TAUNTON — For the first time in the school’s history, two wrestlers on the Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School’s varsity, co-ed wrestling team came in first place in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) All-State wrestling championship, and four wrestlers qualified for the New England Tournament, all for the first time.
On Saturday, February 24, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School’s wrestling team participated in the MIAA All-State wrestling championship held at Salem High School.
The students who placed first in the MIAA All-State wrestling tournament were: Brooke Weafer, weight class 114, and Jacob Bettencourt, also weight class 114. Nathan Hicks placed second, Rileigh Fagan placed second, and both Jack Ramondetta and Raegan Price came in fourth place. Weafer, Bettencourt, Hicks, and Ramondetta qualified for the New England Tournament.
“Congratulations to our wrestlers for their outstanding achievements,” Superintendent Alex Magalhaes said. “Their hard work, dedication and sportsmanship have made us proud. Keep striving for excellence both on and off the mat.”
A few years ago, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School’s wrestling program was so small, it took the form of a co-op with Coyle & Cassidy High School and middle school. However, the partnership ended when Coyle & Cassidy was closed following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since that time, Coach Bob Gay and Athletic Director Mark Lebeda have methodically developed a dominant wrestling program, which has since demonstrated its prowess at the state level.
For the 2021-2022 season, 25 students auditioned for the team, with 20 securing spots mainly for varsity competitions.
The next season saw an increase in interest, with 40 students trying out and 30 making it to the team for a combination of varsity and JV competitions. This year marked a significant growth with 60 aspirants, of whom 40 were selected to participate in both varsity and JV levels.
