High school wrestling preview: Belchertown program returns after 8 years away

Smith Vocational’s Mateo Henriques lifts Frontier’s Wyatt Finch while competing in the 120-pound weight class last season in Northampton.

Smith Vocational’s Mateo Henriques lifts Frontier’s Wyatt Finch while competing in the 120-pound weight class last season in Northampton. STAFF FILE PHOTO

By RYAN AMES

Staff Writer

Published: 12-20-2024 3:58 PM

After nearly a decade-long absence, wrestling is back at Belchertown High School.

The 2024-25 season marks the first time the Orioles have had a wrestling program since 2016. First-year athletic director and head wrestling coach Kevin McNeill led the charge in reviving the Belchertown team, a process that had been in the works for close to three years.

“We started a youth wrestling program in town a couple years ago,” McNeill said. “This winter is the third winter that we've had the youth program and the numbers have kind of been really solid at the youth level. First year we had 40 kids, next year we had 75, this year we have 50, so it's been really solid youth numbers.

“We kind of started pushing to get the high school team back because we knew there was some interest at the high school level as well,” McNeill said.

The wheels were set in motion last spring following a presentation to the Belchertown school committee and shortly after, wrestling was approved to return as a winter sport.

McNeill was the head coach at nearby Granby the past two seasons, which coincided with his previous job as a physical education teacher at Swift River Elementary School.

McNeill was not yet named the Belchertown AD when it was decided that wrestling would be brought back, but following a series of events that included former AD Jen Gouvin taking a job in eastern Massachusetts, McNeill assumed the top position last summer.

The interest in Orioles wrestling was proven instantly as McNeill had 20 kids come out for the team, most with no wrestling experience.

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"It's pretty exciting from the coach's point of view because, I keep saying it, it's like a blank canvas," McNeill said. "The kids have very little idea of what's going on but they're eager to learn and excited to learn and as a coach, I can just teach them everything that I would want to teach them. It's been a super fun start to the season."

McNeill also mentioned most of his athletes didn't leave a pre-existing sports team to join.

"I think it's just nice to have another option in the winter," McNeill said. "We have our basketball teams, but not everybody plays basketball. We also have hockey and swim, but those are kind of like niche sports I guess."

Belchertown lost its first dual meet to Frontier on Tuesday, 42-36, but McNeill isn't as concerned with wins and losses during a season where most kids are still grasping the basics.

"Like I said, they're all brand new so honestly my biggest thing for them is just that they're having fun and enjoying the sport," McNeill said. "Learning the sport, having fun with it, and hopefully getting them to come back and bring more friends with them in the years to come."

The Orioles have a nice mix of wrestlers throughout all four grades, with their freshman class counting as the largest with seven wrestlers.

Belchertown joined the Suburban League South, replacing Northampton, which merged with Smith Vocational this winter. Hamden Charter, Hampshire Regional, Southwick and Springfield International make up the rest of the conference.

Now with all the logistics and planning finally bearing fruit, McNeill is looking forward to the task of building the Belchertown wrestling program from scratch.

"I keep calling it a foundation year," McNeill said. "Bringing the program back, getting people excited about it and setting that foundation for years and years to come, hopefully, is the idea."

FRONTIER, SMITH VOC RETURN KEY PIECES – Seniors Javion Cabrera and Kaden James return as two of the Redhawks' most experienced wrestlers. Cabrera placed third in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 championship at the 285-pound weight class last year, before claiming eighth-place in the state meet.

James finished in fourth place at the Western Massachusetts meet in the 220-pound class.

Junior Jocelyn Antes returns as one of the team’s top wrestlers as she earned third place at both the All-State girls meet and the Division 3 state meet.

Freshman Ber Calhoun and Konnor James offer some young talent for Frontier as both placed in the top-five during last year's Western Massachusetts state championship in their respective weight classes.

The Redhawks grabbed fifth place as a team during last year's Western Massachusetts meet and welcome six new wrestlers in 2024-25. Brian Bagdon begins his third season as Frontier’s head coach.

The Vikings welcome back their dynamic duo of Mateo Henriques and Matt Small this season as reigning Western Massachusetts champions.

Henrique, a junior, is approaching 100 career wins, while Small, a senior, should have another strong season on the mat for Smith Voc.

Head coach Josh Bialek returns for his 11th season and will look to guide his team back to a top-10 finish at the Western Massachusetts championship. The Vikings secured sixth place last season.

Logan Hawley, Jesse Boudreau, Joey Bonanno and Robert Slysz are Vikings wrestlers to watch.

Smith Voc is a co-op program with Northampton and Smith Academy.

GRANBY, SOUTH HADLEY READY TO RETURN TO THE MAT – Nathan Benson nears the 100-win mark for Granby as the senior highlights a sturdy Rams team.

The Speek family are back for Granby with Quinn Speek, Eliza Speek and Simon Speek all suiting up this winter.

Anthony Delvalle steps in as the Rams head coach following McNeill’s move to Belchertown.

Elsewhere, the Tigers will look to build on a 13-18-1 match record from last season under coaches Byron Joy and Mike Cote.

P.J. Lavelle, Logan Luis, Jasiel Ramos, Jamie Medina and Roberto Melendez were all impact wrestlers for South Hadley in 2023-24 and strive for continued improvement this winter.

In their third year as a standalone program, the Tigers continue to attract athletes to sign up. South Hadley’s roster this season includes 32 athletes and it is in good position to fill every weight class.

Newcomers of note are Zack Willette, Javier Rosado, Ryan Lachance, Kaysen Gauthier, Brock Dufault, Alex Linnehan, and Ayden Lugo.

OTHER AREA TEAMS – Holyoke lost 12 seniors from last year’s squad but will look to be competitive in the Valley Wheel.

Hampshire Regional had a 6-2-1 record in the Surburban South standings last season and return a bulk of the roster, including seniors Adin Clifford, and Gavin Gorman.

Gateway Regional is back in the Tri-County and lost just one senior to graduation.