to keep that lead,” Rios said. “You have to keep wrestling as hard as possible. The kid will come back… this boosted mentality is telling him he needs to work harder.

“You have to keep pushing forward.”

Yandel Morales earned five wins in the Fargodome

16U men's freestyle update through 2 rounds

Team Mass brings 2 to Tuesday on the top side

By AJ Traub

Preston Burroughs racked up takedowns in his Monday match

Nearly 12 hours passed from when the first matches were underway at the Fargodome before Preston Burroughs took to the mat.

It didn’t bother him.

The 165-pounder completed the technical fall in two minutes flat, joining Johnny Woodall (106 pounds) as the two 16U men to reach the second day of the tournament still top side.

“Going up to the match, I was trying to stay as ready as possible, get as much fresh air as I could.

“As for mentally, I’m going to this tournament thinking I can place, and that’s what I’m going to try to do.”

Woodall earned a tech fall in 1:29, then battled to a 10-3 decision in the round of 64.

Johnny Woodall was unflappable on the mat in his two wins

As with the earlier session, not all matches that were planned for Monday were able to fit into the allotted time, and thus all the Team Mass 16U grapplers fighting on the back side will need to be ready for the start of tomorrow’s time window.

Everett Bluman (94 pounds), Ezekiel Cherival (157), Luke Calder (165), Milo Davis (165), and Bryant Mason (175) await their consi round of 64 matches.

“Though for young kids, we competed well,” said coach Matt Dehney. “Tournament can be never racking, but we weren’t fazed by bright lights.”

For Burroughs, it’s his second time going. His brother, here for the third time, also reached the second day (Myles is 2-1 at 150 pounds), and their father Nate has been in their corners. Even as the tournament took up more than half the hours in a day.

Preston Burroughs won his bout with his father in his corner

Dehney said the brothers are talented, with a bright future ahead, and that Nate has been an “unbelievable” addition to the coaching staff that the team is lucky to have.

Last year the family competed for Rhode Island, but this year with the Northfield Mt. Hermon connection, they’re bringing their firepower to the Bay State.

“It’s always good to watch both your kids win, Nate said, “But it’s been great to watch this Massachusetts team because I know they’ve got more guys here this year and it’s translated to more wins.

“I always love to see my guys win.”

Junior men's freestyle update through 2 rounds

5 go undefeated on the first day, several alive in consolation

By AJ Traub

Elijah Josey (near) and Reese Spiro (far) represent Team Mass in blue singlets on the featured stages of the Fargodome

Combining to earn eight technical falls and a decision, five Team Massachusetts junior men’s wrestlers made it through to the round of 32.

The lone decision of the top side wrestlers saw Declan Bligh (165 pounds) rebound from a 0-3 start to win 14-5, a point shy of a tech fall over New Jersey’s Barry Norman Jr.

Julian Rios (113) spent a total of 2:29 on the mat, not allowing a point to either opponent on the first day. Ryan Meier joins Bligh as 165-pounders to stay in the winners’ bracket into Tuesday.

Elliott Humphries, a returning finalist, was in control in both his 175-pound battles, taking out two-time Nebraska state champion Riley Johnson in the first round. Aiden Morris had just one matchup in a smaller 106-pound field, and got it done in the first period (2:46).

Elliott Humphries earned tech falls in his two matchups

“Those guys came here with purpose,” said coach Matt Dehney. “You can tell when they’re out there and they’re wrestling. That’s the biggest thing.”

Though Shea Morris (144 pounds) lost his second matchup, he came away with four victories to make it into the consi of 32 round. He went toe-to-toe with Connecticut’s Joe Mahoney, making a thrilling early comeback and winning the 20-18 decision with a last-second takedown.

“It just feels great,” Morris said. “Finishing off, going to day two. Last year I went 1-2. I was out. I was done wrestling in like 30 minutes. This year I’m going to day two and it’s great improvement. I’m just really excited.”

Shea Morris won a New England battle with a clutch takedown

Isaac Novod (126), Jack Dragoumanos (132), Yandel Morales (138), and Myles Burroughs (150) each won two matches to reach the consi of 32 round as well.

