Hundreds Of Wrestlers Will Be In Concord Saturday For 34th Annual Capital City Classic

CONCORD, NH — Wrestlers from around the region will be in Concord on Saturday, competing in the 34th annual Capital City Classic wrestling tournament.

The event will be held at Concord High School. Weigh-ins for wrestlers begin at 7 a.m. and wrestling starts at 8 a.m.

Confirmed high school teams include Alvirne High School in Hudson, Bedford, Bishop Hendricken of Warwick, Rhode Island, Boston College High School, Bow, Burlington, Massachusetts, Campbell in Litchfield, Concord, Hollis-Brookline, John Stark Regional, Keene, Merrimack, Middlebury, Vermont, Nashua North, Natick, MA, Noble, Maine, Pilgrim of Warwick, RI, Pinkerton Academy, Plymouth Regional, Portsmouth, Souhegan of Amherst, Spaulding of Rochester, Spaulding, Vermont, Waltham, MA, Warwick, RI, White Mountain Regional, Windham, Winnisquam Regional, and Winnacunnet of Hampton. Last year, Bishop Hendricken won the event.

The tourney was started in 1991 by Jim Kaufman, the head coach of the Crimson Tide wrestling team, when it was in its fourth year. Since that time, more than 40 CHS wrestlers have won in the tournament, including Cullen Burke last year in the 120-weight category, Austin Wells in 2023 in the 220-pound weight class, Jordan Reyes in the 145, Kaevryel Madison in the 152, Kody Rashed in the 195, and Jaycee Haskell in the 220 in 2022. Coach Nick “Tiny” Zeras, who is also a Concord School District teacher, won in the 275-weight class in 1997 and 1998, while another teacher and coach, Dan Breen, won in the 103-pound category in 2007. George Tarwo, a Concord police officer and prior coach who is now running the Franklin High School program, won in 2016 and 2017 in the 182-pound weight class.

For the 2024-2025 season, the Crimson Tide team has 42 wrestlers.

Zeras said the event was a great run up to end-of-the-year competitions.

“We have a great group of Concord wrestlers who are looking to continue their great season so far as they continue to prepare for the state tournament in February,” Zeras said. “The Capital City Classic has become one of the largest and most competitive one-day tournaments in New England. It is a full team effort, and we are grateful for the opportunity to host these teams and show off our amazing school, students, staff, and hard work ethic.”

It is also the biggest fundraiser of the year for the team and its booster club. Organizers hope to raise more than $10,000.

Businesses and supporters assisting this year include Angelina’s Ristorante Italiano, The Barley House, Checkmate Pizza, Constantly Pizza, Concord Food Co-Op, The Forum Pub, New Hampshire Print & Mail, The Red Blazer, Starbucks, Smokeshow Barbeque, Tuckers, The Weathervane Restaurant, and The Windmill Restaurant.

If you cannot make it to the event, donations are being accepted via Venmo at @CHSwrestlingboosters.

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