Morales, Tildsley brothers draw upon sibling strength at Division 1 North wrestling sectional championships
Nathan watched his older brother, Yandel, earn Division 1 North sectional titles the past two years, and seized his opportunity to get the center stage win at St. John's Prep's Mahoney Wellness Center.
Yandel earned the pin at 132 pounds, winning his third in as many years.
'Me and Nathan trained very hard in the offseason,' Yandel said. 'We're drill partners for each other. We're that brotherly support. It feels a little better to win it with my brother.'
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Following with pins at 138 and 150 were another pair of brothers, Shawsheen's Sid and James Tildsley. Both are now 4-for-4 as sectional winners, and James's finals victory was his 200th as a high school wrestler.
Advertisement
'It's a great feeling,' said James, a junior. 'Me and my brother have been training really hard, that way when we go out on the mat, there's no question about who's going to win.'
Now at 233-4, Sid is inching closer to the state record of 244 by Mount Greylock's Devin Pelletier.
'My goal is to beat the state win record this year,' Sid said. 'For my brother to beat me next year is something that's great, to have two Tildsleys the top two in state history is just awesome.'
A third pair of brothers made the finals: Methuen's Anthony and Vinny DeMaio. Vinny won via major decision 11-3 at 175 pounds, but Mimmo Ternullo Jr. earned a late takedown in the 157 finals and secured a 6-5 victory.
The senior Ternullo, in his first year wrestling, helped St. John's Prep earn the title at home with 269.5 points. Braedon Goes (126), Jimmy Lally (144), and Alex Bajoras (285) also won titles for the Prep.
'I just woke up today and thought I was going to win, like everything was going good in my head,' said Ternullo, who has multiple judo national championships and international medals. 'I was very confident from the first match to the last match. The adrenaline was pumping in the finals.'
Advertisement
The long term goal for Ternullo is the 2028 Olympics, but he decided to do a year of wrestling. 11 top seeds won at sectionals, one No. 2, and Ternullo the No. 4.
'I just kept looking at the clock and the time was going by super slow,' he said. 'Once I got the takedown, I was like 'I'm going to win this. I'm going to keep him down.' '
The Eagles have won six times consecutively, but it's the first time with Ryan Harding as head coach. He took over for Manny Costa after assisting for five years.
'It's really special,' Harding said. 'I love this place. I bleed for the Prep. I work here, I went to school here, I coach here. I see myself in the kids and I just want to make sure that I help them reach their goals.'
It was not quite a homecoming for Joe Baker, who won a sectional title two years ago representing Danvers High. Saturday Baker won a title via technical fall, 21-4, at 165 pounds as a senior at Beverly.
After becoming the first Beverly wrestler to win at the George Bossi Lowell Holiday Tournament in December, he has continued to dominate.
'It's definitely cool being seen as the top guy,' he said. 'I don't do it for that. I like to just go out there and wrestle.
'I enjoyed it. I have a great team, great coaches.'
Advertisement
Division 1 South
— At Xaverian, Weymouth (240.5) rode six individual champions to topple New Bedford (226) and Taunton (194.5). Michael Brooks (138 pounds) got it started with a major decision, and Samuel Ferron (15), Kevin Mackin (157), Jake Thompson (165), Naheem Ridore (215), and David Cummins (285) followed. Edrian Oliva Bojorquez (106), Anthony Bojorquez (113), and Josiah Martins Semedo (120) won for New Bedford.
Division 1 Central / Metro
— In Malden, Arlington (221.5) repeated as champion, with Middlesex rival Winchester (182) the runner-up. Cedrick Daniels (120 pounds) won his third sectional title, and Davi Dos Santos (132), Leo Fellonosa (165), and Brady Bekkenhuis (285) — career win No. 100, and the tourney's outstanding wrestler — were also victors for the Spy Ponders.
'We wrestled well, overall,' said Arlington coach Kevin Cummings. 'We qualified eight [wrestlers] for the state tourney.'
Division 1 West / Central
— Though 215-pounder Sean Keady was its only champion out of six finalists, Natick (236 points) edged out Chelmsford's 223.5 points and four champions at Franklin High.
Division 2 North
— Melrose (209.5) nosed out host Woburn (203.5) for the title, with Nashoba (180) third, and Whittier (171) fourth. The Red Hawks had two champions, Johnny Moraes (113) and Marco Albanese (157), but three others placed second.
