Congratulations to the boys’ hockey team on being Division III North Champions! This is the second time in the past three years that the boys have received this honor. It is amazing to see such consistent success from the hockey program, especially in coach Rian Murray’s second season.

Sophomore Joey Christakis scored in overtime last Thursday to beat Watertown and propelled the team into the finals against Newton South. Wayland’s depth was tested all game. Jake Brady was out of the game with a concussion, and Nick Morgan, one of the team’s leading scorers, was knocked out of the game with a broken collarbone.

However, the road doesn’t end here. The boys will continue to play until they lose. Wayland will, however, have to overcome the loss of one of its best players in Nick Morgan. Wayland will face Hanover on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Gallo Arena in Buzzards Bay. Stay posted, because WSPN will have coverage of every single hockey game to come.

The hockey team has been one of the most successful teams so far this year, and I don’t see why its great season has to come to an end anytime soon.

Another winter team that was very successful this year was the wrestling team. Wrestling finished with a record of 23-3-1, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

The wrestling team had four members finish first at sectionals: Cole Elias, Ryan Bache, Bailey Vespa and Michael Connell.

This team surprised itself with its success this year.

“I was prepared for the worst and was surprised when we had one of the best years in recent years. The group of kids we had were not supposed to be able to do what we did,” Elias said.

For Elias, it was hard work that led him to finish first in sectionals.

“When I won sectionals, the feeling was indescribable. It was like a wave of euphoria was washing over me. To put my blood, sweat and tears into this sport and have it finally pay off with a sectional title was unbelievable,” Elias said. “When I started to get into wrestling freshman year, I knew from the start that losing was not something I wanted to get used to. I went to camps over the last two summers and went to local wrestling clubs in the spring and the fall.”

Elias and the rest of the team hope to continue the success into next season.

“I hope to repeat it next year. The sectional win was a real confidence booster and showed me that all the time that I have put in really does pay off in the long run,” Elias said.