BUCKLAND – A year ago, Jake Mattson lost in the sectional final. Conner Hoffman didn’t even get a chance to compete.

Those memories were distant on Saturday, as the Frontier Regional School seniors stood atop the podium in their respective weight classes at the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Wrestling Championships at Mohawk Trail Regional High School.

Mattson, the No. 1 seed at 195 pounds, won all three of his matches via pinfall, securing his first sectional title with a second-round pin of Monument Mountain’s Luke Hartshorn in the title bout on Saturday.

“I’m overcome with joy,” said Mattson of capturing the WMass title. “I grew up alongside the mats, so it’s a dream feeling to be able to win a title.”

After finishing second at last year’s tournament, Mattson said he dedicated himself all season to capturing a championship. He picked up wins over Northampton’s Lundon Manca and Mount Greylock’s Nicholas Bellora to set up the title bout with Hartshorn.

“Being the top seed was nice but I know that means everyone is going to come at you as hard as they can,” said Mattson, who led 5-0 after one period in the final. “[In the finals] I knew [Hartshorn] was going to come out swinging out of the gates so I had to wait, be patient and capitalize.”

Mattson was buoyed by the performance of Hoffman, who won the 170-pound title about 15 minutes earlier in a slobberknocker of a championship match against top-seeded and defending WMass champion Broc Healey of Taconic.

Seeded third at 170, Hoffman, who missed the 2022 postseason with a broken hand, marched into Saturday’s title match with wins over Mohawk Trail’s Izaya Romer (technical fall) and Gateway’s Eli Gilbert (11-7 decision).

“I had a chip on my shoulder, worked hard all offseason to get to this point,” explained Hoffman. “I live for these moments.”

Hoffman stormed to a 4-1 lead after one period and that advantage carried into what was a wild third period against Healey. The Frontier senior notched three takedowns in the final frame, keeping the defending champion at arm’s length to score a 14-5 major decision.

After going undefeated at 170 pounds during the regular season (his only losses coming at 182), he was confident he could take home his first sectional title in his final season with the Redhawks.

“I knew [Healey] was the reigning champion so to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Hoffman said. “I knew I was the best wrestler at this weight class, even though I was seeded third, so I just had to go out there and prove it.”

Mattson said Hoffman’s win, which came just two matches before he wrestled for a title, was a boost.

“That definitely got the morale up and the blood pumping,” Mattson said of his teammate’s victory. “That got me pumped up and in a good mindset seeing him do it right before me.”

The two Frontier wins helped the program finish ninth as a team during Saturday’s tournament (103.5 points). Hampden Charter won the team title with 172 points, followed by Monument Mountain (156), Taconic (155), Mount Everett (148) and Smith Vocational (129).

The Redhawks are sending four wrestlers to next weekend’s state tournament, which will be held in Wakefield on Friday and Saturday. In addition to Mattson and Hoffman, Javion Cabrera finished third at 285 pounds, while Wyatt Finch took third at 113. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to the state tournament, while the fifth-place finisher serves as an alternate. Frontier’s Miles Keefe was fifth at 160.

Franklin Tech took 10th place as a team during Saturday’s sectional championship, finishing with 71 points. Collin Eddy, seeded third, reached the title bout at 182 pounds after pinfall wins over South Hadley’s Michael Cebula and Taconic’s Jake Hall. In the 182 pound final, Hampden Charter’s David Czartoryski notched a first-round pin to claim the title.

Eddy will be joined at the state tournament by teammate Joshua Lynde, who took fourth at 285 pounds.

Mohawk Trail’s Will VanVleet earned another trip to the state tournament after finishing second at 220 pounds on Saturday. The defending WMass champion in that bracket, second-seeded VanVleet beat Northampton’s Schuyler Trapani in the semifinals via a second-period pinfall, before falling to No. 1 Jerameel Vazquez of Hampden Charter in the final. Vazquez scored a second-period pin to claim the title.

VanVleet will be joined at the state meet by teammate Landon Purington, who took fourth place at 113 pounds after winning two matches on Saturday.

The host Warriors finished 13th as a team with 49 points.

Gilmore wins 113-pound title

A year removed from finishing second at the Central Mass. Division 3 Championships, Mahar’s Abduli Gilmore went one step further on Saturday.

Gilmore captured the title at 113 pounds, winning all three of his matches via first-round pinfall at Wayland High School.

In the 113-pound final, Gilmore pinned Holliston’s Bavly Mikhail in 1 minutes, 49 seconds.

“He was very excited,” Senator coach John Speek said. “He was in the championship match last year but couldn’t pull it out so it was great for him to come back and get that win. He’s wrestling really well. He hasn’t lost since Jan. 7. He’s been cruising so we’re excited to see him at Div. 3 states next week where he’ll face more tough opponents out there.” 

The Senators finished ninth as a team at the Central Mass. championships, amassing 91 points. Joining Gilmore at next weekend’s state tournament will be teammates Domanic Cacciolfi and Xander Roberts. Cacciolfi finished fourth at 138 pounds, while Roberts also took fourth at 170 pounds. Luke Chiodo finished fifth at 160 and will serve as an alternate.

For Cacciolfi, he had to fight through a dislocated finger that continued popping out in the consolation semis, but still managed to get a pin and earn the fourth place finish. 

“Dom had the performance of the weekend,” Speek said. “I’m really proud of him and his effort. He fought to get that spot in Div. 3’s. We don’t know if he’ll be able to wrestle there but that’s the kind of kid he is. He goes in there and guts it out no matter the circumstance.” 

Tri-County won the Central Mass. title with 204 points, followed by Ashland (199) and host Wayland (162).

Athol took 14th as a team during Saturday’s championship, scoring 57 points. Aiden Kirwan reached the finals at 160 pounds, edging Chiodo in an all-North Quabbin semifinal (5-4 decision) to get there. In the championship, Kirwan was pinned by Ludlow’s Lucas Alvan.

Kirwan was the lone Bear wrestler to earn an invite to the state meet. Riley Reed (170), Riley Young (220) and Aiden Frediani (113) all finished sixth in their respective weight classes for Athol.

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