Others are still in, but have not advanced as far since the session was cut short. Lucas Alvan, Konrad Kutt, and Reese Spiro each have a win at 190 pounds. Sawyer Goodwin (175), Cam McGarr (215), Matt Harrold (215), Braiden Bagloe (215), Elijah Josey (215), Jaevion Rosado-Cunningham (285), and Alex Bajoras (285) are still in as well.

“We had some tough draws for some of the kids, but we’re bouncing back,” Dehney said. “Right now, we had a tough first round, but I’m excited to see where these guys are at.

“The juniors still have plenty going tomorrow, plenty of opportunities.”

Corynne McNulty wins third place at Fargo

The third Team Massachusetts woman to place twice

By AJ Traub

Corynne McNulty stands victorious on the Fargodome's main stage

Her back to the mat while trying for her final turn, Corynne McNulty thought about trying to get back to her feet. Instead, she put her energy into completing that move.

Because she knew this was her match.

After a run of intense rounds, Corynne McNulty put away her 130-pound third place bout in 42 seconds, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Ohio’s Abigail Mozden and giving Team Massachusetts a placer in the women’s tournaments at Fargo nationals.

She is the third representing Team Mass (after Jackie Dehney and Samantha Bertini) and third from the Bay State (after Marisol Nugent and Bertini) to place twice at Fargo.

“It means a lot being able to represent Massachusetts,” she said. “Coming to this tournament, I wanted to prove it to myself, but I also wanted to do it for all the people around me who supported me and helped me through this process.”

Corynne McNulty with her "stop sign" plaque

McNulty, a folkstyle national champion and Ironman winner, finished second place at 136 pounds in the Fargodome. Though she is still 16, the age cutoff put her into the junior women’s bracket rather than the 16U.

She had trouble trying to not mentally put pressure on herself to repeat last year’s result, and she knew this would be a harder bracket, but said she felt she was able to get into a groove as the tournament went on.

“I’m really happy for Corynne to take third and All-American in her first year in juniors,” said coach Joe Nugent, who has known and coached her since she was in fourth grade. “She works hard and is so dedicated to being the best that she can be. There is no limit to what she can achieve.”

McNulty started her tournament with a pin in 1:15. Then, she gritted out a 6-4 decision before winning 13-4 in the quarterfinals. She fell in the semifinals, but came back with a pin in 4:31 to make the third place bout.

“I think what made [the consi-semi] really challenging was it was right after my loss, and I was still trying to recover and focus, getting the better headspace for that match,” she said. “I knew what she was doing. I just knew I needed to keep my stance low, but I also wanted to wrestle and not focus on what she was doing.”

On the raised stage for her final battle, McNulty planned to keep moving because she didn’t expect she could get under her shorter adversary.

She wasted no time recording a takedown. Twisting her opponent, she racked up points in pairs. The last two were tougher, with McNulty needing a second effort for one of them and spending moments mid-turn on the last.

“I felt her hand lift up and I felt the opening, so I just knew I had to go straight to it,” said McNulty, of her quick move. “I tried for the bar. I couldn’t get it, and I knew I have a good lace… I put everything in to get that lace.

“The last one, I was really scared. I didn’t think I was going to get it because she was giving me good defense, but I knew I needed to get it done now.”

From McNulty’s home state community, her wrestling companions in New Jersey, and all her coaches, she wanted that podium achievement for them.

For her parents who spent time and money into her career, this was especially for them too.

“I really wanted to do this for them as well, and show them that everything they’re doing is for a reason and how grateful I am,” she said.

“This is my way of saying thank you.”

Corynne McNulty stands third on the podium

Men's Fargo Preview

Team Mass brings momentum after an impressive 2024 performance

By AJ Traub

Team Mass men's wrestlers prepare for back-to-back tournaments

With 20 wrestlers providing points in the junior men’s freestyle category, Team Massachusetts vaulted to 16th place (32 points) in the U.S. Marine Corps Nationals tournament last year.

The performance, highlighted by Elliott Humphries earning second place at 165 pounds and Matthew Botello finishing fourth at 132, is something coach Matt Dehney said was “special” and “will be hard to match.”

Humphries returns at 175 this year for his final high school contest after that inspirational run. Though he does not base expectations on previous tournaments, he leads a group looking to prove Massachusetts can be formidable again.

