Powell, LaFrenier Lead Taconic at Berkshire Holiday Tournament

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. -- Zabion Powell and Michael LaFreniere won individual titles to lead the Taconic wrestling team to a second-place finish at the Berkshire Holiday Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Taconic finished 20 points ahead of third-place Maple Hill (N.Y.) but well behind odds-on favorite Putnam, which captured six individual titles and four runner-up finishes out of 14 weight classes.

 

Taconic coach Jeremy Tetreault said second place was a solid showing in a field that included Division 1 Putnam.

 

“We started off with a full team, but there’s a little sickness going around, so three of my guys had to go home early with their parents,” he said. “To come in second … that was our goal. Obviously, we’d like to come in first. But when I found out Putnam was going to be here…”

 

Taconic put five wrestlers in the finals of the championship bracket. Two of them fell to Putnam wrestlers in the finals.

 

At 170 pounds, Putnam’s Jolan Martori defeated Dylan Burke, 9-4. At 182, Tahan Huggins got a major decision over Taconic’s Tanner Hastings, 13-4.

 

Taconic ended up splitting with Putnam in the championship round.

 

At 113, LaFreniere finishing a 3-0 day with a 6-0 decision over Putnam’s Alberto Archival. Powell (145), who also went 3-0, ended the day with his third pin, stopping Putnam’s Gamar Heath 3 minutes, 28 seconds into their match.

 

Taconic also figured into the day’s only all-Berkshire final, where John Field of host Monument Mountain pinned Shawn O’Shea at 3:26 to win the Spartans’ one individual title at 195 pounds.

 

Monument Mountain placed seventh in the 16-team field, the second finisher from the county, with 75 points, ahead of eighth-place Mount Everett (68.5 points). Mount Greylock placed 11th with 35 points.

 

Four Spartans ended their days with a victory.

 

In addition to Field’s win on in the championship bracket, three Monument Mountain wrestlers won in the consolation bracket for third-place showings: Caleb Pollard at 106, Sam Cormier at 132 and Doran Page at 138.

 

Mount Everett placed two wrestlers in the main bracket final. Nick Lupiani placed second at 99 pounds, and Zack Lupiani was second at 106.

 

Mount Greylock’s top finisher was Nick Belouin, who placed third at 285 pounds with a 3-2 record after advancing to the semi-finals in the main draw.

 

In addition to Taconic’s five finalists, Tetreault was happy to pick up points further down the lineup.

 

“Some of my young guys, like London Martin (132), he picked up some wins,” Tetreault said. “Gabe Carrington (138) picked up wins -- wins from guys who aren’t normally placing as much. That’s what helps.

 

“We were fourth here last year. So to beat the New York teams that are here -- Maple Hill and Northwestern, Conn., that’s satisfying.”