The first match after the holiday break is always a difficult challenge.  Conditioning, lack of practice, and weight management were all hindrances for the team as it stepped out on to the mat for the first time in 2016. 
 
In the first match, Middlesex defeated Canterbury 51-21.  Led by captain Gavin Fujimori, the team would get pins from Gavin, Andrew Zhang, Alex Wagner, Dante Gutbrod, Justin D'Alesandro and Ted Pyne. Ted Pyne had a notable victory, taking on the senior captain from Canterbury and dominating the match by a score of 7-0 before getting the third period pin.
 
Justin D'Alesandro, who won his first match in the Middlesex uniform, worked for a takedown and reversal in the first period and was awarded the pin in the second period. Congratulations go out to Chris Fashek and Max Rogers who have begun the journey this year toward hard work and dedication and were each able to contribute six team points for forfeits.
 
In the second match of the day, fireworks and noise seemed to take over the gym for the Roxbury Latin vs. Middlesex matchup. At one point the referee had to request the teams to return to their seating area because of the excitement and cheering.  Middlesex would battle through a late tie score, winning 48 to 27.
 
The team score remained close, 6-6, 24 -21, and 30-27, until Middlesex senior Alex Wagner finally put the match score to 36-27 giving the team the cushion it would take into the final three matches of the afternoon.  Alex was solid in his first period pin, winning on excellent positioning and a relentless pressure.
 
The next exciting match would take place at the 106lb weight class with Ameya Shere winning by pin over his opponent late in the first period.  This fantastic match combined with Chris Fashek winning by forfeit at 113lb and Dante Gutbrod mastering his opponent, a senior Graves Kelsey Champion by a score of 12-5, would finalize the score at Middlesex 48 to Roxbury Latin 27.
 
Notable victories were abundant.  Marcus Coward returned to the win column with an excellent match.  He amassed a score of 8-1 before securing the pin in the second period.  Ted Pyne worked to a dominant 7-0 score, getting a takedown in all three periods. Gavin Fujimori was outstanding in a first period pin. Jivan Purutyan was able to finish his match off with a pin in the second period. 
 
Senior Andrew Zhang, used several moves in consecutive order to master his opponent and achieve the pin by the end of the second period.  He was smooth and agile in his performance and chain-move wrestling. Exhibition victories by Michael Acevedo and Gordon Hargraves also added to the day's success.
 
Up next, Middlesex will travel to Lawrence Academy on Wednesday, Jan 13 for another ISL battle at 3:30 PM.