Preston Burroughs places fourth at Fargo

The lone Team Mass grappler on the Greco-Roman podium

By AJ Traub

Preston Burroughs (center) with his brother Myles (left) and father Nate

For his first act as a Fargo All-American, Preston Burroughs sprung a cartwheel into a backflip on the Fargodome’s featured stage.

The 165-pounder went 5-2 to earn fourth place in the 16U men’s Greco-Roman tournament. He secured three technical falls to reach the quarterfinals, a 14-9 decision in the quarters, and a pin in his consi-semi.

“It feels amazing,” Burroughs said. “I’ve wanted to place at Fargo ever since eighth grade, first time I heard about the tournament. It’s an unreal place. I didn’t really think I could.”

Preston Burroughs rebounded with a pin in his consi-semi

As a Northfield Mt. Hermon freshman this spring, Burroughs finished runner-up at 160 pounds at NHSCA high school nationals. He hoped to add All-American status in the freestyle bracket at Fargo, but knew his upper-body skills translate well to Greco-Roman.

His brother Myles (150 pounds in the junior tournament) compiled four wins and made it to the second day of Greco-Roman wrestling, and they each had their father Nate in their corners as a coach.

“It’s been really great to coach my kids, pretty much for their whole lives,” said the elder Burroughs. “I’m blessed that the guys want me around… This is the biggest stage they’ve been on and I really feel terrific. I’m super proud of them.

“It’s an almost indescribable feeling.”

Burroughs with his "stop sign" on the podium at the Fargodome

Preston Burroughs showed poise in his biggest matches, unfazed by opponents putting up numbers against him.

Iowa’s William Fullhart put up pairs of two-point moves on him twice, but Burroughs never trailed in his quarterfinal. Indiana’s Deacon Dressler started the consi-semi with four points, and Burroughs responded with a pin in 1:03.

“He loves that,” said coach Matt Dehney. “He doesn’t feel that pressure. He loves that spotlight. The kid wrestled 12 matches this week. He had an extremely impressive tournament.”

Though the men’s Greco-Roman group was the smallest Team Massachusetts squad of the three tournaments, the wrestlers still compiled 23 wins, led by heavyweight Alex Bajoras. The Wyoming Seminary-bound senior was one round short of placing, running into the same opponent (Utah’s Travyn Boger) whom he lost to in the round of 32.

The heavyweight from Gloucester placed last year, and won NHSCA nationals this spring.

Alex Bajoras earned six Greco-Roman victories in two days

Luke Galipeau (132 pounds) and Elijah Josey (215) were the other Bay Staters recording multiple Greco-Roman wins, each with a technical fall and a decision.

“It’s about becoming an overall better wrestler,” Dehney said. “Greco teaches you some great handfighting skills, positional awareness skills, and I wish more kids would do it.”

Alex Bajoras earned a decision to reach the blood round