MANCHESTER, NH – A popular saying in coaching circles is, “any time you compete, there are only two possible results. You either win or you learn.”
This is especially true when taking on an opponent with superior experience. Class was in session Wednesday night, as the high-powered Bedford High wrestling team rolled over Central High (72-3) and host Memorial High (63-18) in dual meet action.
Bedford (5-1) had no trouble with Little Green and Crusaders (0-4), both of whom have rosters dominated by underclassmen.
.@BHSBulldogs’ Kiaben Kennedy scoops up Memorial’s Connor Houston and takes him for a ride and a takedown. En route to an 18-1 technicall fall win at 144. Bedford swept dual meets from Memorial and Central.
@ManchInkLink @andrewsylvia pic.twitter.com/jy3cqpmBN3— Bill Gilman (@bgilman66) January 4, 2024
Central’s points came courtesy of Ian Maguire, who scored a 4-3 decision over Alex Jennings at 126 pounds.
Memorial got standout performances from Jyzeah Almonte at 126 and Jayden Kuilan at 285, each of whom scored pinfall victories.
Kuilan fell behind in the first period against Bedford’s Matthew Benn, when the latter scored an early takedown. Kuilan was able to cut the margin in half with an escape just before the end of the period. With the choice for the second period, Kuilan opted for the “down” position and made the decision pay off. Kuilan scored a two-point reversal to take a 3-2 lead, was awarded three back points and then secured the pin, 57 seconds into the second period.
Memorial High’s Jayden Kuilan turns @BHSBulldogs’ Mathew Benn to get the pinfall win at 285. Bedford swept Memorial and Central in wrestling dual meets on Wednesday.
@ManchInkLink @andrewsylvia pic.twitter.com/lIK49FKLOx— Bill Gilman (@bgilman66) January 4, 2024
“(Kulan) has an outstanding switch, a great move on bottom. When he hits that switch and gets on top, he’s ready to pouind the guy down and he knows exactly what he’s looking to do,” said Memorial Coach Greg Whittick. “This was a nice match for (Kulan). It was good to get the win and good for his mindset, as he moves into the sectionals and the states, later this season.”
Almonte’s pin also came in the second period against Bedford’s Alex Jennings. Almonte led, 2-1, after the first period, thanks to an early takedown. He began the second period in the “top” position and maintained the advantage throughout. Finally, with just seven seconds remaining in the period, Almonte was able to score the pin and six points.
Memorial’s other six points came on a forfeit.
Memorial’s Jyzeah Almonte executes an acrobatic takedown on @BHSBulldogs’ Alex Jennings at 126. Almonte scored a second round pinfall win but Bedford won the dual meet, 63-18.
@ManchInkLink @andrewsylvia pic.twitter.com/K1niNAkTiQ— Bill Gilman (@bgilman66) January 4, 2024
“We’ve got a young team, but we’ve got a young, scrappy team,” said Whittick. “Bedford is a good team, a very well-constructed team, from the top down. They work hard, they do a lot of off-season work, which is something we’re in the process of trying to get better at. As we get better at that, we should be able to move up into the ranks of the top teams in the state, moving forward.”
Bedford’s roster boasts a number of talented grapplers who will be challenging at the State Tournament, later this winter. At the top of that list is Jacob Benn, wrestling at 215. Benn was frighteningly dominant. He defeated Central’s Desmond Hossfeld by pinfall in just 20 seconds. Then, as if to challenge himself, he pinned Memorial’s Nassim Abari in a mere 16 seconds.
Equally impressive was the effort of Bedford’s Kiaben Kennedy at 144. While not able to pin Memorial’s Connor Houston, Kennedy racked up the points and scored an 18-1 Technical Fall after two periods.
While both Memorial and Central wrestled against Bedford, they didn’t square off against each other. They won’t meet until the City Tournament, next month at West.
Memorial will be back in actions this weekend at an invitational tournament in Keene.
Tucker Watson of the @BHSBulldogs scores a takedown of Michael Lafond of @chslittlegreen, on his way to a second round pin fall win at 175. Bedford swept dual meets from Central and Memorial on Wednesday.
@ManchInkLink @andrewsylvia pic.twitter.com/6rXffNaswF— Bill Gilman (@bgilman66) January 4, 2024
