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Timberwolves grapple with Flyers at home

By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter

The Walpole High gym buzzed with energy as the wrestling team squared off against Bay State Conference rival Framingham, a scene that echoed countless showdowns across the country. This year, the Walpole wrestling team is youthful, with only one senior, two juniors, and ten underclassmen on the roster. Despite their youth, the team's unyielding spirit is pushing them in the right direction, showcasing resilience and growth with each match. The captains leading the charge are senior Matthew Botelho and junior Jackson Doherty.

On January 15, 2025, the Framingham Flyers entered the match with a 3-1 record, bringing added intensity to the competition.

Walpole wrestling is led by Paul Murphy, a coach whose career spans over 50 years. Murphy is a member of four halls of fame, including the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, continuing Walpole’s tradition of respected coaches who foster personal development in young athletes. A former collegiate athlete in football, soccer, and lacrosse, Murphy has made an indelible mark as a coach and referee. Despite his many accolades, Murphy’s greatest accomplishments are the relationships he has built and the young athletes and coaches he has mentored along the way.

Each match consists of three two-minute periods across 14 weight classes. If a team is missing a wrestler in any weight class, the opponent receives points for a forfeited match. For the Framingham contest, Walpole was down nine grapplers and couldn’t field wrestlers for five of the matches. Additionally, when a team has multiple wrestlers for one weight class, only one can compete in a match.

The team enjoyed a strong decade in the 2010s, even winning the Herget League in 2018. However, since the pandemic, wrestling enrollment has dipped. Despite these challenges, the team fought valiantly in each match. One of the standout performances came from Jeremiah Colon in the 190-pound weight class. After giving up three points early, Colon controlled the match, narrowing the score to 3-2 late in the third period. He fought hard until the clock expired, never losing his determination.

As the match ended and the wrestlers shook hands, the echoes of cheers lingered in the gym. For fans of high school wrestling, this was everything they’d hoped for: a mix of strategy, emotion, and unyielding spirit.
The Timberwolves are determined to continue improving, focusing on technique, conditioning, and mental toughness in each practice. While victories may not yet show up on the scoreboard, the team is winning in ways that don’t appear in the standings: through heart, effort, and a deep commitment to the sport. Walpole will grapple with Braintree, Woburn, and Brookline in a quad meet on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Walpole High School.

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