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Four champs lead Windham to first state title

Saturday, February, 18 By Jeff Hamrick

PELHAM — Windham junior Zach Sprague had never been on a wrestling mat until this season and sophomore teammate Tyler Siverhus had not seen action until a short two weeks ago.

Yet they were among the four Jaguar champions yesterday at the New Hampshire Division 3 tournament that helped Windham capture the school’s first-ever state championship.

Sprague (113 pounds), Siverhus (132), junior Jeff Armstrong (106) and senior Gage Fenton (160) each won titles while the Jaguars easily outpaced runner-up Plymouth 161-129.

“We’re a strong team,” said Windham coach Tom Darrin, whose squad improved on last year’s fourth-place finish that was 107 points behind winner Plymouth. “They definitely support each other, and that makes us all better. I was just glad we had a chance to do it with these group of kids.”

Sprague was the only Windham champ who did not enter the tournament with the top seed. The second-seeded junior breezed to the title though with a 13-0 victory over Campbell’s Kian Fuentes.

“It’s just a great experience for me coming into this school this year and my first year of wrestling,” said Sprague. “I’m just at a loss for words right now.”

Sprague, who enters next week’s Tournament of Champions with a 24-4 record, moved with his parents from Hudson.

“I was just getting bored (with basketball) and I always wanted to try (wrestling),” he said. “It’s been a good experience.”

Siverhus, who won the 125-pound title last year, battled back from a broken left wrist suffered in football. He obviously recovered nicely, recording three pins yesterday, including one with 3 seconds left in the title match against Sanborn’s Tristen Leek.

“It’s even better (winning) this year,” said Siverhus, who entered the tournament with two wins in three matches. “(The injury) didn’t concern me because I knew my teammates would push me.”

Fenton also won his second straight title with a pin of his own in 4:25 over Brad Vaillancourt of John Stark in the 160-pound finale. Armstrong got the Jaguars off to a good start with a convincing 14-5 victory over Pelham’s Jared Boynton at 106 pounds.

Windham also had two second-place finishers (Chris Ferri at 182 and heavyweight David Crichton) and one third-place (Corey Alberico at 195).

Pelham’s Josh Mederois won his second straight title, with an easy 13-2 decision over Codi Gaudreau of John Stark at 120. Two other Pythons advanced to the Tournament of Champions as Boynton and Kevin DeAngelo (138) each finished second.

Sanborn also had a repeat champ in junior Jon Scheidegger, who claimed a 6-1 decision over Plymouth’s David Waterbury at 152 pounds.