WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Vergennes, Mount Abraham and Otter Valley union high school wrestlers fared well at a Saturday tournament hosted by Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, led by two Commodores who won their weight classes, senior Ethan Reardon and junior Brandon Cousino.
Reardon won twice by pin and then twice by convincing decisions, including by 8-2 over Taconic’s Zabion Powell in the 132-pound final to earn what was his first-ever tournament title.
Cousino improved to 31-0 this winter at 182 pounds with three victories, all by first-period pins, after receiving a first-round bye.
Their efforts helped VUHS score 89 points with just five wrestlers and finish seventh out of 23 teams. North Providence (R.I.) won with 152. Mount Abe took 11th with 63, and OV was 15th with 32 points.
Two local wrestlers finished second, OV sophomore Tyson Cram at 138 pounds and Mount Abe freshman Roman Mayer at 120.
Cram won twice by pin and then by a 9-8 decision in his semifinal match before falling in the final by a major decision. Mayer, seeded fifth, pinned his first three opponents, including the top-seeded wrestler, Josh Wheeler of North Providence, before losing by pin in the final.
Two other Commodore wrestlers, both seniors, finished third, Jeb Hodsden at 152 and Ryan Paquin at 170. After receiving a first-round bye, Hodsden won a quarterfinal in overtime before losing his semifinal on points. He won his first consolation match in overtime before earning a major decision over Justin Krupinski of Chariho, 13-4, in the consolation final.
Paquin opened with two pins, and then lost a 6-5 decision in his semifinal match. That put him into the consolation semifinal, where he pinned Mount Abe’s Kevin Pearsall, and Paquin then picked up a major decision over Taconic’s Tanner Hastings in the consolation final.
The Commodores’ only other wrestler, senior Kyle Kingsley, went 2-2 at 138 pounds.
Also placing for Mount Abe were Donovan Lamore at 106 pounds and Ben Murray at 126 pounds, both of whom finished fourth.
Pearsall at 170 and Josh Hardy at 145 also earned winning records for the Eagles, finishing 3-2.
No other Otters placed, but winning one match apiece were Daniel Whitney at 113, Jacob White at 126, Matt Fox at 160, and Josh Beayon at 170.
EAGLE DUALS
Mount Abe also compiled a 3-1 record in dual meets last week. On Jan. 25 the Eagles defeated host Mill River, 30-18, and fellow visitor Rutland, 48-6.
Vs. MRU, Eagle Gary Conant won by pin at 126, Christian Little pinned his opponent at 132, and Pearsall defeated his rival at 170 by major decision, 17-2. Josh Hardy lost by major decision to undefeated Zach Allen at 152, and Hailey Trayah was pinned at 195. 
Against a Rutland squad only three weight classes matched up. Hardy at 145 and Dylan Little at 160 pinned their opponents, while Christian Little lost by major decision.
On Jan. 27, Champlain Valley and Mount Abe visited St. Johnsbury. CVU coasted past the Eagles, but Mount Abe defeated the Hilltoppers for the first time in years, 38-36, with nine matches contested.
After Dawson Lamore at 106, Murray, Hardy and Dylan Little picked up wins for the Eagles, and St. J. won four times, the team matchup came down to Pearsall vs. Hilltopper Curtis Masure.
In a high-scoring match, Pearsall took a 10-6 lead into the third period, chose neutral and scored a takedown. But Masure scored a reversal and tried a pin move, only to see Pearsall respond with his own two-point reversal and secure the clinching 14-8 victory for Mount Abe.