RallyNorth.net

Teams around the state are starting to take the Andover wrestling team much more seriously and it showed why again Saturday when it placed second at the Whitman-Hanson Invitational.

Jonathon Davila rallied for a pin in 4:43 at 145 points to help Andover top Chelmsford 49-27, the first win in program history over the Lions, according to Golden Warriors coach Mike Bolduc. Connor Sheehan (182 pounds) and Yaya Maita (220 pounds) each added key pins for the winners.

Led by 160-pound champ Elias Maita, Andover enjoyed a superb tournament at Londonderry, finishing second to Vermont power Mt. Anthony. Seeded third, Maita defeated huge favorite Adam Frost of Mt. Anthony, 5-4, in the finals.

Down 26-0 to Wakefield, Andover roared back and pulled out the win 37-29. Heavyweight A.J. Heidtke, who only has been wrestling for three weeks, won by pin in 52 seconds to win it. Coach Mike Bolduc said the big turning points were tough wins by Jonathan Davila at 145 over a WHS captain and by Elias Maita at 160 over the Salem Blue Devil Classic champ.

Andover opened its season with a sweep in the Battle of the Andovers, defeating North Andover for the first time ever according to coach Mike Bolduc.

After missing last year with an injury, Jonathan Davila opened with three wins at 145 with older brother Kelvin going 3-0 over two weight classes. Sean Hellman at 120 and 126 and Elias Maita were also 3-0. New heavyweight AJ Heidke went 2-1.