PERU, N.Y. — Vergennes Union High School junior Brandon Cousino won his weight class and his 100th match at the same time on Saturday to highlight the efforts of VUHS and Middlebury wrestlers at a tournament hosted by Peru (N.Y.) High School.
Cousino defeated Evan Frank of tournament champion John Jay, 8-5, in the 182-pound final to earn his landmark victory and improve his career record to 100-12. Cousino went 4-0 on Saturday, pinning his other three opponents.
Also placing for the Commodores, who finished 10th out of 17 scoring teams, were senior Jeb Hodsden, fourth at 138 pounds, and senior Ryan Paquin, sixth at 170 pounds. Both wrestlers compiled 3-2 records. Those three were the only Commodores competing, and they racked up all 49 of the VUHS points.
That total was just enough to edge out MUHS — the Tigers, the only other Vermont team in Peru, finished with 48 points.
Most of those came from the Tigers’ two second-place finishers, seniors Nate Gebo and Nick Beauchamp. Gebo won twice easily at 113 pounds before losing on a late pin to Peru’s Carson Dobozy in the title match, while Beauchamp pinned two 220-pound opponents before losing, 10-6, to John Jay’s Halil Gecaj in the final.
Also winning matches for the Tigers were sophomore Dustin Davio at 132 and senior James Whitley at 145; both went 2-2. Sophomore Joe Whitley at 138 and senior Kyle Desabrais at 152 both came up short, losing close decisions in their second matches.
John Jay edged Peru, 237.5-232.5, for the tournament crown.