The Walpole High Wrestling Team opens their season with a strong core of seasoned vetrans sprinkled with a group of promising newcomers. After losing South Sectional finalist Steve Shevory and Jamel Roy to graduation, the Rebels have not missed a beat. Led by senior Captains Johnny White, Joe Wyman, Sean Coyne, and Mike Cofsky the Rebels started the season off 2-0 including a win over rival Norwood on December 14 at the Walpole High Gym. The Rebels have a bona-fide wrestler at each weight class therefore avoiding automatic losses at empty weight classes.
Wyman (152) opened the meet against Norwood in a grind-it-out match. The score was 2-0 going into the third period after the Norwood opponent got two points for a reversal. In the third period Wyman quickly tied the match up with a takedown and proceeded to get back-points to win the match 9-2. Coyne (160) and White (171) took care of the next two matches pinning their respective opponents in the first period, putting the Rebels up 15-0. Sophomore Kelson Burns (189) got pinned in the first period to bring the score to 15-6. Senior Justin Ellis (215) dropped another match after ending regulation 1-1. Ellis lost 2-0 in overtime bringing the score to 15-9. Junior Marvin Jean-Simon (Heavyweight) got pinned in the first by Moses Aquie, a standout football player and wrestler for the Mustangs. Caleb Cofsky (103), a sophomore who is cousins with senior Captain Mike Cofsky, has been a big weapon for the Rebels and is picking up the sport quickly from learning from cousin Mike and assistant coach (and 103 pound state champion) Matt Holabesko. Caleb Cofsky pinned his opponent in the second period to put the Rebels up 21-15. Freshman Bobby Ivatts (112) lost by pin in the first period to one of Norwood’s captains making the score tied at 21. With three matches left in the meet the Rebels picked up a win at 119 with Eric Jansen winning by pin in the first period. Norwood did not have a wrestler at 125 pounds so the Rebels won by default making the overall score 33-21. Cam Benoit (130) finished off the meet losing a back and forth match 6-4.
The 33-24 win gave the Rebels confidence going into their next meet against a depleted Sharon team who had many of their Varsity players suspended. Their next meet against number one ranked Framingham will be the Rebels toughest challenge of the year.
