While other students and staff were preparing for the new year, Holyoke High School's wrestling team and coaches traveled 130 miles to face off against new opponents at Parsippany Hills High School in northern New Jersey on December 30.
The Gary Vittorio Holiday Wrestling Tournament is an annual tournament for invited teams, who face off against wrestlers from a dozen well-regarded wrestling teams from across the northeast.
“Receiving the invitation is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and growth of our team, and follows last year’s MIAA Sportsmanship Award,” said head wrestling coach Vincent Silano.
Wrestlers from Holyoke competed as individuals in a bracket-style tournament, with several notable individual achievements:
Junior Steven Santiago secured second place in a competitive finals match, with only a point between first and second place.
Senior Felix Marerro-Cruz claimed third place in the consolation finals, pinning his opponent effectively for the win.
“We are proud of all our students who medaled and participated, and overwhelmed by the amount of growth demonstrated during the tournament,” Mr. Silano said. “I appreciate our School Committee members who helped make traveling to this event possible, and my fellow coaches Aarin Feliz, Sheldon Rhoden, and Luis Robles. The consistent support we receive from our school community is what makes these opportunities possible.”
Information on all upcoming sporting events, including wrestling, can be found on ArbiterLive.