RallyNorth.net

Andover on the fast track

Monday, February, 11 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

For a second-year wrestler, you couldn't ask more of Andover senior Tom Paolera. A 125-pounder, he's compiled | at last check | a 25-4 record, including 8-3 on the varsity level. "He's had a great season for us," said Andover coach Sobhan Namvar, who started the program as a club team last year and now has his wrestlers competing at both the JV (predominantly) and varsity levels. "He just keeps getting better and better."

Paolera just wishes he had started wrestling earlier. "I always wanted to try wrestling, so when the club (team) started last year, I jumped at the chance," he said.

"I think I'm pretty quick, but I wish I could have started as a freshman. I'd have the technique down better and I'd have more success."

Senior heavyweight JonLars Carlson, who also is in his second year of wrestling, feels the same way, although he didn't go out for wrestling because of any long-lasting intrigue with the sport.

"I just wanted to prepare for football," said Carlson, who is 19-5 in combined varsity and JV matches. "It really helped | it got me faster and I'm able to maneuver my hands better."

Carlson is one of many football players who came out for wrestling, but he is one of the few who stuck with it. "I guess they didn't like it, or it was too hard," said Carlson. "It definitely is a lot harder than football as far as the practices."

Paolera, Carlson and the three other seniors on the 45-man Andover roster will not benefit from extra years of experience, although Paolera does hope to wrestle in college, but they have helped lay the groundwork for what Namvar hopes will be a complete varsity schedule next year.

"That's what we're hoping for," said Namvar. "We were told that if we did well on the JV level and we have good numbers, we could go (entirely) varsity next year. I think we've done really well for a first-year team and the kids have become really committed."

Overall, the Golden Warriors are 21-10-1 and they sport a 10-7-1 varsity record, mostly against lower-level teams. They captured the Natick JV Tournament earlier in the year with six first-place finishes. They sent four wrestlers to the Division 1 sectionals over the weekend and will compete at the state JV tourney Feb. 17.

At sectionals, Paolera won his opening match and a consolation match for three points, while Carlson won one match.

The underclassmen want to jump into varsity on a permanent basis, although they realize they might struggle.

"I'm praying we go varsity next year," said sophomore 160-pounder Joe Chartier. "Varsity matches are my favorite, because you know you're wrestling against the best."

When Andover was considered a club team a year ago, Chartier sported a perfect 18-0 record against JV competition. This year, before getting injured, he had compiled a 13-3 mark with all of his losses coming on the varsity level.

"Varsity matches are a lot harder and the workouts we have now are a lot tougher than they used to be, but I like it," said Chartier, who started the sport in the youth program as an eighth grader. "Our numbers have dropped because the practices are hard, but I think the ones who are left will stay."