They're Grappling with Success at St John's

To say the St. John's Prep wrestling team has had a stranglehold on the Catholic Conference would be to understate the case. The Eagles have won 12 consecutive titles and 15 of the last 16 league championships.

"Our goal each season is to win the Catholic Conference. This team works hard in practice and will hopefully continue to improve as the season progresses," said veteran Coach Manny Costa, who has compiled a 423-120-4 record in 21 years as St. John's head coach, including a 26-8 mark last season.

The Eagles opened the season at home with a five-way non-league event last Saturday, winning three of four matches. St. John's handled Algonquin Regional (47-27), Nashua North (57-21) and Merrimack, N.H. (69-10) while losing to Timberlane Regional of Plaistow, N.H. (57-17).

Costa pinpointed the undisputed strength of this year's club as the middle of the lineup in the 130- through 145-pound weight classes.

Senior 140-pounder T.J. Crabtree is a three-time captain and three-time Catholic Conference All-Star. He finished 50-9 a year ago en route to finishing second in Division 1 North, fourth in Division 1 State, fourth overall in All-State and sixth in New England. His career record now stands at 141-36 after he won all four matches last Saturday.

At 130 pounds, senior captain Mike Mayo also went 4-0 last Saturday and is a returning Catholic Conference All-Star. He ranked second in Division 1 North and fifth in Division 1 State a year ago. Alex Kwmunits, a two-year captain and two-time Catholic Conference All-Star, returns at 135 pounds and raised his career record to 89-44 after winning three of four matches last Saturday. Senior 145-pounder Doug Harding is also a returning Catholic Conference All-Star, won three of four matches last weekend and finished 33-10 a year ago.

Louis Bornstein (103 pounds), Anthony Manganiello (119), Samson Lam (152) and Corey Jean-Jacques (HW) complete the list of returnees from a year ago. Bornstein and Manganiello both won three matches last weekend while Jean-Jacques prevailed in a pair.

Among newcomers, 125-pound freshman Jared Costa made an impressive varsity debut last weekend, winning three of his four matches. New 189-pounder James Ingemi, a junior, and new 215-pounder Winslow Estevez, a senior, split their matches. Sophomore D.J. Lemieux (112), junior Jamie Morey (160), sophomore Jon Polansky (160) and senior Teaghan Costello (171) complete the varsity lineup.

The Eagles return to the mats this evening (6 p.m.) at home against St. John's of Shrewsbury.