Wrestling: Windham Eagles soldier on, despite low numbers

Windham wrestling – a small but dedicated and tight-knit group in 2015-16 – traveled to Westbrook Saturday morning, Jan. 23, for a four-way showdown with the Blazes, Noble and Portland.

“We’re five guys strong,” said Windham head coach Jason Dryburgh of his team. “It’s an interesting team because we’ve got two freshmen, so there’s a lot of growth coming in, and three juniors, so there’s obviously more growth for them to have.”

“But they have a strong mentality,” Dryburgh added. “The biggest thing is not having the partners they need on the mat to give them what they need. You’ve got huge gaps: Minus the 106, who’s actually like 93 pounds, soaking wet, I’ve got a 133, then you jump up to 138, then 160, then 220.”

Dryburgh’s tiny cadre ends up practicing against one another or against their coaches in a very limited variety of pairings, which doesn’t allow them much opportunity to acclimate to different styles and body types.

“They don’t have the partners they need,” Dryburgh said, “to give them something different to look at each time. They all have the experience, which is great. There’s always that easel to work with.”

The Eagles looked to begin the season with much higher numbers, but a combination of factors depleted them with startling rapidity.

“I had 16-17 kids sign up initially,” said Dryburgh. The loss of one of his natural leaders, a young talent who just wanted a break from the mat, snowballed into the loss of several athletes. Others opted out for different reasons.

Dryburgh sympathized readily with athletes suffering a little burnout who needed a breather. “I can understand that,” he said.

Luckily, “there’s a handful of kids coming up from eighth grade who love wrestling. They’re dedicated wrestlers, it’s been part of their growth. I can say, 95-percent confident, that they’ll transition.”

Similarly, Dryburgh said, “some of the kids who’ve taken a year off, injuries and whatever, personal issues, things like that, they’re communicating to me: ‘Look, I’m coming back.’ They’re saying that. It builds hope and promise.”

Windham vs. Noble

138 – Devin Bourque (Noble) pinned Sean Butterworth (Windham)

160 – Travis Pelletier (Noble) pinned Alex Jordan (Windham)

220 – Chase Hamilton (Noble) pinned Colby Valliere (Windham)

Windham vs. Portland

113 – Omar Daud (Portland) pinned Sam Dubuc (Windham)

138 – Sean Butterworth (Windham) pinned Klein Ngoga (Portland)

160 – Alex Jordan (Windham) pinned Harald Degenhardt (Portland)

Windham (6) vs. Westbrook (76)

106 – Nicco Pappalardo (Gorham) defeated DJ Pelletier in a Major Decision

120 – Sam Dubuc (Windham) pinned Max Kimmell (Westbrook)

138 – Jon Jaques (Westbrook) pinned Sean Butterworth (Windham)