Twelve local athletes extended their wrestling schedule an extra week. The season continues for just one. Goffstown High School 140-pounder Mal Shea grabbed a third-place finish at the Meet of Champions on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Nashua High School North to earn a spot in the New England competition in New Haven, Conn.

Eight other Grizzlies joined Shea at the MOC, as well as three John Stark grapplers at the meet. She a won his first bout by major decision over Timberlane’s Josh Riley but was sent to the consolation bracket in the next round when he was felled by eventual champion Collin Crowell of Pinkerton Academy.

After the loss, Shea earned another major decision to advance to the consolation finals, where he pinned Salem foe Zach Hicks to advance. The New England meet is scheduled to begin Friday, March 5. Zach Schofield won once at 112 pounds for GHS; 119- pounder Mike Sarette picked up a win by default before he was eliminated; Ryan Moran suffered back-to-back setbacks at 145 pounds; and Caleb Cejka rebounded from a first-round loss at 145 pounds when he earned fifth place.

Josh Devriendt fell in the fifth-place match at 171 pounds and settled for sixth; 189-pounder Nick Francoeur lost in consecutive bouts after a first-round bye; Dan Considine fell in two straight at 215 pounds; and heavyweight Ryan Smith suffered the same fate for the Grizzlies. Of the nine wrestlers who qualified for head coach Keith Detjen, seven made their first appearance at the event.