LONDONDERRY — Like a lot of us, Dominic Murphy wanted to lose some weight last summer. Problem was, Murphy didn’t have much weight to lose.
Murphy, a junior, wrestled primarily at the junior varsity level last season. His goal was to earn a regular spot in Salem High School’s varsity lineup this season, but many of the weight classes were filled by returning, accomplished wrestlers.
“I was wrestling at 120 last year, and then over the offseason I was walking around at like 132,” Murphy said. “This was the only opening for varsity, so I wanted to take a shot at it. I wrestled some varsity matches last year and I was told I was a varsity-level kid, so I wanted to go out there and prove myself.”
That’s exactly what Murphy did Saturday, when he took first place in the 113-pound weight class at the NHIAA Division I Wrestling Meet at Londonderry High School. Murphy earned a major decision over Exeter’s Hudson Berry in the championship match.
“He was stuck on our bench for a couple years behind some really tough guys,” Salem coach Nick Eddy said. “He knew it was his only shot to get in the lineup, and he did it.”
Murphy’s victory helped Salem score 234 points and win a second straight title. Timberlane was second with 207, and Bedford finished third with 183. Pinkerton (170) and Keene (153) rounded out the top five.
Brody McDonald prevailed at 120 pounds and was Salem’s only other Division I champion, but the Blue Devils had 12 wrestlers place in the top six, which earned each of them a spot in Saturday’s Meet of Champions.
“A huge team effort once again,” Eddy said. “We have 12 going next week, so that shows what the effort of the team was. We knew we needed everybody to perform well to get it done.”
Murphy, who went 32-12 during the regular season, said a healthier diet and “a lot of running” helped him take off the necessary weight.
He entered the Division I meet as the No. 2 seed at 113 pounds. Berry was seeded No. 1.
“I went in there with the mindset I was winning that match,” Murphy said. “My goal (at the start of the season) was to win states, but I didn’t even know if I would get past the first couple of matches. My confidence kind of grew as the season went on and I won more matches.
“There were times when I struggled to make weight, but it was all worth it in the end.”
Championship matches
106: Ben Mann (Timberlane) d. Lily Runez (Keene), MD
113: Dominic Murphy (Salem) d. Hudson Berry (Exeter), MD
120: Brody McDonald (Salem) d. Talon Oljey (Timberlane), 6-0
126: Griffin Norwalt (Concord) d. Spencer Buscema (Salem), 6-4
132: Camden Arbogast (Pinkerton) d. Nate Pass (Bedford), 5-2
138: Kiaben Kennedy (Bedford) d. Caleb O’Rourke (Salem), Fall
144: Silas Runez (Keene) d. Cam Monahan (Salem), 8-4
150: Seth Hasley (Bedford) d. Manny Perez (Londonderry), 7-4
157: Teghan McConnell (Bedford) d. Evan Landry (Pinkerton), Fall
165: Constantine Isaac (Windham) d. Steven Rosario (Nashua North), Fall
175: David Pento Jr. (Londonderry) d. Tucker Watson (Bedford), Fall
190: Patrick O’Connor (Londonderry) d. Spencer Sierra (Timberlane), 8-6
215: Anthony Caruso (Pinkerton) d. Jake Benn (Bedford), Fall
285: Evan Ray (Keene) d. Jauden Kuilan (Memorial), 9-4
Team results
Salem (234), Timberlane (207), Bedford (183), Pinkerton (170), Keene (153), Concord (124), Windham (118), Londonderry (114), North (81), Exeter (80), South (75), Memorial (60), Dover (4), Central (2).
Division II, at Hollis-Brookline
Championship matches
106: Willem Pierce, Goffstown, d. Noah Edwards, Winnacunnet, 5-1.
113: Aiden Smith-Nightingale, Hollis-Brookline, pinned Trey Wiley, 3:02.
120: Jack Kaler, Bishop Guertin, d. Noah Jackson, Spaulding, 13-6.
126: Brodie Reeves, Goffstown, pinned Jeremiah Rammanan, West, 3:10.
132: Caden Bruseo, Hollis-Brookline, d. James Algeo, BG, tf 17-1, 4:05.
138: Kyle Lajoie, Milford, pinned John Forcier, BG, 3:36.
144: Evan O’Connell, Milford, d. Stevie Damboise, Goffstown, 6-2.
150: Jacob Critchfield, Hollis-Brookline, pinned Riley Allan, Goffstown, 1:48.
157: Logan Jacques, Alvirne, pinned Dylan Manley, Hollis-Brookline, 5:21.
165: Cameron Steed, Alvirne, pinned Tomas Acosta, West, 1:50.
175: William Murphy, BG, d. Sawyer Goodwin, Spaulding, 8-2.
190: Elijah Josey, Portsmouth, pinned Luke Lavaliiere, Goffstown, 1:19.
215: Shawn Boudreau, Alvirne, d. Antonio Hebert, Goffstown, 9-3.
285: John McCole, Alvirne, pinned Bishop Karns, BG, 5:08.
Team results
Goffstown, 213.5; BG, 191; Spaulding, 173; Hollis-Brookline, 151.5; Milford, 112; Alvirne, 109.5; Winnacunnet, 107; Portsmouth, 86.5; West, 42; Merrimack, 16; Oyster River, 3.
Division III, at Bow
Championship matches
106: Jaron Todisco Coulon, Bow, d. Will Healy, Lebanon, 6-1.
113: Adler Moura, Bow, pinned Anthony Torres, Plymouth, 4:28.
120: Ben Smiley, Souhegan, d. Ryan Cormier, Winnisquam, 6-3.
126: Liz Donovan, Pelham, pinned Aemon Gauthier, Winnisquam, 1:46.
132: Chase Knuckles, Souhegan, pinned Brayden Menard, 3:06.
144: Michael Harrington, Pelham, d. Christian Knuckles, Souhegan, forfeit.
150: Henry Osmer, Winnisquam, pinned Noah Denis, Souhegan, 2:32.
157: Ben Valenti, Plymouth, d. Josiah Funches, Bow, 6-2.
165: Logan Allaire, Campbell, pinned Ben McDowell, Bow, 0:31.
175: Joseph McDowell, Bow, pinned Billy Nichols, Pelham, 3:22.
190: Emmitt Nossaman, Plymouth, pinned Alex Descoteau, John Stark, 1:59.
215: Jackson Hall, Bow, d. Seth Adams, Monadnock, 7-5.
285: Hayden Robinson, Raymond, pinned Isaac Coker, John Stark, 0:28.
Team results
Bow, 229.5; Pelham, 204.5; Souhegan, 197.5; Plymouth, 161; John Stark, 137; Winnisquam, 128.5; Lebanon, 57; Raymond, 54; Mascoma Valley, 49; Kingswood, 43; White Mountains Regional, 37; Newport, 34; Campbell, 31; ConVal, 29.5; Kearsarge, 23; Monadnock, 20; Mascenic, 16; Hopkinton, 4; Trinity, 4.