Thursday, February 4, 2010

All parts in perfect sync


By Justin A. Rice

Globe Correspondent / February 4, 2010

Not even his own teammates believed Tim Kennedy could defeat the top-ranked 160-pounder in the state.

Kennedy’s upset win against Eric Deslauriers last month not only propelled Bridgewater-Raynham to a thrilling 34-28 victory against defending Division 2 state champion Franklin High, it also made the Trojans believers.

“We didn’t think we had a chance to beat [Franklin],’’ said Matt Libby, B-R’s 125-pound junior captain. “Kids started winning matches and once we won against the best team in the state, we knew we could compete with anybody.’’

The Titans entered last night’s league match at Taunton with a perfect 24-0 mark and ranked first in the state, according to masswrestling.com. Trojans fifth-year coach Jeff Francis believes this year’s team could be the best in the 35-year history of the storied program, which, believe it or not, is still searching for its first state team title.

Not surprisingly, B-R is chock-full of contributors on the mat.

In addition to Kennedy (27-2) and Libby (30-0), Libby’s older brother, Steve, is 28-1 at 152 pounds.

But for all the firepower, the key to B-R’s success is as much about the sure-handedness of the stars as it is the unexpected contributions of the supporting cast.

Five first-year varsity grapplers have combined for a 78-42 record. And then there’s senior captain Steve Capobianco, a semi-starter a year ago, who is 20-5 at 189 pounds this season.

“We definitely have our studs, the Libbys and the Tim Kennedys, but everybody has brought it together this year,’’ Capobianco said. “I’m not going to lie, we’ve surprised a lot of people, but hopefully we can keep it going.’’

Of the five first-year wrestlers - sophomore Dan Creighton (112), junior Colin Harrington (119), sophomore Vasili Gerekas (135), junior Tad Peterson (140), and senior Shawn Quigley - the 171-pound Quigley has been the most pleasant surprise.

Wrestling up from 158, Quigley has registered an impressive 19-4 mark, a record built no doubt on his daily head-to-head matches with Kennedy and Steve Libby in practice.

“Getting beat up by them in practice only helps me on the mat when I have to wrestle the kids that are stronger than me,’’ Quigley said.

Quigley gets his revenge in the lunchroom, where he can indulge in seconds and thirds while everyone else worries about making weight.

“I can eat what I want,’’ he said. “It’s pretty cool going home and eating two dishes of pasta and not having to worry. It gives me an advantage. I’m not tired. I’m full of energy.’’

But he doesn’t want to rub it in. “I try to stay off that,’’ he said, “everyone [cutting weight] is kind of grouchy.’’

His work has provided an inspiration. “When you see a kid, first year on varsity, winning matches, pulling off big wins, it gets everybody motivated,’’ Matt Libby said.

The Libbys provided the ultimate emotional boost last month, when each recorded his 100th career win. Four days after Matt reached the milestone against BC High, Steve joined him by pinning Barnstable’s Sean Duffy 1:24 into the first round. No other set of brothers at the school has accomplished the feat.

“That was awesome,’’ said Matt Libby, who could also break the school record for career wins.

Francis, an 18-year assistant under Stan Holmes, the program’s founder, believes the career wins mark (146) is held by Devin Hennessy. Over the years, the Trojans have produced 13 state individual and four New England champions, but a team title has always proven elusive. A year ago, B-R finished 26-4, losing to Springfield Central in the Division 1 state semifinals.

“This team definitely tops all of those,’’ Francis said. “I thought they’d be a good team, but they’re even surprising me. To go the whole season without one downfall so far is just really good.’’

B-R went unbeaten a few times in the 1970s, but “that was when we only had 12 matches,’’ he said. “This year we’re talking 28 matches after states. It’s a little bit different. The schedule we wrestle now is more statewide.’’

He constantly worries about his squad peaking too early. “You gotta cross your fingers that they don’t [burn out], but if you don’t train hard enough they will not be in good enough shape. So it’s a real fine line.’’

He is sure, though, that his five first-year varsity grapplers will be challenged more in practice than in a real match.

“By the time they get to the match, they’ve already wrestled tougher kids in practice,’’ Francis said. “That’s just what happens. They get slipped up in there, and they start thinking they’re better than they are, and they get some momentum rolled up.

“It’s a big confidence game, wrestling, and once they get in there they start realizing they can do it.’’

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