DERRY — James Cherniack has coached some young wrestlers all the way from kindergarten through high school.
As head of the Wrestling Rebels program at the Derry Boys and Girls Club — and Pinkerton Academy's coach — Cherniack has watched some young boys develop into star high school athletes.
The Wrestling Rebels program is in its 15th or 16th year, he said, and now serves some 40 boys. But hundreds of wrestlers have gone through the program since its inception.
The young wrestlers will host a tournament at Pinkerton Academy in March for more than 500 wrestlers. Until then, they will continue to practice and travel to regional tournaments.
Rebels finish well in Canaan, Exeter
On Jan. 17, six of them traveled to Canaan to compete in a tournament at Cardigan Mountain School. Brenden Sullivan won a bronze medal and teammate Joey Lydick registered a fourth-place finish. Shayne McCann, Dylan Barreiro, Seamus Dolan and Christopher Bradford wrestled well for the Rebels, Cherniack said.
The next day, the team traveled to Exeter for the Blue Hawk Big Trophy Tournament.
Barreiro, Dolan, Keaton Peterson and Kyle Peterson led the way as they were crowned champions in their respective weight classes.
Tim Beimel, Deene Hill, McCann and Brett Wilson turned in silver-medal performances. Spencer Clark, Drew Chase, and Sullivan won bronze medals. Andrew and Joey Lydick both registered fourth-place finishes.
Logan Ickes, Jack Mackiernan, Timothy Bonagura, Matt Sigman, Connor Charron, Hunter Ickes, Tyler Mackiernan, Marc Shook, Ryan Kittery, Keygan Nacos, Christopher Bradford, Kyle Milovanovic, Tyler Wilson and Brett Wilson wrestled well in the tournament, according to Cherniack.
Team takes title in Concord
On Jan. 23, the Rebels traveled to Concord for the Rundlett Wrestling Tournament. The Derry contingent had a great day, sending eight wrestlers to the finals and winning the team title in the fifth- and sixth-grade division.
Drew Chase, Shayne McCann, Dylan Barreiro, Seamus Dolan and Joey Lydick won championships in their respective weight classes. Kyle Milovanovic, Brenden Sullivan and Tyler Wilson won silver medals.
Ryan Kittery, Keygan Nacos, Christopher Bradford, Andrew Dorci, and Nicholas Messina wrestled well as they represented the Rebels.
On Jan. 24, the Rebels wrestled in Burlington, Mass.
Drew Chase, Joey Lydick and Shiloh Vanhyll led the way as they grabbed gold medals.
Seamus Dolan and Kyle Milovanovic brought home silver medals.
Bill Gibbons, Christopher Bradford and Brenden Sullivan turned in bronze-medal performances. Dylan Barreiro and Tyler Wilson registered fourth-place finishes.
Carson Milovanovic wrestled well for the Rebels, his coach said.
