Bedford/Acton-Boxborough Wrestlers Celebrate Seniors in Home Finale

Wednesday was Senior Night for the Bedford/Acton-Boxborough varsity wrestling team (two of the four seniors honored, senior Porter Middents with his parents honored on the left and senior Eric Kantorovich on the right), as they were defeated by Wayland 39-21. The Bucs are 4-7 so far this season and looking ahead to the Excel quad on Saturday. Photos: Finn Harte

The Bedford High School/Acton-Boxborough Wrestling team stands at 4-7 this season after the Bucs hosted their final home match of the 2023-2024 season on Wednesday night in the BHS Gym.

Keith Mangan, Athletic Director for Bedford Public Schools in attendance at Wednesday’s match said, “This has been a good season so far” for the Bedford/Acton Boxborough wrestling team. “There is a good mix of new wrestlers and some seasoned veterans.”

On Wednesday, the team honored four upperclassmen in a Senior Night ceremony before a game against Weston High School. Ryan Touri, Giovanni Sabatelli, Porter Middents, Eric Kantorovich, and their families received special recognition from Head coach Sam Sprangel as well as the crowd gathered on the gym bleachers.

Bedford sophomore Bobby Oates earned some of Bedford’s points on Wednesday pinning his opponent in the 190 lb class. Photo by Finn Harte

While Wednesday’s match ended in a 39-21 victory for a skilled Weston High School (Weston managed to pin Bedford/Acton-Boxborough athletes in 6 of the 11 weight classes competing), Kantorovich and Sabatelli managed Senior Night victories by pinning their opponents. Bedford sophomore Bobbie Oates also won his class.

Sprangel said, “For a young team, they have been performing really well.”

The regular season is coming to a close with two-weekend quads and a match in Gloucester on the schedule before the MIAA section tournament on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Mangan expects the team to have multiple Bedford/Acton-Boxborough athletes qualify for the state tournament this year.

In his second year of varsity wrestling, Touri has been having a successful season on the mat overall. He said that wrestling has been one of his “greatest joys” of high school.

Bedford senior Ryan Touri is looking ahead to the weekend match. Photo by Finn Harte.

“Even when you lose a match, there is always something to look forward to, something to get better at.” Touri said, “Wrestling really trains you to be a great athlete. You need to have a strong work ethic and develop strength, speed, and resilience both physically and mentally. You really need to be able to stay humble, not let mistakes or defeats weigh on your shoulders and move forward.”

Fans can watch Touri and the Bedford/Acton Boxborough team move forward at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Excel High School Quad match in South Boston.

Sprangel said, “I’m very proud of this team and can’t wait to see how they perform through the rest of the season.”