Masters of the mat: The 2023-24 Taunton Daily Gazette Wrestling All-Scholastics
Another high school wrestling season has come and gone in the Greater Taunton area.
This winter, Taunton led the way locally by clinching its third straight Division 1 South title and saw a pair of wrestlers take home Division 1 titles. Bridgewater-Raynham finished runner up in Division 2 South but also took home a pair of Division 2 state titles.
Over in the Mayflower Athletic Conference, Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth took home the league title with a 4-0 MAC campaign, finished runner-up in Division 3 South and had a Division 3 champion while Bristol-Plymouth finished fifth at the Division 3 South Sectionals, had two state champions and sent four wrestlers to MIAA All-States for the first time ever.
With the winter season now in the rearview, here's a final look back at the Greater Taunton area athletes who stood out among the crowd to earn their spot as 2023-24 Taunton Daily Gazette Wrestling All-Scholastics. Due to the level of talent in the area, First Team All-Scholastics has been extended from 10 to 15 while an additional 10 wrestlers are named Second Team All-Scholastics.
Boys Wrestler of the Year
Ethan Harris, Taunton
The senior further solidified his status as a Tiger legend in his final campaign, becoming the program's all-time win leader with 151, beating previous record-holder and former teammate Christian Balmain's total by 29. This winter, he went 50-3, at one point going on a 47-match winning streak, and recorded 38 pins and 101 takedowns. He was crowned the 190-pound champion in the Hockomock League, Division 1 South and Division 1, the first ever individual state title won by a Tiger wrestler, with Elijah Prophete (215) joining him shortly after. He finished runner-up at MIAA All-States and reached the quarterfinals of the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championship.
A Hockomock All-Star, Harris was also the 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Football Player of the Year and his talents and leadership will certainly be missed by both teams next year as he continues his academic and wrestling career at Rhode Island College.
Girls Wrestler of the Year
Brooke Weafer, Bristol-Plymouth
The sophomore continued her impressive rise for the Craftsmen this winter, winning the inaugural 114-pound girls title at the MIAA Division 3 Championship, where her and teammate Jacob Bettencourt (144) became the first state champion wrestlers in program history. She followed it up with runner-up finishes at both MIAA All-States and the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championship. Competing against boys and girls, she compiled 32 wins and 20 pins over the course of the season, and has 65 wins and 41 pins halfway through her high school career.
The MAC Girls Wrestling Co-MVP, Weafer was named a 2023-24 Bristol-Plymouth Winter Sports Co-MVP and is also a valuable member of the soccer and track and field teams. Expect her to only continue to grow and improve in all three sports over the next two years for the Craftsmen.
First Team All-Scholastics
Michael Leskoski, Taunton
John Mandeville, Taunton
Elijah Prophete, Taunton
Luke Driscoll, Bridgewater-Raynham
Olivia Polansky, Bridgewater-Raynham
Brent von Magnus, Bridgewater-Raynham
Hannah Dyckman, Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth
Luis Garcia, Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth
Griffin Machie, Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth
Malakai Risotti, Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth
Jacob Bettencourt, Bristol-Plymouth
Jack Ramondetta, Bristol-Plymouth
Nathan Hicks, Bristol-Plymouth
Second Team All-Scholastics
William Buffington, Taunton
Kingston DaCosta, Taunton
Gabe Leskoski, Taunton
Brenton Allain, Bridgewater-Raynham
Jack Alves, Bridgewater-Raynham
Kennedie Davis, Bridgewater-Raynham
Luke Driscoll, Bridgewater-Raynham
Jackson Rinke, Bridgewater-Raynham
Brady Benfeito, Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth
Matt Keefe, Bristol-Plymouth
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Here are the 2023-24 Taunton Daily Gazette Wrestling All-Scholastics
