The coaching staff of the Medomak Valley wrestling team celebrates with Shamus and Grady Pease after the twins placed third and sixth, respectively, at the New England high school wrestling championships on Sunday, March 8 in Providence, R.I. From left: Assistant coach Jason Pease, Shamus Pease, coach Jed Harris, Grady Pease, and assistant coach Jacob Gess. (Courtesy photo)
Medomak Valley wrestlers Grady Pease and Shamus Pease finished their legendary high school wrestling careers on a high note at the New England championships on Sunday, March 8 in Providence, R.I.
Grady placed sixth in the 190 pound weight class and twin brother Shamus finished third in the 215 pound division. The top six wrestlers in each weight class were recognized with awards on the podium.
The Pease brothers’ performance earned Medomak Valley a 15th place finish out of the 178 schools from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut competing at the event.
Both Pease wrestlers reached the elite 200-win plateau during their senior season, becoming the first Medomak athletes to achieve the feat. Both of the twins also won titles at the Class B state championships on Feb. 14, so it was only fitting that the twins who were born just moments apart would end their legendary high school careers together at the New England Championships.
“It’s very cool to be there (competing at the New England championships) as teammates and brothers,” said Shamus Pease. “I was able to watch Grady compete while I was getting ready for my matches.”
“We always watch and support each other,” said Grady Pease.
Both wrestlers competed at the elite event last season, too, and that experience helped each of them improve on their results at this year’s championships.
“Knowing what to expect this year took away the nerves,” said Grady, who won three matches at last year’s tournament in the 190-pound weight class.
“Last year’s tournament gave me a feel for the level that I needed to prepare for, and what to expect,” said Shamus, who won one out of three matches at last year’s tournament while competing in the 175-pound division.
Grady Pease, the No. 5 seed in the 190-pound weight class, received a bye in the first round to advance to the round of 16 where he defeated Joshua Hindin, of Foxborough (Mass.) by technical fall 18-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. He then defeated Maxwell LaPerle, of Spaulding (Vt.), by major decision 10-2 to earn a spot in the semifinals, where he lost 3-2 to the eventual champion Sam Josey, of Saint John’s Prep (Mass). Grady Pease lost by 7-2 decision in the consolation round semifinals to Logan Holmes, of Shaw, before losing 7-3 to Dante Richardson, of Cranston West (R.I.), to place sixth.
Shamus Pease, the No. 10 seed in the 215-pound weight class, pinned Cameron Gronholm, of East Lyme Norwich Tech (Conn.), at 3:34 to advance to the round of 16. He then beat William Buffington, of Taunton (Mass.), 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals where he defeated Xander Pizer, of Scituate (Mass), 9-1 by major decision. Shamus Pease was pinned by eventual second place finisher Owen Paveo, of Somerset-Berkley (Mass.), in 2:35 in a semifinal to drop into the consolation bracket. He beat Buffington for the second time in the consolation semifinals 16-5 by major decision. He clinched the third place finish by pinning Taiyo Gemme, of Lyme-Old Lyme (Conn.), in 2:59.
“It felt awesome to finish my career with a win, and my 39th pin this year,” said Shamus of his final high school match, which set a new school record for pins in a season.
