Winning the battle: Our 2024 Wrestler of the Year and Super Team

Tayel Guzman wasn’t going to let anything stop him from finishing his wrestling career at New Bedford High strong.

After a back injury cut his junior year short, Guzman was hungry to show what he could do on the wrestling mat this past winter and he did just that.

Not only did Guzman finish the year with a team-high 35 wins, he took third place at sectionals despite battling more injuries.

“He didn’t want anything to stop him from reaching his prime goal,” said New Bedford head coach Steve Sentes. “He was a leader. I don't think he missed a single practice. He was always there to step up. I liked that he wrestled through adversity.”

Guzman added, “I wanted to strive to be a leader. I had to show my team that even though I had injuries I could still pull off a good season. I felt like I had to make up with what I didn’t accomplish last year.”

WHY HE WAS SELECTED

Guzman was a force for New Bedford High, wrestling at 190 pounds. The Southeast Conference All-Star was named the team’s MVP.

“This has to be my season,” he said. “I had to put in 110%.

“My coaches pushed me every day at practice. They pushed me to go past my limits. They always said to push past what you think is the top.”

Guzman grew up playing football and didn’t know much about wrestling until one of his football teammates, Jose Bonilla, urged him to go check out one of his matches.

“I thought this looks pretty fun. I signed up my sophomore year and made varsity that year,” Guzman said. “I feel like wrestling brings out a different side of you. It’s a level of perseverance and dedication and mental toughness. Once you do wrestling, you are never the same. You’re a better version of yourself. It taught me to never quit.

“I want people to remember me for going past what people think you can do and to fight through whatever you think is tough. I got through obstacles that got into my way.”

KEY STATS

In his third year of wrestling, Guzman finished the regular season with a record of 35-12. He placed third at sectionals and seventh at Div. 1 states at 190 pounds.

'This is where I'm supposed to be': Steve Sentes is back as New Bedford's wrestling coach

MVP MOMENT

The two biggest moments of the season for Guzman were the Marshfield tournament and a quad meet that included King Philip.

In order to finish in third place at Marshfield, Guzman had to get past a Mt. Hope wrestler who had already beaten him earlier in the tournament. “The second time I beat him by a lot of points,” Guzman said. “That was a great comeback victory.”

The other highlight was pinning a King Philip wrestler just seven seconds into the match.

“He was really tough on his feet and he was really hard to take down,” Sentes said. “He was good at putting people on their back.”

WHAT’S NEXT

The 18-year-old Guzman said he is looking into going to East Coast Prep next year with hopes of continuing his athletic career in either football or wrestling at the next level.

NOTES

Guzman said he wanted to thank his New Bedford High coaches as well as his parents, Miguel Guzman and Shawnta Duarte. He also said that Bonilla was a mentor to him. “The last two years I had with him, I looked up to him,” Guzman said. “He was my competition and my goal was to be like him.”

SUPER TEAM

Anthony Bojorquez Galindino, New Bedford, Sophomore

Bojorquez made quite the debut for New Bedford High wrestling this winter. Not only did he have a 29-11 regular season record with a team-high 24 pins, he won the South Sectional championship at 106 pounds. “He was undefeated in league matches,” said New Bedford head coach Steve Sentes. “He pinned everyone at sectionals; I've never had anyone do that. What kind of first-year wrestler can do that?” Bojorquez went 1-2 at the Div. 1 state tournament.

Josiah Semedo, New Bedford, Sophomore

Semedo’s never quit attitude made him stand out as a second-year wrestler. “When he would wrestle, he would always come back,” said New Bedford head coach Steve Sentes. “He did that so much during the year. He was so fun to watch because he was never out of the match.” Semedo went 29-17 during the regular season with a team-high 67 takedowns. He also placed fifth at sectionals at 126 pounds.

Forrester Thompson, New Bedford, Junior

A three-year wrestler at New Bedford, Thompson enjoyed a strong junior campaign. He went 29-18 during the regular season before placing third at Sectionals at 175 pounds. “He refused to give up,” said New Bedford head coach Steve Sentes. “He’d be down by 10 points and come back and beat the kid. He constantly worked to improve.”

Prince Wright, New Bedford, Senior

A transfer from Florida, Wright came out for New Bedford High’s wrestling team this winter and had an immediate impact. The first-year senior had a regular season record of 27-17 and went on to place fifth at Sectionals at 165 pounds. “It was his first year wrestling,” said New Bedford head coach Steve Sentes. “He was highly dependable all season. He’d get a pin when you needed it. He was a really good kid all around.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Angel Carmenatty, New Bedford, Junior; Anderson Denis, New Bedford, Sophomore; Deron Tremblay, New Bedford, Sophomore.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2024 Wrestler of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars