high school wrestling

It wouldn’t be out of the question to think you’re seeing double with the Monty Tech wrestling team.

There just happens to be several sibling pairings, with the Bulldogs featuring four sets of brothers this winter during the program’s most successful season.

The Paulinos, the Natals, the Kidwells and the Leamanns have all been major cogs for the Monty Tech wrestling machine this year, as the Bulldogs won the Big Red tournament, took seventh at Lowell Holidays and were State Vocational runners-up, third at the Div. 2 West sectionals, third at the Div. 2 state tournament, fourth at the All-States and 12th at the New England tournament.

“”They push each other hard every day. I love having brothers on the team,” Monty Tech wrestling coach  Kieron Smith said. “They are always trying to outdo each other. They are a big part of our success this season.”

Isiac Paulino (113) and Jonah Paulino (126) each won State Vocational titles, sectional titles and Div. 2 crowns in consecutive weekends. Isiac won Outstanding Lower Weight Wrestler at the Div. 2 west tournament before taking All State and New England titles, while Jonah took second at All States.

Isiac will be competing at the NHSCA Nationals at the end of the month in the 113 Senior division, while Jonah will be unable to attend due to health reasons.

Xavien Natal (160) and Xaedyn Natal (132) both had great seasons. Xavien was a state vocational champion and outstanding wrestler award winner and then went on to pin his way through Div. 2 sectionals. He became a Div. 2 State finalist and took fourth at the all state tournament before going 2-2 at the New England tournament. Xaedyn took second at the vocational tournament, the sectional tournament and state tournament before placing eighth at the All-State tournament and being a match away from placing top-six and qualifying for the the New England tournament.

They will both be competing at the NHSCA Nationals as well, with Xavien going down a weight class to compete as a 152 Senior and Xaedyn in the 132 Sophomore class.

Jeff Kidwell (138) and Daniel Kidwell (182) both placed at the Div. 2 West sectional, with Jeff claiming sixth and Daniel in third.

David Leamann (152) and Gregory Leamann (170) have contributed as well. David won a match at the State Vocational and sectional tournaments to help earn points for Monty Tech and holds a winning record on the year. Gregory is a backup and training partner of Div. 2 West finalist Trevor Gendron and also won the Leominster junior varsity tournament this season.

Isiac Paulino and Xavien Natal will be graduating this year, but leave a legacy their brother will try to carry on.

“Isiac and Xavien have been the heart and soul of this team since they stepped on the varsity mat,” Smith said. “They leave their brothers some state championships to chase and wins to over take. The hard work hopefully spills over.”

Having watched Monty Tech’s Isiac Paulino wrestle for many years now, I have never known him to be intensely emotional after a win. He’s quietly passionate, akin to a scientist constantly working in his lab or an artist working on his craft.

But on Saturday at the New England Championships in Providence at the Rhode Island Technology and Career Center, the Bulldogs’ senior star let out not one, but two primal screams.

The first came in the 133-pound semifinals as he faced Peyton Ellis of Coventry, Conn., an undefeated wrestler. Paulino was also putting his own undefeated record on the line in this match and the battle that ensued was worth the price of admission.

Paulino scored the first takedown and earned two back points on a tilt before Ellis was able to score a reversal to cut into the lead 4-2 heading into the second period. Paulino had choice in the second period and chose bottom to try to score more points and immediately came through with a reversal to increase the lead to 6-2 before Ellis scored an escape and a takedown to cut the lead 6-5.

Paulino scored an escape in the waning seconds of the second period to make it 7-5, but Ellis answered in the third with a quick escape to cut the lead to 7-6, needing a takedown to take the lead and possibly the match. While Ellis got in on a deep single, Paulino looked determined to not let the lead slip away.

As Ellis looked to put his opponent on his hip, Paulino in a movement of quickness, strength and dexterity hit what’s known as an elevator. As Ellis was put to his back, the crowd roared and Paulino earned the pin, leading to the Bulldog shouting “let’s go!”

In the New England finals, he would take on an Essex Tech’s Miles Harding, an opponent he has become quite acquainted with over the year as they also competed against each other numerous finals.

Paulino emerged with a dominant 6-0 win to cap off his career as a Monty Tech wrestler with the first New England title for his program that has existed since the 1980s with over 150 wins. He jumped up screaming before running to head coach Kieron Smith and his father, Rudy.

Another local wrestler Nashoba’s Joshua Cordio finished off a dominant post season with a dominant New England title as he won by tech fall, two pins and a major decision 10-0 in the finals to cap off an undefeated post season where he had a bonus point win in every single match.

Isiac’s younger brother, Jonah, also made it to the quarterfinals before bowing out due to an injury.

Monty Tech Kieron Smith could not overstate his pride for Isiac and his passion and how it will impact his team for years to come.

“Our program has been working towards this goal for many years. I’m as proud as a new father,” Smith said. “Isiac’s passion is like no other. What he brings to the table is hard to replace. His passion kept this team close all year long. It will spill over to the offseason, a lot of kids have gotten the bug for the podium. I will never forget this season.”

Isiac looked back on his career proudly before saying it was the team belonged to the underclassmen now.

“Hard work pays off. I’ve been working toward this goal all last summer and all this season.” Paulino said. “What I will always remember from this season is this was one of the best seasons for a Monty Tech team in its history and I got to be a part of that in my senior year. I wish I could do it one more time.

“It was a great run now, but it’s time to pass the torch to guys like my brother and Cooper Wiebe and Xaedyn Natal and all of them. I wish them the best of luck.”