REPLAY: Brother Martin dominates to win Catholic League Wrestling Title

METAIRIE – Brother Martin is taking no one and nothing for granted.

A year after finishing a surprising and disappointing fourth in the LHSAA Division I state tournament, the Crusaders are clearly the best team in Louisiana with the state tournament in Baton Rouge a couple of weekends away.

With a chance to rest a few starters, Brother Martin did nothing of the sort, going all in with all 14 starters in the annual Catholic League Wrestling Tournament at Archbishop Rummel Saturday, seen live at CrescentCitySports.com.

The end result was predictable.

The Division I favorites won 11 of 14 individual titles in capturing the team title in convincing fashion by over 100 points over second place Jesuit with Archbishop Rummel finishing third.

Among the winners for Brother Martin, brilliant freshman Richie Clementi remained unbeaten with a 13-1 major decision over John Michael Bourgeois of Jesuit.

Scoring falls for the Crusaders were Kent Burandt (145), Ryan Corca (152), Samuel Riles (160) and Julian Tapia (220).

What was most impressive about the 11 victories in the finals for the Crusaders aside from the four pins was the fact that Brother Martin wrestlers allowed 11 total points in the other seven wins.

Rummel had a champion in outstanding freshman Kaiden Triche (106), who beat another excellent freshman in Trey Trainor 3-1 at 106 pounds.

Archbishop Shaw star Jude Monaco (182) was victorious while unbeaten heavyweight Spencer Lanosga (285) of Jesuit was a winner as well.

A few of the very best wrestlers from other squads did not participate Saturday.

Holy Cross stars Nick DiGeralamo (152) and Cole Baiamonte (220), Jesuit stars Bodi Harris (106), Winn McConnell (182) and Dennis Daugherty (220) and Shaw star Glenn Price (126) sat out the tournament.

“Every day, we just want to get a little bit better,” Brother Martin coach Andrew Nicola said. “I’m proud of the way we wrestled. We have some incredible leadership. Our senior group is very, very close. We also have guys that are being mentored by those guys who are showing leadership. These guys simply aren’t satisfied. They are reaping the benefits.”

Brother Martin returns to action in what should be an outstanding dual meet against Teurlings Catholic Thursday at Bob Conlin Gynmasium. The Rebels are the dominant force in Division II, the heavy favorite to repeat as state champion and perhaps the second best team in the state in any class.

Make no mistake about it.

Brother Martin is the top team in any class in Louisiana, the team to beat.

“There’s one trophy that we want to win and that’s the one we don’t have yet,” Nicola said.

Catholic League Wrestling Tournament Team Results:
1) Brother Martin 308.5
2) Jesuit 202
3) Archbishop Rummel 152.5
4) Archbishop Shaw 123.5
5) Holy Cross 114
6) John Curtis Christian 80

Catholic League Individual Title Match Results:
106—Kaiden Triche (Rummel) dec. Trey Trainor (Brother Martin) 3-1
113—Richie Clementi (Brother Martin) MD over John Michael Bourgeois (Jesuit) 13-1
120—Jacob Elsensohn (Brother Martin) dec. Chase Haydel (Jesuit) 7-1
126—Ty Duncan (Brother Martin) MD Cole Curry (Rummel) 18-6
132—Mason Elsensohn (Brother Martin) MD over Carter Burgess (Rummel) 11-2
138—Nick Cusimano (Brother Martin) TF over Cameron Gandolfi (Rummel) 17-0
145—Kent Burandt (Brother Martin) by fall over Gunner Guidry (Holy Cross) 3”59
152—Ryan Corca (Brother Martin) by fall over Todd Ritter (Shaw) 1:13
160—Samuel Riles (Brother Martin) by fall over Wyatt Mire (Jesuit) 2:28
170—Rocco Horvath (Brother Martin) dec. Zach Wilson (Shaw) 8-0
182—Jude Monaco (Shaw) TF over Christopher Sulli (Brother Martin) 17-2
195—Luke Ohler (Brother Martin) MD over Jackson Calderaro (Jesuit) 12-0
220—Julian Tapia (Brother Martin) by fall over Griffin Ellis (Jesuit) 5:29
285—Spencer Lanosga (Jesuit) by fall over Raymond Howard (Shaw) 1:23