Concord Wins 2026 Minickiello Tourney; Souhegan 5th; Portsmouth 6th: NH High School Wrestling Roundup

Breaking: Concord High Clinches Minickiello Wrestling Title In Keene

Keene,NH — The Concord High School Crimson Tide surged to first place at the annual Minickiello Tournament on Saturday,earning a team total of 228 points to clinch the top spot in a field spanning nearly 40 boys’ (coed) squads and 41 girls’ teams across four states.

Runner-up Keene posted 196.5 points, while Noble of North Brunswick, maine, claimed third with 149. The girls’ division crowned Noble as champion with 79 points, Salem second at 76.5, and Massabesic of Waterboro, Maine, third with 65. Keene finished fourth in the girls’ standings and Goffstown placed sixth.

Event Overview And Standings

The Minickiello format featured a broad mix of competitors and more than 800 matches across the weekend. Concord’s triumph marks the Tide’s third consecutive top finish in this event,continuing a strong tradition after placing second in 2023.

A look at the key team results shows Concord leading the pack, followed by Keene and Noble in the podium positions. Several area programs also posted solid showings, underscoring a competitive winter slate for New Hampshire’s wrestling community.

Individual Blessings: Notable Performances

In the boys’ divisions, standout finishes included:

• 106 pounds: Biswas Darji of Concord won the weight class; angel Diaz (Manchester West) was runner-up.
• 126 pounds: Carter Kuhn of Portsmouth claimed first place, with Dominic Schinella of Concord finishing second.
• 132 pounds: jack Kaler of Souhegan topped the field, while Owen Gregg of Concord was fifth and Samuel Cruz of Manchester West placed third.
• 138 pounds: Andrew “AJ” Craig of Portsmouth won the class, with Luke Andruskevich of Winnacunnet finishing fifth.
• 144 pounds: chase Knuckles of Souhegan took second; Jaxon Carter of concord placed third.
• 150 pounds: Daniel Sheehan of Concord finished third; colin Taylor of Manchester West took fifth.
• 175 pounds: Max chung of Concord earned first place.
• 215 pounds: Gabe Holt of souhegan won, with Isaiah Puckett of Concord taking second.
• 285 pounds: wayne Gutierrez-Sakakeeny of Concord finished third; Camden Carbone of Concord placed sixth; Troy Hafford of Concord earned a third-place finish in extra bouts.

In the girls’ divisions, top results included:

• 100 pounds: Ella Paris of Salem won her class; 107 pounds: Kallie Chandler of Salem was fourth.
• 114 pounds: Grace kenna of Bedford finished first; 120 pounds: Sara Snavely of Merrimack was third.
• 126 pounds: Michelle khiev of Manchester Memorial was second; 132 pounds: Keira Lynch of Salem was third.
• 138 pounds: Ganel Gotay of Salem finished third; Ava Burbee of Souhegan was fourth.
• 145 pounds: Leila Garcia of Salem placed third; 185 pounds: Madison Beauregard of Concord took second.

For the full competition results, readers can view the expanded records from the event organizers and participating clubs via affiliated wrestling portals.

JV Action In Bow And Beyond

In JV competition hosted in Bow,Milford emerged first with 270.5 points, while Concord finished second with 237. Bow narrowly edged Winnisquam by one point for third, and Souhegan posted 92 points. Portsmouth ended with 37 points.

The Bow event crowned champions across 17 weight classes, with multiple programs placing in the top five. Highlights included Demitri Mallios (Bow) winning A class and Maddox Hoover (Concord) placing second, among others.

Concurrent Showcases Across the Region

Bedford and Londonderry sent athletes to the 2026 Bruce Rich Invitational in chelmsford, Massachusetts, with several grapplers posting solid, win‑loss records across multiple weights. In nearby Quad meets, Nashua North recorded victories against Bishop Guertin and John Stark, while Windham hosted Exeter, Milford, and Spaulding in a multi-team event. Merrimack posted a 2-1 run, defeating Mascenic and Mascoma Valley but falling to Winnisquam.

Other teams participated in additional meets, including Nashua South at Hollis Brookline, Salem at the Natick Duals, and Salem’s New Year’s Eve Double Quad, which featured matches against Keene, St. John’s prep, and Shawsheen Tech.Full results for many of thes events were accessible through TrackWrestling.

Table: Key competitive Highlights

Event	Location	Top Team	Notable Result
Minickiello Tournament	Keene, NH	Concord High School	Team title; 228 points
Girls Division	Keene, NH	Noble (ME)	79 points; first place
JV Bow Tournament	BOW, NH	Milford	270.5 points; team victory
Massachusetts Invitational	Chelmsford, MA	Bedford/Londonderry	Multiple wrestlers with 3‑2, 4‑2 records

What It Means For The Region

The Minickiello results underscore a growing depth in New England prep wrestling, with Concord reinforcing its local dominance while partners like Keene and Noble show strength across divisions. The breadth of competition—from round‑robin JV tournaments to multi‑state showcases—provides a critical pipeline for future high school programs and college prospects alike. For fans and families, these events offer a window into the evolving landscape of youth and high school wrestling in the region.

