30-03-2025
It's a banner weekend for St. John's Prep senior heavyweight Alex Bajoras at wrestling nationals
'It's my time,' said Bajoras, who had built a 9-1 cushion when Pennsylvania's Peyton Kearns took injury time. 'I mentally broke him. There's no beating me anymore. At that point I won.'
Bajoras joined West Springfield's Musa Tamaradze (126 pounds) and Northfield Mt. Hermon's Elliott Humphries (170) in taking the gold at Virginia Beach, Va.
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Other than New York, with two, no other state had more than one senior champion.
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'It's everything,' Bajoras said. 'Being a champ, you're No. 1. At a national level, that sets it apart even further. My only real thoughts during it is: I put in the work. Matchday is showing you trained your hardest.'
From his father, John, to Gloucester's Kirk Benson, to Matt Smith (who had been telling Bajoras he'd be a national champ for years) and other coaches at Smitty's, to Ryan Harding at St. John's Prep, Bajoras said 'Everybody who helped me, I can't say enough thank you's to.'
He is uncommitted, but will continue wrestling.
With three technical falls, a pin, an 8-3 decision, and a 9-3 decision, Tamaradze is the second repeat
Tamaradze swept a New England postseason at West Springfield High, transferred to Northfield Mt. Hermon where he won a NEPSWA Prep championship in 2023, transferred to New York Military Academy where he earned third place at prep nationals in February, then just transferred back to West Springfield.
'I definitely think it's important, the way I represent West Springfield and West Side,' he said. 'Not a lot of people have done what I do. This is just the beginning, I'm just getting started.'
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The 126-pounder said he is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his ability, but the goal is to achieve more. He will wrestle at Appalachian State next season, and has his sights set on the Olympics.
'It felt nice to come defend my throne,' Tamaradze said. 'I had confidence, was ready knowing it wasn't my first rodeo. I'm ready to battle anytime, whenever. Give me a time and a place.'
Humphries won his championship with a takedown, earning the 4-1 decision in the final via sudden victory. He took second at Fargo nationals last summer, and is a 2023
West Springfield's Musa Tamaradze (126 pounds) and Northfield Mt. Hermon's Elliott Humphries (170) captured nationals titles.
JAMES SOFFEN
Other Massachusetts placers
2nd — Yandel Morales, Jr. (Andover, 126 pounds).
3rd — Johnny Woodall, Fr. (Franklin, 106); Braedon Goes, Sr. (St. John's Prep, 120).
4th — Antoine Jackman, So. (Greater Lowell, 106).
5th — Nerivaldo DaTrindade, Jr., Fr. (Greater Lawrence, 285).
6th — Abel Varzeas, So. (West Springfield, 182); Mikey Boulanger, Sr. (Milford, 152).
8th — Brody Sayers, Fr. (Belmont Hill, 113).
AJ Traub can be reached at
