A pair of Wilbraham & Monson Academy wrestlers finished their 2016-17 seasons in impressive fashion – with hardware.
Adam Kugelmass '19 and first-year wrestler Kizuki Koyasu '20 both earned medals by placing in the top eight at the New England Prep Wrestling Championships and National Qualifier at the Hyde School in Bath, Maine, Feb. 17-18.
Adam took seventh in a 19-wrestler field in the 113-pound weight class, while Kizuki finished eighth among 15 competitors in the 106 bracket.
"The boys did very well at the tournament," Coach Drew Shea '08 explained. "There were about 49 schools and almost all-full brackets. Both made it into the top eight. Adam was able to make it a couple of matches further than he did last year so this was a step in the right direction. Kizuki, as a freshman, is a tough kid and a great learner. He was able to take eighth place while wrestling some really good competition.
"Both hit some speed bumps but they were able to keep their mental fortitude, make it to the top eight and show everyone who they were. I'm looking forward to taking them and a few more back to the tournament next year and hopefully to nationals after that."
Adam was looking to improve on his performance at the 2016 New England Championships, where he didn't place. He completed this season with a win, pinning his opponent in 25 seconds in his final match.
"Having already competed there (last year) took some of the nerves and pressure away because I knew what to expect," Adam said. "It was good to end the season on a win. I put in a lot of hard work this season and the hard work paid off ... all the hours I put into it."
Kizuki did remarkably well considering he had never competitively wrestled before enrolling at WMA this school year. He won his second match to keep himself alive in the tournament, which drew teams from six states.
"To be honest, I was kind of nervous because I've never done wrestling before," Kizuki admitted. "It was a challenge for me but it was a good experience. I didn't have any expectations so I just went and tried the best I could."