Once again, the mat men of Walpole have dominated the Bay State League, finishing the regular season at a very respectable 15-2. The Rebels were led through the season by tri-captains Dave Wyman, Ryan Murphy, and Mark Ellis. However, other young wrestlers stepped up big to fill in the gaps left by last year’s senior class. Stand outs like Tom Lee and Steve Shevory excelled the most and were even able to enter into the State Tournament. Only a select few were able to advance onto this stage.
Following last year’s success, the Walpole High School wrestling team had another playoff birth this season.  The team had key victories over rivals like Norwood and Natick. Defeating these rival teams was a huge moral booster for the Rebels. It kept them working hard all season long, knowing that rival teams waited with hopes of defeating them.  Their strong performance during each match won them the elusive playoff seed.
Returning captains Dave Wyman, Ryan Murphy, and Mark Ellis were strong leaders throughout the season. Each wrestler had their own personal winning record. And, with the income of a new coach, the trio had to work extra hard to keep the team on track. The new head coach Bobby Lee had been an assistant coach for the Rebels for many years prior to him being promoted. The captains were able to lead by example the entire season, each reaching States.
The State Tournament was flooded by Walpole wrestlers. Although the Rebels had high hopes of many of their men advancing onto All-States, only one did. Many came close however. Senior Ryan Murphy fought hard during his match and was able to keep the score tied at O-O during most of the match. With two seconds left, Murphy’s opponent was able to escape from Murph’s grasp and won himself one point. The horn rang and Murph lost by one, heart-breaker.
Junior Steve Shevory, who wrestles at the 131 weight class, came in 4th place at States. Shevory was considered one of the best wrestlers in Walpole. He had one of the best records on the team during the regular season and the most raw skill. It is no surprise that he will be seen in the next round of the tournament. This victory won him an invitation to All- States where he will compete against wrestlers from all over Massachusetts.
Although the Rebs post-season was not what it hoped to be, their regular season success cannot be dampened. A small and young team with a first year head coach, the Rebels did better than most teams would have predicted. The team is now passed onto the underclassmen. The recent success of the Rebels over the past few years is something that next year’s team must strive for. The Walpole High School’s wrestling team is as good as it has ever been, and the hope is that it will stay that way.