By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

After capturing the Division 3 Central Championship over the past two seasons, the Ashland wrestlers and Coach Peter Zacchilli are looking to three-peat in the Sectionals, something that has been rarely done at the high school.

“Winning three straight Sectionals is something that not many Ashland teams have accomplished,” the Wrestling Coach said. “We would like to do that and keep it going this year; If we can it will show the depth of our program.”

Last year under the guidance of Zacchilli the Clocker grapplers not only took home their second straight Division 3 Central Championship, but Ashland also won the Tri-Valley League Title as well as the Division 3 State Dual Valley Meet Championships. With the Sectional Championship, the Ashland wrestlers advanced into the State Tournament, where they unfortunately lost to Norton, the eventual champion, in the Semi-Finals. Ashland also had five individual wrestlers qualify for the All-States with two getting into the final of their weight class.

Leading the Clockers on the mat in hopes of picking up their third straight Sectional Championship will be senior captains Patrick Deslauriers and Liam Fleming. Deslauriers will be wrestling in the 220 lb. weight class, while Fleming will either be at 170 or 182. Both athletes are coming off an TVL All-Star performance on the football field.

“I’m looking for both of them to once again compete at a high level,” Zacchilli said. “Patrick has great mat awareness and will compete with the best of them; he’s one of the best wrestlers in the state. Liam’s strength is his commitment and I’m excited to see what he can do this year.”

In addition to his senior captains, Zacchilli has three talented juniors and a couple of sophomores who should be able to earn a spot in the starting lineup. Nate Cavanaugh will wrestle in the heavyweight division and will come in at a full 285 lbs. He is another athlete that is coming off the football season and is ready to perform on the mats with maximum output.  

Nora Quitt wrestled for Ashland at 126 last winter, but this year she is looking to either take part at 132 or 138. Last year, Quitt injured her knee and eventually had to have surgery on it, but Zacchilli is sure that she’ll return to the team this year just as she was prior to the injury, tough as nails and ready for a challenge. 

Quitt, who came up through the youth wrestling program, is comfortable with the other wrestlers as are they to her. 

“Wrestling with the boys, she has seen adversity, but she has approached it with toughness,” the Coach said. “She competes to win, so being a girl doesn’t affect her at all. I am very excited to watch her compete this year as she’s one of the toughest kids I have ever coached.”

Another junior returning starter is Cam Antoniuk, who will be wrestling at either 145 or 152. He is another high-level athlete with enthusiasm being his strength; he is eager to learn and the coach expects big things from the wrestler who finished second in the Sectionals as a sophomore last winter.

Two talented sophomores, who are very similar in their approach to the game, are Adrian Guzman (152 or 160) and Anton Puhach (will take part in either 172 or 180 lb. weight class all depends on where Fleming wrestles). Last year the two sophomores were Co-Rookies of the Year for the squad and participated as All-State Qualifiers.

“They are both lifers and have wrestled for a long time,” Zacchilli said. “They are more developed from a technique standpoint and should be able to repeat last year’s expectations. Being at the top of their weight classes as freshmen was impressive.”

The Clockers will also have a talented group of freshman grapplers who will be looking to make the varsity squad. Those who don’t, will be on the junior varsity team that will practice with the varsity athletes, thus when called upon they will be ready.

In addition to winning the Sectionals again, Ashland is looking to repeat as the TVL Champions and this year they are looking to cash in during the State Tournament, instead of finishing fourth. 

“Winning the State Championship as a team is the only thing that we didn’t get to accomplish last year,” Zacchilli said. “We want to sweep it all this year and get that one championship that eluded us last year; we have the team that can do it.”

The Clockers will open the season with the Ashland Early Bird Tournament where 12 teams throughout Massachusetts as well as one from Coventry, Rhode Island will compete.