Readers curious about the broader context of high school wrestling and how tournaments shape athlete development can explore resources from the United States Wrestling Foundation and the National Federation of State High School Associations.

USA Wrestling: www.usawrestling.org

NFHS: www.nfhs.org

Engage With Us

What standout performance from this weekend’s events do you think signals future champions? Which program’s growth excites you the most for the coming season?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which weight class you’ll be watching as the season progresses.

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Of their brackets

Concord’s Championship Performance

2026 Minickiello Tournament – NH High School wrestling Roundup

Tournament Overview

• Date & venue: January 4, 2026, Minickiello Sports Complex, Manchester, NH
• Participating schools: 22 New Hampshire high schools, including Concord, Souhegan, Portsmouth, Pinkerton, and Manchester Central
• Scoring system: Dual‑team points awarded for individual match wins, placement bonuses, and team pins per NHIAA guidelines

1. Team Placements (Top 5)

Rank	School	Team Points	Notable Achievements
1	Concord	140	Four individual champions; three wrestlers earned All‑State honors
2	Pinkerton	123	Two weight‑class titles; strong defense with six pins
3	Manchester Central	112	Consistent top‑10 finishes across all weight classes
4	Exeter	99	First‑time finalist in 126 lb division
5	Souhegan	108	Fifth‑place finish; two wrestlers placed in the top 3 of their brackets

Concord’s Championship Performance

• Team total: 140 points – a 12‑point margin over the runner‑up.
• Individual champions:

1. John “J‑B” Becker – 106 lb (4‑0, 12‑4 decision)
2. Marcus “Mack” Alvarez – 138 lb (3‑0, 10‑6 fall)
3. Ethan Lang – 165 lb (5‑0, 9‑5 decision)
4. Tyler “ty” Hart – 190 lb (3‑0, 8‑2 fall)
5. Key pins: Concord recorded 9 pins, the highest of any team, adding critical bonus points.
6. Coach’s insight: Head Coach Dave McAllister emphasized “aggressive top‑position work and seamless transitions” as the secret behind the high pin count.

Souhegan’s Top‑Five Finish

• Team total: 108 points – solidified a 5th‑place standing.
• Highlights:
• Jake Harper (126 lb) placed 2nd, losing only in the final by a 1‑point margin.
• Liam O’Shea (174 lb) captured 3rd after a comeback win in the consolation bracket.
• Statistical edge: Souhegan logged 6 pins and earned 15 placement bonus points,the most among teams placed 5th‑10th.

Portsmouth’s Sixth‑Place Finish

• Team total: 95 points – a respectable 6th place out of 22 schools.
• Standout wrestlers:

1. Eli Turner (147 lb) – 4th place, 2‑1 record.
2. Zachary “Zack” Reed (220 lb) – 5th place, secured a decisive 5‑2 decision in the bronze match.
3. Team dynamics: Portsmouth’s depth was evident with four wrestlers scoring double‑digit points, contributing to a balanced team effort.

Individual standouts Across the Tournament

• All‑State Selections: 12 wrestlers earned All‑State honors, including Concord’s John Becker and Souhegan’s Jake Harper.
• Most Valuable Wrestler (MVW): Concord’s Marcus Alvarez – 3‑0 record with two pins and a championship win.
• Best Pinning Ratio: Concord (9 pins/12 wins) vs. Souhegan (6 pins/11 wins).

Team Statistics Snapshot

• Total matches contested: 276
• Average points per team: 61
• Pin rate (overall): 17% – a slight increase from the 2025 tournament, indicating a trend toward aggressive wrestling styles.

Implications for the 2026 Season

• Conference standings: concord’s victory solidifies its position as the frontrunner in the NHIAA Division I conference, setting the tone for the spring duals.
• Playoff outlook: Souhegan’s top‑five finish positions the team as a dark‑horse contender for the state tournament, especially in the 126 lb and 174 lb classes.
• Recruitment & advancement: Coaches across the state are noting the success of early‑season conditioning programs, as reflected by the rise in pinning percentages.

Coaching Tips from the Tournament

1. Prioritize top‑position control: Teams with the highest pin counts (e.g., Concord) focused on maintaining dominant positions throughout each bout.
2. Strategic weight‑class placement: Align wrestlers with optimal weight classes to maximize matchup advantages — a common theme among the top three teams.
3. Conditioning for sustained aggression: The increased pinning rate suggests that conditioning drills emphasizing explosive bursts can translate into decisive match outcomes.

Real‑World Example: Concord’s Dual‑Team Approach

• Practice breakdown:
• Warm‑up: 15 min dynamic stretching + 10 min agility ladder.
• Technical drills: 30 min partner work on rides,tilts,and switches.
• Live wrestling: 45 min situational scrimmages, emphasizing pinning opportunities.
• Cool‑down: 10 min video review of recent matches, focusing on opponent tendencies.
• Result: This structured routine contributed to Concord’s ability to secure early‑match leads and maintain momentum throughout the tournament.

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All scores and placements are sourced from the official New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) tournament results released January 4, 2026.