Division 2 South
— Bridgewater-Raynham (271.5) rode six first-place finishes, and two seconds to the title at Stoughton, far outdistancing Hingham (178) and Duxbury (178). Jake Alves (132 pounds), Brent von Magnus (138), Brent Allain (144), Luke Driscoll (165), and brothers Fletcher (190) and Jackson Rinke (215) also won.
Division 2 Central
— Milford was once again dominant, putting seven on the top step of the podium at Bellingham High. Brayden Boccia (113 pounds), Dylan Wright (120), Derek Marcolini (126), Josiah Carney (138), Aidan Baum (144), Mikey Boulanger (157), and Luke Donis (190) were victorious for the Scarlet Hawks.
Advertisement
Division 2 West
— In Northborough, West Springfield (240.5 points) won, thanks to Devon Mateo (113 pounds), Sarmad Alsultani (144), and Abel Varzeas (175) taking home the gold.
Division 3 North
— Senior captains Aydin Lamb (138 pounds) and Sean Callanan (157) won titles to help Wakefield (220 points) finish ahead of Lynnfield/North Reading (197.5) at Gloucester High.
Division 3 South
— At Cohasset High, Foxborough (251 points) finished well above the crowd and placed two champions: Jayden Rocha (150 pounds) and Joseph Blanchard (175).
Division 3 Central
— Host Wayland crowned four champions and racked up 267.5 points. Cole Chase (165 pounds), Anthony Brown (190), Nathan Tobe (215) and Nathan Hartunian (285) were the title- winners for the Warriors.
Division 3 West
— At Mount Greylock in Williamstown, Franklin County's 188 points were just enough to keep ahead of Monument Mountain (185) as the top four teams were separated by just 16 points. Carsten Couture (120 pounds) and Landon Purington (132) were the Eagles' champs.
Craig Larson of the Globe staff and correspondent Ethan Kagno contributed.
AJ Traub can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Josh Allen would "absolutely love" to play flag football in Olympics
The Olympic flag football tournament is three years away. But plenty of current players are talking about it. Most recently, Bills quarterback Josh Allen made it clear he'd be interested in pursuing gold for the United States. 'I'm not gonna disrespect the guys that are playing flag football right now, but, you know, if there's an opportunity for me to try, I would absolutely love to,' Allen told reporters on Tuesday. 'I've always wanted to compete for my country and, you know, every time the Olympics are on, I'm tuned in and glued to the screen. But I think there's really no greater honor to do that. That'd be really cool.' Yes, flag football is a very different game than tackle football. However, it's hard to imagine a physical specimen like Allen not figuring it out — and not being completely dominant. Many decisions will need to be made by USA Football regarding how the U.S. men's team will be selected. And, yes, current flag football players deserve an opportunity to compete. It's hard to imagine anyone competing with Josh Allen, if he's determined to go for gold.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aussie swim sensation Mollie O'Callaghan breaks down in sad poolside revelation
Aussie swimming star Mollie O'Callaghan broke down in tears at the Australian world championship trials on Wednesday night, after shedding light on her personal struggles and the weight of expectation that comes with her 'status' as an Olympic champion. It came after O'Callaghan qualified for the world championships in Singapore by winning the women's 200m freestyle in Adelaide. The Paris Games gold medallist clocked a time of 54.43 seconds (1:54.43) to beat teammate and fellow Olympian Lani Pallister, who set a new personal best time of 1:54.89 in stunning scenes. O'Callaghan was Australia's most successful athlete at last year's Olympics with three gold medals, plus a silver and bronze. But 21-year-old took a five-month break from the pool in a bid to balance her competitive instinct with having fun after admitting that she's struggled with the pressures that have come with her success. And describing her swim as 'awful' in a poolside interview with Aussie great Cate Campbell after the race, the emotions came flooding out as O'Callaghan revealed what she had been going through. "Look, I've had a rough couple of past months," a tearful O'Callaghan said. "Tonight was really stressful for me, and I think even though it's not exactly the time I want, it's (been) hard to like come back (after the Paris Games). "I would say this lead-up has been the hardest thing that I've experienced so far, so I'm happy I can make the team (for the Singapore world titles) this year. I don't think there's been anything as hard as this, coming here and trying to race and trying to defend my Olympic, I guess, status in a way." O'Callaghan said her rise to stardom came with an enormous burden of expectation and the plan to enjoy herself a bit more hadn't exactly panned out as she battled a knee injury this year. "After the Olympics, I achieved everything I wanted to and I needed that mental recovery after that," she said. This year is about having fun but there's been a lot of curve balls thrown