Meet the T&G Hometeam high school wrestling Super Team for winter 2023-24
The Central Mass. High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the player of the year nominees for wrestling. The winners will be announced during the live show on Wednesday, June 26, at the Hanover Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins promptly at 7.
During the live show, athletes of the year in 31 sports will be honored. In addition, top teams, coaches and overall athletes will be honored as will a Courage Award winner. Nominated athletes who RSVP will receive a complimentary ticket to the event thanks to sponsors.
Nominees can register here: Nominee Registration for the 2024 Central Mass High School Sports Awards (smartsheet.com)
Tickets for the public are on sale here: 2024 Central Mass. High School Sports Awards Tickets (enmotive.com)
For more information about the show and to opt into email updates, visit its website and you can also follow it on Facebook.
The Central Mass. High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.
Sawyer Ayotte
Shepherd Hill Regional
Junior, 150 pounds
Ayotte put himself into the Shepherd Hill record books in a big way this season, becoming the first wrestler in school history to claim a Division 2 state championship and an All-State championship for the Rams when he claimed the titles at 150 pounds. Ayotte defeated Sharon's Cyrus Jones for the title in both matches. Ayotte was selected as the Mid-Wach League MVP after amassing a 48-6 record on the season and recording 116 wins over his career, which also includes a spot on last year's Telegram & Gazette all-star team. Ayotte hopes to own his own business after graduation and said his championship wins and surpassing the 100-win mark for his career were his most memorable moments. He is the son of Ray and Kim Ayotte of Charlton.
Miguel Borges
Marlborough
Senior, 150 pounds
Borges recorded a 35-6 record this season to lead the Panthers and finished a stellar career at Marlborough with a 90-24 mark to earn a spot on the Telegram & Gazette all-star team for the second year in a row and fourth overall, counting his two spots as a football all-star. After claiming the sectional title at 150 pounds, Borges placed second at the Division 3 state meet, falling to Hanover's Anthony Mann via decision in the championship bout. Borges enjoys lifting weights in his spare time and will start his journey to becoming a lawyer in the fall when he heads to the University of Arizona to study pre-law and compete on the club wrestling team for the Wildcats. The Marlborough native is the son of Karine De Souza and Carlos Borges.
Daniel de Almeida
Nashoba Regional
Junior, 175 pounds
It was a splendid season for de Almeida, as the junior recorded a 45-9 record and placed eighth in the 175-pound bracket at the New England Championships. De Almeida also finished sixth in the All-State championships and took third in the Division 2 state meet. He has a varied range of hobbies when he's not on the wrestling mat, including jogging, weight lifting, photography, gardening, gaming and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. De Almeida is hoping to wrestle in college. He is the son of Claudiana and Eder Almeida of Hudson.
Landry Fitzgerald
Valley Tech
Senior, 285 pounds
Fitzgerald was a captain for Bellingham, which hosts the co-op wrestling program with Valley Tech, and went 22-1 on the season to earn a spot on the Telegram & Gazette all-star team for the second time this year. Fitzgerald also was named to the football team in the fall as a standout lineman for the Beavers. Fitzgerald pinned Plymouth South's Brendan Nunley in 1:45 to claim the Division 2 state championship at heavyweight and went on to finish seventh at the All-State championships. Fitzgerald will attend Coker University in the fall and will aim for a career in plumbing. The Upton resident is the son of Dwayne Fitzgerald and Shana Duclos.
Landan Gray
St. John's
Senior, 144 pounds
A two-time selection to the Telegram & Gazette all-star team, Gray leaves St. John's with school records in wins in a single season (60) and career (157) to cap a memorable career with the Pioneers. Gray advanced to the New England championships after finishing fourth at the All-State meet and third at the Division 1 meet in the 144-pound bracket. Gray will attend Johnson and Wales in the fall and plans to wrestle for the Wildcats. He is the son of Ryan and Krysta Gray of Shrewsbury.
Dan Greaney
Leominster
Sophomore, 144 pounds
Greaney earned a spot on the Telegram & Gazette all-star team after finishing fourth at the Division 1 state meet at 144 pounds after taking first at the Division 1 West/Central championship. His twin brother, Troy, also is a standout for the Blue Devils, and finished fifth at 150 pounds in the Division 1 state championship.
