Wrestling is a team sport, but rests solely in the hands of individuals. The last four years, Sam LoRusso gave Saugus/Peabody everything he had.
Some boxes checked include 113 career wins, a top-eight finish at New Englands, Bruce Rich Invitational Championship, Sons of Italy Championship, and two conference championships.
“I would say it went as good as it could go,” he said. “I put in a lot of work, starting in the offseason with all the training I did… the results speak for themselves.”
Entering this winter, he had one goal that was above all else: a top-10 ranking in New England.
Mission accomplished.
“It was my first time qualifying for it,” LoRusso said. “That was my goal.”
LoRusso not only qualified for New Englands, but finished in the top eight. And, according to coach Wayne Moda, LoRusso was “very close” to a top-six finish.
The journey to New Englands wasn’t easy. LoRusso had to face some of the best competition in the state at a difficult weight class of 157 pounds.
“I think I did impress myself because there were a lot of tough matches,” LoRusso said. “Going into matches, I just thought to myself that I want to take this kid’s head off and that they’re not better than me… I won’t allow them to take it from me.”
Well, in LoRusso’s junior and senior seasons, no one in dual meets took anything from him as he went undefeated at 45-0.
According to his coach, what separates LoRusso from the rest is his elite mindset.
“He’s such a great athlete, but his biggest attribute is his mental toughness,” Moda said. “I’m not going to say he’s the most technical wrestler, but he has something that you can’t coach. You can nurture that in a kid, but you can’t teach it. He’s beating kids that, on paper, he shouldn’t have a chance against.”
His mindset mixed well with his offseason preparation.
“In a day, I’d spend around four hours working on my wrestling. I would watch film, lift, do some strength and conditioning, then go to practice,” LoRusso said. “I’d go to sleep and repeat.”
Even when LoRusso ran into a loss, it was his drive to make him better.
“He’ll wrestle someone and, if he loses, he’s the type of kid that we can talk about the mistakes, watch film, and go over how we should change strategy, and then, he’ll go out there and execute,” Moda said. “He’s beaten numerous kids he once lost to. He lost to a seeded kid in Division 1 states and he lost to him twice in the same tournament. The second match was a real tight match, but then he wrestled him in all-states and beat him.”
Moda always appreciated LoRusso’s insurance on the scoreboard.
“It’s great, as a coach, to be able to walk into a dual meet and know I’m going to get either six points – or, at least three – from Sam,” Moda said. “His only losses came in tournaments, so not losing in dual meets is very impressive. It’s great to have that in your back pocket. He’s walking around at 170 pounds and he cuts down to 157. Sometimes, we’ll get to a match and I’ll bump Sam up a weight class to face the tougher opponent.”
A two-way street, LoRusso praised Moda for his ability to coach.
“Since he’s come to the program, I think Saugus before was OK in the dual meet. Individually, we were pretty good, but when he came to the program, we started to win dual meets,” LoRusso said. “I think we were just over .500 my freshman year. Sophomore year, we had more matches and did better, and each year after that, we kept wrestling in more matches and got better each year.”
LoRusso may not have been on everyone’s radar before this year, but now, he’s one of the best wrestlers in New England – something that’s hard to do in a stacked Division 1 North section.
“He’s been overlooked over the years, especially in New Englands,” Moda said. “Being in Division 1 North, it’s so hard to break out.”
LoRusso’s wrestling career may be over, but his name will be remembered as he’s tied as the all-time wins leader in program history (113) after going 56-10 this year.
“I know since the co-op was established, but I’m pretty certain it’s the most wins for either individual school program, too,” Moda said.
