HYANNIS – Owen Murray has always been big. Not overweight, or oafish, just exceptionally large and proportionately strong.
And then there’s his heart.
From an early age, Murray has never been much for too many spoken words. He’s always achieved or led by sheer physical performance and this winter marked the apex of a high school career like few others on the Cape. Not only did Murray finish as the only Red Raider in school history to win a New England championship title, he did so unbeaten at 38-0.
Owen Murray – Barnstable High School
2014-15 Capecod.com Wrestler of the Year
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
He achieved that mark because of sheer hard work and a simple “idea” that maybe, one day, he could be deemed the very best.
The school’s only three-time Division 1 South Sectional champion, this top-ranked Massachusetts heavyweight wrestler captured state and all-state titles en route to his New England title. A two-sport captain and a six-time league all-star in football and wrestling, Murray proved once and for all he was the man to beat and then some.
Heading to Stonehill College on a Division 2 football scholarship, Murray’s wrestling days are likely over and he conceded as much in a recent interview with Capecod.com, but he wasn’t sad about it. He said he worked hard for that New England title, he “visualized it happening” and then went out and “made it happen.“
Ted Williams hit a home run in his final Major League at-bat, and while Murray is certainly no Splendid Splinter, he lived up to the old adage that “you are only as good as your final game.” This winter he most assuredly was, without question, the first-ever Capecod.com All-Cape & Islands Wrestler of the Year.
Capecod.com 2014-15 All-Cape & Islands Wrestling Coach of the Year
The establishment of competitive high school varsity wrestling on Cape Cod has seen its shares of ups and downs over the past decade, but three schools whose programs have remained steadfast in support of a very difficult, challenging and more than worthwhile athletic endeavor have been Barnstable, Nauset and Sandwich.
In some states, wrestling is as popular a sport as it gets at the high school level, but this year Sandwich High School wrestling head coach Jerome Fay helped the Blue Knights ride the wave of some of last year’s successes – including a state title from Greg Zaw – and molded that into multiple postseason mat appearances from six of our All-Cape & Islands selections. All totaled, his top wrestlers racked up 174 individual wins on the season. His Blue Knights came in an exceptional 3rd place in the Division 3 South Sectionals as a team, 9th place in the MIAA Division 3 State Tournament and 11th place in the All-States.
For helping keep the wrestling flame brightly lit on the Cape, and mentoring an exceptional group this season, Coach Fay is our Capecod.com All-Cape & Islands Coach of the Year.
Capecod.com 2014-15 All-Cape & Islands Wrestlers
106 – Wyatt Walker, Soph., Nauset – 25-12: 3rd place at D3 South Sectionals, ACL All-Star
152 – Kyle Cambone, Sr., Nauset – 38-6: 2nd place at D3 South Sectionals, 6th place at states, ACL All-Star
220 – Jake Poulson, Jr., Nauset – 29-12: 4th place at D3 South Sectionals, ACL All-Star
126 — Casey Connor, Jr., Barnstable – 34-11: 1st place at D1 South Sectionals, 7th place at D1 states, OCL All-Star
152 — Charlie McWilliams, Sr., Barnstable — 28-7: 2nd place at D1 South Sectionals, OCL All-Star
220 — Donnie Mach, Sr., Barnstable – 26-6; 3rd Place Marshfield Tournament
113 – Bryon Hopkins, Jr. , Sandwich – 21-4: 1st place D3 South Sectionals; 1st place D3 states;
120 – Greg Zaw, Sr., Sandwich – 37-7: 2nd place D3 South Sectionals; 2nd place D3 States; 2nd place D3 All-States; 6th place New Englands; named Most Outstanding Wrestler in two tournaments; ranked #2 in the state by MassWrestling.com; ACL All-Star
145 – Matt Landry, Jr., Sandwich – 41-5: 1st place D3 South Sectionals; 3rd place at D3 states ; 5th place D3 All-States; ranked #5 in the state by MassWrestling.com; ACL All-Star
195 – Pat Sullivan, Sr., Sandwich – 30-9: 2nd place D3 South Sectionlas; 6th place D3 states;
182 – Spencer Cleary, Sr. , Sandwich – 25-13: 2nd place D3 South Sectionals; 5th place D3 states;
106 – Rob Davison, Soph. , Sandwich – 20-8: 2nd place D3 Sectionsl; 2nd place D3 States
250+ — Owen Murray, Sr., Barnstable – 38-0: 1st place D1 South Sectionals, 1st place states, 1st place All-States, 1st Place New Englands
The Capecod.com All-Cape & Islands wrestling team was compiled with the aid of coaches and assistants by sports editor Sean Walsh. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm.
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