More: 'It’s really all about the hard work': Greaney twins come up winners for Leominster wrestling
Anthuan Lino Diego
Leominster
Junior, 285 pounds
Lino Diego captured his second-straight Mid-Wach League title and finished third at both the All-State championship and the Division 1 state championship meets to cap a 45-12 season for the Blue Devils and earn a spot on the Telegram & Gazette all-star team for the first time. Lino Diego. Lino Diego said his most memorable moments this season was the win at the Mid-Wach championship as well as the fact he lost his first match at the state championship meet, but recorded to win his next six matches to take third place. He is hoping to pursue a trade as an electrician or earn a degree in business management. The Leominster resident is the son of Luis Bonilla and Martha Diego.
Owen Menendez
Marlborough
Senior, 138 pounds
Menendez set a school record for single pins with 34 and leaves the Panthers as a two-time captain and state champion with a 74-20 career record. Menendez finished his senior season with a 40-6 mark and was a champion in the 138-pound class at the Division 3 section and Division 3 state meet. He enjoys fishing and lifting weights in his spare time and next year will wrestle at Bridgewater State and pursue a degree in business management. He is the son of Julie Menendez of Marlborough.
Jonah Paulino
Monty Tech
Senior, 132 pounds
One of the most dominant wrestlers to come out of Central Mass., Paulino caps a brilliant career for the Bulldogs as a four-time state champion, a three-time placeholder at the New England Championships, a three-time sectional champion and a two-time All-State champion. A three-time member of the Telegram & Gazette all-star team, Paulino finished 49-1 this season with his only loss coming in the finals at the New England Championship meet. He also earned his second title at the Lowell Holiday Tournament. Paulino was the first four-time state champion at Monty Tech and a two-time captain for the Bulldogs that surpassed 100 career wins. Paulino will study accounting next year at Roanoke College. His older brother, Isiac, also was a sensational grappler for Monty Tech and now competes at Springfield College. He is the son of Ruddy Paulino of Athol.
Omid Sabr
Worcester Tech
Senior, 150 pounds
A captain for the Eagles, Sabr finished the year with a 35-5 record and finished fourth at the Division 2 state meet to earn a spot on the Telegram & Gazette all-star team. Sabr was fifth at the same meet as a junior and finished his high school career with a 58-11 record over two seasons. He's accomplished in jiu-jitsu and has picked up a few championships along the way as he hopes one day to become a champion UFC fighter. Sabr and also enjoys playing soccer and boxing in his spare time. He is the son of Robina Sarwari of Worcester.
Blake Sastre
Northbridge
Senior, 157 pounds
Sastre left his mark on the Northbridge program, finishing with a 37-9 record and a perfect two-year stretch of making all practices and meets for the Rams. Sastre was a captain for Northbridge and picked up a win at the Wayland Holiday Tournament - one of his most memorable moments this season after he didn't win a match in the event when he competed as a junior. "It showed my hard work in the offseason paid off," he wrote. Sastre also finished second at the state sectional meet and placed fourth at the Division 2 state meet to qualify for the All-State championship meet. Sastre will wrestle next year at Castleton. He is the son of Jonathan and Stephanie Sastre of Whitinsville.
Cooper Wiebe
Monty Tech
Junior, 126 pounds
Wiebe has already surpassed the 100-win mark in his career at Monty Tech, sitting at 130 wins heading into what should be a strong senior season for the Bulldogs. Wiebe, who attends Fitchburg High, is a two-time captain at Monty Tech and also has placed at the state meet three times. Wiebe qualified for the New England championships after placing sixth at the All-State championships. He placed fifth at the Division 1 state meet and took the title at the Division 1 Central/West sectional meet. Wiebe hopes to study finance in college and eventually run his own business. His most memorable moment this season was busting his eyebrow open, getting stitched up, and returning to compete the following day in the tournament. He is the son of John and Christina Wiebe of Fitchburg.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Check out the T&G Hometeam high school wrestling Super Team for winter 2023-24
