Thayer Wrestling Leaves ISL Graves-Kelsey Championships with Hardware

The Thayer Academy varsity wrestling team delivered one of its strongest performances in recent years on Saturday at the ISL Graves-Kelsey Championships hosted by Noble & Greenough School. The Tigers finished 4th out of 11 teams with 133 points and were awarded the David Coe Trophy as the ISL’s Most Improved Team, a significant leap from last season’s ninth-place result and a testament to the program’s steady rise. The fourth-place showing represents Thayer’s highest finish at the Graves-Kelsey Championships since 1992, when the team placed third, underscoring how far the program has progressed.

Senior captain Drew St. Pierre ’26 led the way with a dominant run to the 165-pound championship, earning his first Graves-Kelsey individual title after finishing in the top three in each of his previous appearances. His breakthrough performance highlighted a day filled with individual and team milestones. Fellow captain Ryan Lally ’26 (138 lbs) earned 3rd place, marking the highest finish of his career at the Graves with a bronze medal. Captain Quinn Ognibene ’26 (175 lbs) finished 4th, helping set the tone for a balanced team effort. Freshman Davens Lazarre ’29 (215 lbs) delivered one of the tournament’s signature moments, defeating the No. 1 seed as the No. 4 seed to qualify for the championship bout, where he ultimately earned an impressive 2nd-place finish. Classmates Ryan Fernquist ’29 (106 lbs) and Orlando Soares ’29 (132 lbs) took 4th and 5th respectively. Senior Max Hong ’26 (144 lbs) added a 6th-place showing, and freshman Thomas DiFiore ’29 (285 lbs) battled to 5th.

On the girls’ side, sophomore Zinaya West ’28 made Thayer history, capturing the first-ever ISL Girls Wrestling Championship with a first-place finish at 126 pounds, a milestone moment for the program and the league.

Head Coach Deshawn Fentress shared, “This team has become incredibly cohesive over the past few months. Drew, Ryan, and Quinn stepped up as leaders and made it easier to guide the group in the right direction. I’m excited about what we accomplished this year, but this is only the beginning. We’re building something special, and our goal is to make each season legendary at Thayer.” 

Director of Athletics Bobbi Moran added, "I am incredibly proud of our wrestlers and coaching staff. They have built upon Thayer Wrestling's strong foundation while bringing new energy and excitement to the program. Our senior captains: Ryan, Quinn and Drew, who have been outstanding leaders for three years, expertly balancing their own rigorous training with mentoring newcomers. The Tigers Den has become the go-to destination after school for student athletes who want to push themselves in a supportive environment. I'm tremendously grateful to Coach Fentress and his staff for their dedication to TA Wrestling, and I'm excited to watch the program continue to flourish.” 

With multiple top-four performances, the Tigers will send a strong contingent to the New England Championships at Green Farms Academy this weekend on February 13-14.