MYA Wrestling Competes in Double Header in Derry Tournaments

The Merrimack Youth Wrestling Program attended the 21^st Annual New England Rebel Classic held at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH on March 18, 2018. The tournament was an Ohio Tournament of Champions and Gene Mills Nationals Qualifier. Merrimack girls also participated in the 2^nd annual Wonder Woman Classic which was also a qualifying tournament. This event attracts great talent given the large venue and opportunity to participate in a female only tournament. Merrimack brought twenty-two wrestlers to compete in the last regular season tournament for the MYA with individual results below:

Kameron Lewis, Bennett Meehan and Ryan Safa represented in the Kindergarten bracket with Lewis securing one win by pin on the day.

Andrew Schuster represented the first grade bracket and had one win by pin as well. Other first graders Allison McMahon and Calissa Bell competed in the Wonder Woman tournament with McMahon moving forward with one win by forfeit to take third place medal. Bell also fought hard in the Rebel Classic.

Ryan Marone, grade 2 dropped to the consolation bracket in his match only falling by one point. He moved forward with one win by forfeit ultimately falling by only a few points in his final match, taking third place.

Merrimack’s third grade representation consisted of Collin Schuster, Ben Koudriashov, Amir Safa, Rhys Dewar, Aiden Kennedy and Luke Emond. Dewar and Emond won their first matches by points and pin respectively. And all fought hard in very competitive brackets. This tournament is offered as a popular off season tournament and many travel from all over New England and further as there are not many other wrestling opportunities this time of the year.

Emmi Hadded, grade 2 wrestled in the Wonder Woman tournament winning her first two matches and taking second place medal home.

Cayden Dine, John Regal and Jackson Meehan, grade 4, all had multiple wins on the day. Dine had one win by pin and one by points taking fourth place. Regal fought back in the consi bracket bringing home third place medal securing two wins by points and one by pin. Meehan had two wins by pin and one by points taking home the champ title.

Ivey Johnson grade 5, competed in both tournaments working hard in both. She had two wins, one by points and one by pin in the Rebel Classic taking fourth place on the day.

Mitchell Krupp and Danny Safa represented the sixth graders and fought hard in their respective brackets. Other sixth grader, Owen Forrest, fell into the consi bracket after first rounds but battled his way back with two wins by points and one win by pin to take third place on the podium.

Hunter Adams, grade 8, had a very narrow loss in his first match by one point but bounced back in the final round with a win by pin to take third place medal.

The Merrimack Youth Wrestling Program is part of the Merrimack Youth Wrestling Program. It strives to provide a safe recreational activity in grades K-8. The program promotes the sport of wrestling, the world’s oldest sport, by providing a safe practice environment, by delivering high quality instruction, and by facilitating tournament competition opportunities. The program is in its 13^th season and currently has 40 wrestlers on the roster.

Photo caption 1: Ivey Johnson trying to break down her opponent

Photo caption 2: Emmi Haddad using her arms to keep her competitor away

Photo caption 3: Calissa Bell taking a shot on her opposition

Photo caption 4: Allison McMahon looking away