Marblehead-Swampscott’s co-op wrestling team is gearing up for another season under head coach Michael Stamison. This year, the Black and Blue will rely on youth and senior leadership as they look to rise to the top of the Northeastern Conference.
Stamison said he’s “very excited” to get back to work with his team.
“It’s the best thing I do. I really enjoy giving back to the community that raised me, the sport that made me who I am, and to be back with the kids and my staff,” he said. “I also really enjoy the camaraderie with the opposing coaches. We’ve all been at this so long. I count many as personal friends.”
The Black and Blue sport more than 30 wrestlers. Stamison said it provides good depth for the long season ahead.
The team graduated a core group of reliable seniors from last year’s squad, but Stamison likes what he’s seen thus far.
“It’s tough to replace a perennial state placer in Mason Hinshaw, and the leadership of guys like Clive Connolly, Justin Gonzalez, Alejandro Haven, etc. This year, we have a significantly younger team, which will be led by our captains as well as seniors Devin DiBarri, Phin Jakious and Xavier Tejeda,” Stamison said. “We also have veterans returning in Jaymes Carey, Andrew Delisle, Eva Goodman, and Ilan Hod.”
This season’s captains are Liam O’Brien (Swampscott) and Colin Hart (Marblehead).
“Both have been captains for multiple seasons now and both have been great at practices with the influx of first-year kids we have,” Stamison said.
O’Brien, the program’s all-time wins leader, has a chance to reach 200 varsity victories this year.
Through the first few weeks of practice, Stamison noted freshman Nolan Glass as someone who has stood out.
“As an eighth grader who saw limited varsity action last season, he made the effort in the weight room and on the mat this offseason, and it shows,” Stamison said. “He should be our 150-pounder this year. We look for him to accomplish big things.”
In addition to Glass, Stamison pointed to several other underclassmen who he believes will make impacts.
“Sophomore Phil Duclos has been a pleasant surprise — very athletic and coachable,” Stamison said. “I’ll say that for all of the new kids; a very coachable group. Freshman Connor Zundl, eighth grader Gavin Dombkowski, freshman Walker Beane, and more will factor into our lineup all season.”
Stamison said the goal for this year’s team is to claim the NEC dual-meet championship. In addition, he wants to bring seven or more wrestlers to the state tournament.
“There are so many great events this season. The second annual Tri-State Cup Quad-Meet at Triton is a fun one. There, we will wrestle the host Vikings and teams from Pelham, New Hampshire, New York, and Maine to win a nice-looking trophy,” Stamison said. “We also took part in the Sharon Lombardo Tournament last year at Mt. Hope in Rhode Island, which netted us some great individual performances. And, of course, we are the reigning Daniel Gionet Memorial Tournament team champs. We will look to retain our crown this year as senior captain Liam O’Brien tries to capture his fourth title at that particular tournament.”