Needham Wrestlers Qualify for All-States

Submitted by Coach Paul Ahern

Three wrestlers overcame minor injuries and very competitive brackets at the Division 2 State Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 11 to qualify for the All-States, to be held Feb. 24-25 in Salem.

Senior Captain Cam Chisholm and juniors Mark Carroll and Mikhail Khibkin each brought home a medal.

Chisholm opened with a dominating performance over a South Sectional Champion from Duxbury. In the Quarterfinals, Chisholm got caught early by a Dracut rival and fell by pin. Bouncing back in the consolation rounds, he pinned a Somerset opponent and pulled off a last second victory over Metro Sectional Champ, Quincy Wilson of Norwood, before dropping a tight decision in the consolation semi-finals. In the consolation finals, Chisholm pinned a Tewksbury wrestler to take a very solid fifth.

Returning Divsion 2 State Champ Mark Carroll faced a significant challenge in his attempt to repeat. Seeded fourth, Carroll was in a weight class filled with seven returning state medalists. 

"Most weight classes have one or maybe two returners, but 120 pounds had seven—that's just unheard of," said Coach Nick Gamble. 

Carroll dominated his first round opponent by major decision and then trounced a highly touted Winchester rival in the quarterfinals, 13-2, setting up a semi-final with three-time State Champ Logan David of King Phillip. In that match, David got out to an early lead and never looked back.

Bothered by an injury attained in an early round, Carroll limped through a consolation loss to a Reading opponent, before being injury defaulted to sixth place.

At 138 pounds, Khibkin came into the tournament having been injury defaulted in the sectional final last week and pulled off two gritty victories, including one in overtime of the quarterfinals against a Central Catholic opponent that brought the entire gym to its feet. Having secured a state medal and spot at All-States, Khibkin injury default to sixth place.

Also earning victories and going 1-2 for the Rockets on Feb. 11 were junior Tak Hirayama and senior Evan Michelson. Hirayama downed a North Attleboro rival in a 6-2 second round bout, and in his 32nd victory of the season, Michelson came back from a late deficit to send the match into overtime, where he then pinned his Keefe Tech rival.

Also competing were juniors Islam Baiev and John Cronin. Both went 0-2, but gained valuable post-season experience, losing close matches to top-ranked opponents.

Closing out his individual career was senior Martin Gal. Also going 0-2, Gal nearly pulled off an upset of his Marlboro opponent, losing a hard-fought 4-1 match.

Next up for the Rockets is the Division 2 Duel Meet State Tournament Feb. 19-20 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell where they will face Keefe Tech in the opening round.