This year’s wrestling team began its lengthy season by taking part in the Blue and White Night. With the team’s goal set on getting first matches over with and becoming familiar with a real match, the meet started as Aaron Gion, freshman, defeated Alex Hopkins, freshman.

“The goal in participating in the Blue and White Night was to have fun and to get the first match out of the way for everyone,” said Tim Muehleisen, upper-school wrestling coach.

Other lightweight matchups included Dominic Franceschelli, junior, versus Sean Appelbaum, sophomore, and Sam Parham versus Cameron Dodge, sophomores. Franceschelli and Parham were the winners of the matches.

The event heated up as varsity contenders, Will Egan and Keegan Brown, seniors, battled it out until the third period. Brown won by the slightest of points.

In the middle of the meet, Michael Weston and Trent Briden, sophomores, wrestled a highly anticipated match. Weston won at the end of the long third period, avoiding a near pin to stay on top of the scoreboard.

Later, Brink Thompson, senior, lost to Jacob Chimento, sophomore. The meet ended with heavier-weights David Becker, sophomore, being pinned by Joe Isaacs, senior.

Muehleisen was exceptionally proud of his team, especially the freshmen wrestlers.

“The freshmen who wrestled their first match were fun to watch and I am glad they got that out of the way. I thought they did great,” said Muehleisen.

In previous years, the wrestling team has not had enough athletes to participate in the Blue and White Night, nor has it had appropriate matchups. But, with nearly thirty-five wrestlers this year, Blue and White Night seemed to be a great way to kick off the team’s season.

“The wrestling team has not participated in the Blue and White Night during its previous seasons because we haven’t had a team that could match up well against itself,” said Muehleisen.

With many hardworking athletes on the team, Muehleisen is hoping for an exceptional season.

“We have a really good team. I think we will be extremely competitive. The expectations are high, but not based on Friday night— they are based on the body of work so far— we have a good group working hard,” said Muehleisen.