at me so it's making it very hard to have fun." Fellow Olympic champion Cam McEvoy issued a warning to his rivals after posting the fastest 50m freestyle time in the world this year to beat Kyle Chalmers in the final. The 21-year-old clocked 21.30 seconds to edge out Chalmers - who set a personal best time of 21.68, but McEvoy said there's room for even more improvement. "I definitely think I can go faster before the world champs; how much though I'm not sure," said McEvoy, who won last year's Olympic final in 21.25. "But longer term, like more LA (2028 Olympic) levels to the future, I think, yeah, there's a lot more I can improve." Also on Wednesday night, Sam Short's return to form continued by winning the men's 800m freestyle in 7:40.95. While 16-year-old sensation Sienna Toohey won again in the women's 50m breaststroke, one night after selection for the worlds by winning the 100m breaststroke. Harry Turner also booked his ticket to Singapore by winning the men's 200m butterfly in 1:54.90. with AAP
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Nuni Omot Takes Olympic Lessons Into The 2025 AfroBasket
South Sudan's #05 Nuni Omot and teammates celebrate winning at the end of the men's preliminary ... More round group C basketball match between South Sudan and Puerto Rico during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP) (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images) In an era where sports continue to transcend boundaries, South Sudan's debut at the Paris Olympics stands out as a powerful testament to resilience, hope, and national pride. On the hardwood of Paris, the world's youngest country did more than just compete, it announced its arrival. Among the trailblazers was Nuni Omot, a standout 6'9" forward who averaged an impressive 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists during the Games. For Omot, the moment was far more than athletic achievement, it was the embodiment of identity, purpose, and belonging. 'I had dreamed about moments like that but it's different when you're actually living it. When the flag is on your chest, and the world is watching,' Omot shared in an interview with during the BAL Playoffs, currently taking place in Pretoria, South Africa where he is currently competing with Rwanda's APR. Born in a refugee camp in Kenya and raised in Minnesota, Omot's journey mirrors the broader story of South Sudan itself, defined by adversity, endurance, and an unwavering pursuit of recognition on the world stage. As the team stood shoulder to shoulder with global giants, their presence was a bold declaration: We are here. Not just present, but worthy. Not just surviving, but contending. Omot confirmed in the interview that he has committed to representing South Sudan at the upcoming AfroBasket tournament, a continuation of a journey that's no longer just about basketball. It's about building something lasting, inspiring a new generation, and showing the world that South Sudan's rise is only just beginning. LONDON, ENGLAND: JULY 20: Nuni Omot #5 of South Sudan drives to the basket past LeBron James #6 of ... More United States during the United States V South Sudan USA basketball showcase at The O2 Arena on July 20th, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) For Omot, the Paris games were a culmination of years of sacrifice, grit, and belief, fuelled by a relentless pursuit of representation. 'People don't realise how special the Olympics is until you're in it. You're around the best athletes in the world, and you realise: we earned this. Some people never get that chance. For us, it was long overdue.' South Sudan's journey to the Games wasn't supposed to happen this fast. Just over a decade ago, the country didn't have a pipeline, or a presence in global basketball. However, under the visionary leadership of Luol Deng, former NBA All-Star and current president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, the program began to take shape. 'That's where it all started, with Luol,' Omot says firmly. 'He had the vision. But more than that, he built something we could all believe in. It's easy to have an idea, but when the whole team buys in? That's when it becomes real.' The team's meteoric rise has left many in the international basketball community stunned. However, Omot isn't surprised. 'We're a team of competitors. We don't care about how it looks on paper. We know who we are. We've been through a lot. And when you play for something bigger than yourself, it shows.' LILLE, FRANCE - JULY 28: Nuni Omot #5 of Team South Sudan and Carlik Jones #4 of Team South Sudan ... More react during the Men's Group Phase - Group C match between Team South Sudan and Team Puerto Rico on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on July 28, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by) With the Olympics behind them and the 2025 AfroBasket on the horizon, South Sudan now finds itself in an unfamiliar position: the hunted, not the hunters. 'At the Olympics, people were cheering for us. They saw us as the Cinderella story,' Omot says. 