By Ryan O’Connor

Competing without its top three wrestlers, Salem still finished among the best at what some consider one of the most difficult early season tournaments in the area.

While seniors Trevor Dearden, Corbin Decker and Alex Pittera were busy grappling in the Beast of the East tournament at the University of Delaware, the rest of the Blue Devils traveled up Interstate-93, where the team placed fifth among 18 squads at the Bow Holiday Classic.

Freshman Devon Deardon and senior Ryan Stanton led the way, winning the 112-pound and 285-pound weight classes, respectively.

Finishing second was 119-pound freshman Cody Baker, while 125-pound classmate Micah Dion and 140-pound sophomore David Welch each placed third.

“We had a couple kids we thought were going to wrestle and they didn’t, but it was good to see some of the younger kids come in and get some wins for us,” said head coach Ryan Carr, who added his team faces obstacles if it wants to compete for state and regional titles.

“We’re young, and when I say young, I mean we still have a lot of mental errors,” he continued. “We’re not as conditioned as we will be in February. We’re just making youth mistakes, things that work in seventh- and eigthgrade that just don’t work when you’re wrestling high school juniors or seniors.”

Still, Carr said he sees the hard work and dedication his wrestlers are exhibiting in the practice room and on the mat, and is looking forward to the payoff in the months ahead.v Though none of the missing Blue Devils placed in Delaware, Carr said just getting there is an accomplishment.

“That tournament is actually tougher than the senior national tournament,” he said. “You’re dealing with the best from all grades, and some prep schools who don’t typically compete at the national tournament are there as well. I mean, everyone there is pretty much a guaranteed Division I (college) athlete, and four or five kids there will be gold medalists within a couple years.”