Our Crimson Knights

Knights fall to Choate and Avon ahead of Western New England Tournament

In its final tune-up before the Western New England Tournament at Taft on Saturday, February 7, Salisbury traveled to Wallingford, CT, to take on Choate Rosemary Hall and Avon Old Farms.

Against the host Boars, the Knights got contributions from four competitors. Albert Wu ’27 prevailed in the 157-pound class, while Nick Feret ’26 did the same at 215 pounds. Austin Moore ’26 and Jo Kaijima ’27 also earned victories via forfeit. The 24 combined points were not enough to top Choate, however, resulting in a 57–24 loss.

Things were lopsided against Avon, with just two Knights picking up the win. Matthew Niedzialek ’28 emerged victorious in the 190-pound class, and Istvan “Ish” Szecsei ’26 got it done in the heavyweight division. Salisbury was also awarded one point for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Winged Beavers, giving them 13 points total.

The stiff competition served as a good gauge ahead of Western New Englands on Saturday.

Knights top Marvelwood, fall to Hopkins in competitive matches

Salisbury made the trek to New Haven, CT, on Wednesday afternoon for a match against Marvelwood and host Hopkins. The day had both ups and downs, with the peak being a 54-15 victory over the Pterodactyls.

Against their fellow road opponent, eight Knights contributed to the win. Austin Moore '26 won in the 175-pound weight class, as did 190-pound Matt Niedzialek '28, 215-pound Nazar Biiak '27, and heavyweight Cooper Long '26. They were joined by 113-pound Sasha Loucks '29, 120-pound Owen Warder '29, and 126-pound Don Jacobs '29. Vincent Valcin '28 also won in the 144-pound class.

Hopkins, meanwhile, showcased why they are one of the stronger teams in the region—topping Salisbury 66-15. Three Knights added points toward the 15: Niedzialek, Long, and Valcin.

Salisbury will run it back on Friday, January 23, when it visits Hotchkiss for a 5 p.m. showdown.

Knights finish ninth at Brunswick, five wrestlers place in top six of weight class

Salisbury made the snowy trip down to Greenwich, CT, on Saturday for the Brunswick Invitational Tournament. The day was a success overall, with the Knights placing ninth in a field of 17 schools.

In particular, Austin Moore ’26 enjoyed the most successful day of any Knight, finishing third overall in the 165-pound weight class. Team Captain Nick Feret ’26 also enjoyed a big day at 215 pounds, earning fourth in the division. Other top finishers included Cooper Long ’26, who placed fifth in the heavyweight category, as well as Jo Kaijima ’27 and Vincent Valcin ’28, who each finished sixth at 165 and 144 pounds, respectively.

Salisbury will take the mats again on Wednesday, January 21, when they visit Hopkins School for a 3:30 p.m. match.

Knights dominate Marvelwood and Greenwich Country Day, fall to Greens Farms

Salisbury hosted three schools for an afternoon of competition on Wednesday, with the Knights finding success in two of three matches.

Against Marvelwood, Salisbury performed at a very high level—winning 60–12 overall. Sasha Loucks ’29 contributed six points at 113 pounds, as did Don Jacobs ’29 (126), Zach Allen ’28 (138), Vincent Valcin ’28 (144), and Daniel Chiarenza ’26 (150). On the heavier side, Salisbury was equally dominant. Austin Moore ’26 won at 165 pounds, as did Wyatt Orthwein ’28 (175), Matthew Niedzialek ’28 (190), Nick Feret ’26 (215), and Cooper Long ’26 (285). An outstanding performance across the board.

Things went similarly for the Knights against Greenwich Country Day, as Salisbury earned a 58–18 triumph. Loucks won once more, along with Allen, Valcin, Moore, Orthwein, Niedzialek, Feret (four points instead of six), and Long. Edmund Wang ’27 (132 pounds) also joined the winning train, alongside Hans Ruiz ’26, who competed in the 150-pound class.

Greens Farms, meanwhile, did not meet the same fate as the other two visiting schools, topping Salisbury 64–12. The Knights’ two victories came from Jacobs and Orthwein.

It should be noted that Orthwein won all three of his matches, the lone Knight to do so.

Salisbury will look to build on the solid day when it heads south to Greenwich, CT, on Saturday, January 17, to participate in the Brunswick School Tournament. Start time is 9:30 a.m.

Knights top Canterbury, narrowly fall to Pride in first match of 2026

Salisbury faced off against Canterbury and Trinity-Pawling on Saturday in its first match of the 2026 calendar year. The day was an overall success, with the Knights emerging victorious against the Saints and just barely losing to T-P.

Against Canterbury, Sasha Loucks ’29 won in the 113-pound weight class, contributing six points to the team total. Mukagali Kuanysh ’27 also added six points at 132 pounds. Edmund Wang ’27 did the same in the 138-pound weight class, as did Vincent Valcin ’28 at 144 pounds. Sixth former Austin Moore ’26 won his match at 165 pounds, alongside Matthew Niedzialek ’28, who wrestled at 175 pounds. Both Nick Feret ’26 and Cooper Long ’26 also had triumphs, wrestling at 215 and 285 pounds, respectively. The success led to a 48–30 win.

Meanwhile, when facing the Pride, several Knights had success in the ultra-close match. Loucks picked up his second “W” of the day, as did Niedzialek, Feret, and Long. Albert Wu ’27 also added a six-point victory at 157 pounds, while Wyatt Orthwein ’28 did the same at 190 pounds.

Even so, Trinity-Pawling did just enough to squeak out a 37–36 victory over the Knights.

Salisbury will take the mats again on Wednesday, January 14, when they host Greenwich Country Day, Greens Farms, and Marvelwood. Start time is 3 p.m.

Knights compete well at Hotchkiss Invitational 

Salisbury made the quick trip to Lakeville on Saturday for the Hotchkiss Invitational. The meet, which regularly features some of the best wrestlers in the region, provided a strong early-season test for the Knights. Despite the stiff competition, many had a solid day. 

Third former Owen Warder ’29, wrestling in the 120-pound class, won his first match of the day—advancing him to the semifinals—but was unable to notch a second victory. Several Knights had similar experiences, including Mukagali Kuanysh ’27 at 132 pounds. Team captain Long Ngo ’26 also won a match at 150 pounds, as did 157-pound Gavin Leavy ’26, Jo Kaijima ’27 at 165 pounds, and heavyweight Cooper Long ’26. 

Two Knights notched two victories on the day: Zach Allen ’28 and Vincent Valcin ’28. Allen, wrestling in the 138-pound weight class, ultimately placed sixth in his division. Valcin, meanwhile, earned fourth at 144 pounds. 

The solid performance bodes well for the upcoming season.