'Now, they're coming for us. Everyone wants to beat the number one team in Africa.' It's a shift Omot doesn't take lightly. While the support in Paris was overwhelming, from fans, media, and even other athletes, the next phase of the journey demands even greater focus. 'We've got to stay grounded,' he says. 'Remember what got us here. The unity, the discipline, the work.' That humility is matched by a rising sense of responsibility. As one of the team's veterans, Omot is preparing to take on more leadership, both vocally and by example. LILLE, FRANCE - JULY 28: Team South Sudan celebrates after their sides victory during the Men's ... More Basketball Group Phase - Group C match between Team South Sudan and Team Puerto Rico on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on July 28, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Christina Pahnke - sampics/Getty Images) For Omot, the Olympics weren't just a historic milestone for South Sudan, they were a masterclass in what it takes to compete at the highest level. Now, as he looks ahead to AfroBasket, he's bringing those lessons with him. 'Just playing against the best basketball players in the world, NBA Hall of Famers, guys who will be first-ballot, it really puts things into perspective,' he says. 'The game is global now. When you face that kind of talent, you see the standard. Their discipline, their professionalism, that's what sets them apart.' One of those moments came against his basketball idol, Kevin Durant. 'To go up against him and see that level up close, it confirmed everything I believed,' Omot says. 'There's a reason he's one of the greatest. Their names will live forever.' The takeaways weren't just about talent, they were mental. Omot knows the margin between winning and losing often comes down to mindset. 'Regardless, if you make mistakes, you can't ever let that deteriorate your mindset,' he shared. 'Stepping on the floor, no matter who you play, you should always feel like you are the best player.' That unshakable belief, the same one that carried South Sudan to the Olympics, will be central to their AfroBasket campaign. For Omot, it's not just about bringing talent to the floor; it's about bringing a championship mentality, shaped by the highest level of competition the game has to offer. PRETORIA, TSHWANE - JUNE 9: Anunwa Omot #5 of Armee Patriotique looks on during the game against the ... More Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club during the 2025 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on June 9, 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, Tshwane. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Regis Hirwa/NBAE via Getty Images) South Sudan's Olympic debut is part of a broader narrative: the ascent of African basketball. The continent has long been rich in talent but starved for opportunity. That's starting to change. 'There's so much talent here,' Omot says. 'People are starting to notice. It's not just about the NBA anymore. We've got guys playing in Europe, the G-League, Asia, and of course, the BAL.' Omot has played in all of those places, but it's his recent return to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) with APR of Rwanda that speaks volumes about where his heart is. 'People ask me why I came back to the BAL. I tell them: because I care about this place. This is home. I want to grow the game here.' It's not just patriotism, it's a long-term view of impact. 'Whether it's Rwanda, Kenya, or South Sudan, it's all Africa to me. And if I can help the game grow, if I can show kids that you don't have to leave the continent to be successful, that matters.' Having already won a BAL title, Omot knows what it takes to build a championship team. At APR, he's been brought in not just for scoring and size, but for experience and leadership. 'I joined APR because they were honest with me,' he says. 'They told me how I could fit in and what they needed. I didn't want to step on anybody's toes. I wanted to add value.' APR headed into the BAL playoffs with momentum and ambition, and will compete for a podium finish come Friday. Omot has made an immediate impact, averaging 19.3 points, 2.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. 'Defense wins,' he says without hesitation. 'Everyone talks about scoring, but it's stops that win games. The teams that limit mistakes and control the boards, those are the teams that win.' For Omot, the road ahead is as much about impact as it is about accolades. Beyond preparing for AfroBasket, he's thinking generationally, about what it means to give back, to create pathways, to change lives. 'There's just so much untapped talent here in Africa. One day, I hope I can do something, maybe be that scout, because I see what's possible.' It's no longer just about South Sudan being seen; it's about Africa being believed in. For Omot, that belief is the foundation of legacy. And if Paris was South Sudan's grand introduction to the world, then this next chapter is about building something that lasts, on the court, across the continent, and far beyond the final buzzer.
