News Archive
Xaverian’s Wrestling Team Celebrates a Successful Season
Coach Travato reflects on the Hawks' triumphs and encourages new students to join the team in the coming year.
“If you’re a competitor, wrestling is the sport for you,” said Coach Travato, Xaverian’s Head Wrestling Coach (and yes, he may be biased).
The Xaverian wrestling team has had an eventful year. At the Lowell Holiday Tournament, a competition boasting 76 schools, they placed three wrestlers who finished in the top eight in their respective weight classes; in Canton, five team members made it to the finals and four were crowned champions; and in their latest triumph, the team competed at the D1 South Sectionals, placing 3rd overall and securing four 1st place finishes (Matt Bobola ’23, Michael Bobola ’22, Tanner Alexander ’20, and Grant Laws ’19). A total of six athletes (plus an alternate) qualified for the D1 State Tournament. Another major milestone of the season was senior Grant Laws’s 100th career win.
During a match against BC High earlier in the season, the BC High team (being in the top 25) did not expect to lose. The Xaverian wrestlers ended up beating them 9 out of 10 matches. In such an individual sport, one may not think this, but Coach Travato says that there is, “momentum in the sport, everyone is on their feet, it’s a great feeling when everybody is pulling together.”
To those who are thinking about joining the team, Coach Travato would say, “Come out and give it a shot. It teaches you about life; it’s more than just the sport itself.” He also thinks that “Everyone is capable of wrestling, but not everyone will because it’s not an instant championship, it’s a journey...It’s a hard sport, but it’s a great sport.” Take Aidan McSheffrey ’19 for example, suggests Coach Travato. He didn’t think he would like wrestling at first, but “now it’s his number one sport.” Coach said that in the beginning, “it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you have a sense of accomplishment when you get your hand raised.”
Coach praised his team, saying, “This is one of the most resilient teams I’ve ever coached. They are competitive in every match.”
The team currently fills out 10 of the 14 available weight classes and although wrestling is not exactly a team sport, Coach Travato believes, “each individual is a part of the whole.” If any students are interested in wrestling at Xaverian, Coach Travato encourages them to reach out directly to him and find out more.
Xaverian Brothers High School
Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.