In an early round where just seven of the 64 matches at the 165-pound weight class went full time, the unseeded Humphries took a 20-19 lead with 12 seconds left in a stunning decision over New Jersey’s 12-seeded Jordan Chapman. Three decisions and two technical falls later, he was under the lights of the FargoDome’s finals stage.

“The run he made at this tournament was one of the most inspirational accomplishments I have seen in my coaching career,” Dehney said of Humphries. “What a special moment for all us coaches, and I am grateful to have been there.”

Behind the breakout performance that started the Northfield Mt. Hermon grappler’s senior year — which included a high school national title and Peckham Scholarship — were all his Bay State brethren.

“Everyone’s been there for me. Having my own teammates, my NMH teammates,” he said, “We’ve had these dreams together… I want my best friends to go out there and win it, and me too. Last year when I was out there I made it to the finals, I heard from everyone on the team.

“I knew I had the whole state behind me.”

Having his NMH coach Zach Bates with him for one more time is a motivating factor for Humphries as well, and he is grateful for the close-knit dynamic of the Commonwealth crew.

“It’s a good community, Humphries said. “Not every state gets the opportunity to practice together. That’s a really unique thing about our state.”

165-pounder Ryan Meier has attended Fargo camps in New Jersey where he goes to school at Blair Academy, and says the collaborative nature of Team Massachusetts is different.

He and Julian Rios are going to Fargo for their fourth time, looking to push through and reach the podium for the first time.

Rios represented Phillips Academy in Andover as he finished fourth, second, and third at prep nationals. Meier is a three-time Northeast Regional champion and a prep state champion in New Jersey.

Fargo is just a different experience.

“A big thing with Fargo is it’s a three-day tournament where you do have to weigh in on the third day,” Rios said. “It really does test your stamina and endurance… From the first whistle to the last whistle you have to be working as hard as possible. It’s a grueling three days of matches.”

Meier rarely gets opportunities to rep his home state, making this tournament that much more special. He has grown as a grappler in both his states, and hopes the experiences prepared him for a bigger run this time around.

“That first year I went, it was an eye-opening experience. I lost first round,” he said. “I rattled off eight or nine rounds, made the blood round. Second year I went, ‘For me to get rolling, I have to make it far on the top side.’ That back side is brutal, you’re going every 30 minutes, every hour.”

Botello won five matches before a loss put him in the consolation bracket last season, and earned another win to reach the third place match. Though he is not returning, Team Mass adds two 2025 New England champions in Franklin’s 106-pounder Johnny Woodall (16U team) and Andover’s 138-pounder Yandel Morales (junior team).

Alex Bajoras is a two-time New England finalist, but broke through to win high school nationals this spring. The St. John’s Prep heavyweight won five freestyle matches last year at Fargo and placed sixth in Greco-Roman.

He and West Springfield’s Musa Tamaradze (second place at 120 pounds) paced a Greco-Roman team that finished 23rd.

Bajoras is looking to make it All-American status in both tournaments this time, a rare six-day wrestling grind at an elite level (freestyle is three days, then two days of Greco-Roman after a break).

“You can’t really describe it,” Bajoras said. “I went in there last year thinking it would be similar to NHSCAs. You’re walking around with freak athletes. I’ll see a guy with a Penn State offer. You can’t imagine it. I went out there and faced the best in the country. I beat some, and some showed me there are top dogs out there.”

He trains with another two-time New England finalist, Haverhill’s Matt Harrold, who is wrestling both tournaments at Fargo too.

Declan Bligh (Roxbury Latin) enters his third Fargo tournament, wrestling freestyle and Greco-Roman each time. Before his trip to North Dakota, though, his journey has a stop in Italy where he competes for Ireland.

“In Europe they wrestle a lot more relaxed. Less pressure,” Bligh said. “Sometimes I’d use that in my wrestling, take a more tactical approach rather than going all-out.”

The experience going to Fargo the past two years, wrestling overseas where he sees other styles, and coming in with momentum give Bligh hope this can be his best Fargo performance so far.

He knows that staying for the third tournament, the Greco-Roman brackets, can be isolating. Six days of wrestling matchups and several weigh-ins make the tournament as tough as it is.

“Even going to Fargo during the summer, not everyone wants to be doing that,” Bligh said. “It’s a credit to anyone who goes. You have to train and spend time out there.

”It’s a sacrifice.”