14-02-2025
Six things to watch for at Saturday's sectional wrestling meets
This is the last year for them to cement their legacies among the greatest in state history. Only three Massachusetts grapplers have gone 4 for 4 at All-States and two have earned three New England titles.
Tildsley is 229-4 in his career, and could break Mount Greylock's Devin Pelletier's record of 244 wins with another strong postseason.
Shawsheen's Sid Tildsley needs 15 wins to match the state's all-time career record.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
2. How many girls will qualify for All-States a week early?
This is the only round of the postseason that is exclusively co-ed. Girls' state tournaments run parallel to the co-ed state tourneys the following weekend and provide an opportunity to qualify for Girls' All-States, but with a good performance Saturday, girls can earn a spot via sectional placement and could elect to wrestle co-ed at states without needing to place to advance.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Hingham's Mia Dineen chose to wrestle against boys in last year's Division 3 state tournament, and
Advertisement
Bridgewater-Rayaham's Livi Polansky won a Division 2 title at 107 pounds last year.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
3. How many freshmen will earn the gold?
This has been a spectacular year for the class of 2028, and the postseason could see several of them cement their status as wrestlers to watch.
Franklin's Johnny Woodall has been the one to beat at 106 pounds after his Lowell Holiday title, Middleborough's Ken Mentee is the first freshman to reach 100 wins, Shawsheen's Tristan Lane has been a major part of the undefeated Rams lineup at 144 pounds, and that's just to name a few. Mentee and Lane won sectional titles as middle schoolers.
Franklin freshman Johnny Woodall is looking for his second sectional crown.
Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
4. A tough road through the north
Each year, the Division 1 North sectional produces quite a few state champions, crowning a handful of All-State champs and a few who go on to win New Englands. But it's so competitive, it also eliminates wrestlers who may have been able to place at further rounds of the postseason.
Advertisement
Among D1N teams is Shawsheen, which has a strong roster led by the Tildsley brothers, Sid and James (150 pounds), both New England champions. All-State champion Bray Carbone has been working his way back from last year's injury to compete at 126 pounds and Dante Graziano came back more recently to record his 100th victory at 132. The Rams, after back-to-back undefeated dual meet seasons, can contend for the All-States team title, but will need to bring as many wrestlers there as possible.
5. Juniors reaching 200 wins?
James Tildsley, Andover 132-pounder Yandel Morales, and Middleborough 150-pounder Matt Patterson all surpassed 100 wins in the December of their sophomore seasons. Each has kept pace since, setting up the trio to reach 200 before their senior years.
Tildsley stands at 196-5, Morales at 192-12, and Patterson at 191-27.
6. A new postseason host
As the
Related
:
AJ Traub can be reached at
