Senior Tessa Master made more history for the Watertown High School wrestling program by becoming the school’s highest finisher at the New England Wrestling Championships — improving on her junior-year performance.
She was joined in Providence, Rhode Island, by fellow senior Brady Gleason, the first Raider boys wrestler to make the regional meet.
Master buckled down after finishing third place in the 145 pound class at the MIAA All-State Meet the previous weekend, said Watertown Wrestling Coach Kevin Russo.
“She ran harder, wrestled harder, drilled harder, watched more video, and did everything a champion should do to prepare,” Russo said.
Master won her two matches on Saturday, March 9, setting up a matchup with Martina Gili Fernandez of Maine Central Institute who had pinned the No. 2 wrestler from Massachusetts. The winner would face Methuen’s Janessa Santiago, the top-seeded wrestler at New Englands who beat Master in the semifinals at the All-State Meet.
“Tessa won a very exciting match by pin in the semifinals (at New Englands) and had a four hour wait for the finals for the rematch,” Russo said. “Unfortunately, we came out on the receiving end (in the final), as Tessa lost in the third period.”
While Master hoped to finish top of the podium, Russo said she has achieved great things for the Raiders.
“Tessa was disappointed but capturing second place in New England (the best from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont) coming from one of the smallest schools in Massachusetts only further cemented her place among Watertown’s finest athletes in history,” Russo said. “I could not be more proud of her as a wrestler, a student and more importantly, a person.”
Gleason wrestled in the 175 pound class at New Englands, taking on the best from the region.
“Brady lost two matches but went the distance in both,” Russo said. “He is nursing an injured shoulder and is deciding on whether or not he will be healthy enough to compete in the high school nationals in Virginia Beach at the end of the month.”
Russo said Gleason has had a great season, and hopes to see him around the wrestling room in the future.
“Brady finished as one of the top 24 wrestlers in New England. He is a class guy who we hope will help us out in the future, as he is the most successful product from our youth program,” Russo said. “Watertown Recreation sent us a terrific competitor and his parents were there every step of the way.”
Master’s season is not over, as she has been chosen to represent Massachusetts in the High School Wrestling Nationals.
“She will also be wrestling in college next year and continuing to make Watertown proud,” Russo said.
Master has a long list of accomplishments, Russo said, including:
Four-time State qualifier
Two-time State champion (2024 and 2025)
All-State champion (2024)
Two-time All-State place finisher (2024 and 2025)
Two-time New England place finisher (Third in 2024, and second in 2025)