Growing Nauset Wrestling Program Stabilized By Increased Numbers

ORLEANS – A year ago, the Nauset wrestling team struggled to compete at matches due to limited numbers that prevented the Warriors from taking part in every weight class. 

 “I remember last year showing up to a quad meet with six kids,” said junior Owen O’Reilly, an Orleans resident. “Every other team had 25 or 30 kids and was looking at us like, ‘Why even show up?’”

 With approximately 22 wrestlers on this year’s team, the program is as strong as it has been in recent years. 

 “We lost a couple kids, but we gained maybe 12-14, so it’s a lot of new kids,” said third-year coach James Rosato. “It’s great to be able to get 14 matches and a dual match. We ended up scheduling a lot of quad matches and tournaments to get a lot of matches in, but I don’t think about the team results as much as the individuals and getting them as far as I can.”

 Even with so many first-year wrestlers on this year’s squad, Rosato is seeing the fruits of his labor pay off. Nauset suffered a 45-35 loss to Durfee in its lone dual meet Dec. 18, though the team’s improvement and determination was on full display during the Sandwich tournament Dec. 21.

 “Half of the team finished in third place, which is a good metric because third place is hard to get,” Rosato said. “We had some success but were also able to see some mistakes we were making. The first few weeks of the season was really getting everyone up to speed so they know what to do in different positions. 

“Now we’re trying to really hammer in the hard stuff.”

O’Reilly has established himself as one of the team’s leaders while serving as a captain who wrestles in the 150-pound weight class. He shared co-captain duties alongside fellow junior and Orleans resident Jack Talbot (138-144), while sophomore Chaz Thomas has carved out a similar role while wrestling at 175.

“There were only a few kids that were even on the radar my freshman year and last year, so it’s crazy to see us actually respected as a team this year,” Talbot said. “Other teams recognize us as a real team that can really win. As a captain, I’m put in a mature position but I’m really grateful for that.”

Thomas said the difference between last year’s energy and the momentum the team has built this winter is stark.

“Now we’re returning wrestlers, we have the basics down and every day we’re trying to make each other better,” said Thomas, a Brewster resident. “We’re performing way better and faster and improving more than some of these other teams, which helps us win more and more matches.”

As thrilled as Rosato has been to see increased interest and commitment to the program, the coach recognizes thatthere is still work to be done. He wants to continue to build the program’s culture and has been optimistic to see the team’s hard work pay off so far.

“Trying to keep a consistent culture is important, especially with so many new kids coming in,” Rosato said. “I think if we can keep this going for the next couple of years with this kind of mentality, it will kind of take care of itself.”