Senior wrestling captain Sidney Tildsley of Shawsheen Tech High School of Billerica, Massachusetts, just become the winningest high school wrestler in Massachusetts history.
Few names will resonate in wrestling history as much as Tildsley’s. Since his career began at Shawsheen Tech, he has spent the past 3 out of 4 years competing in the 138-pound weight-class, spending only his freshman year in the 132-pound class.
During this time, Sid won the state title every single year. Yes, you read that right. Sid Tildsley has captured the Massachusetts state championship 100% of his high school career. Tildsley puts himself in elite company and, over the past four years, has been borderline unstoppable. Over his career, he has achieved some great things. His combined record throughout his freshman and sophomore years totaled 131 wins and 2 losses. He is a 4-time sectional champion, a 4-time state champion, a 4-time all-state champion, and a 3x New England Champion and owner of countless Massachusetts state records.
In his last match against Andover not to long ago, he clinched his fourth straight against Andover’s Jason Ballou in just 3 minutes and 22 seconds, securing that historic fourth straight title.
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Tildsley won countless invitational tournaments, such as the Lowell Holiday Tournament. Ironically, he wasn’t just a winner on the wrestling mat, but he also led the Shawsheen Tech football team to a D5 Super Bowl this past fall as their starting quarterback.
Tildsley became such a dominant wrestler because of two people. His older sister, Tayla, who was a successful wrestler at the tech and National Wrestling Hall of Fame Member and Tidsley’s coach until 2021, Mark Donovan. Sadly, Donovan passed away in 2021 after a battle with cancer but left his imprint on wrestling forever. After over three decades of mentoring athletes, Billerica dedicated March 19th as Coach Donovan Day in honor of the impact he left on the community.
During his time coaching at Shawsheen, he had his wrestlers in peak condition, and be respectful win or lose but still ultimate competitors, so it makes sense that he had his boys “wrestle up” in division 1. This translated into Tildsley’s game; you would never find him showboating after a victory, just shaking hands with his opponent and minding his business.
Funny enough, the Tildsley wrestling bloodline doesn’t end with Tayla and Sid. The youngest brother, James, recently claimed his second straight state title in the 150-pound weight class for Shawsheen as well. He went 62-0 on the year and didn’t allow a single match to be decided on points.
Wrestling runs in the Tildsley’s veins as you can see. Sid had an incredible run during his time at Shawsheen High School, stunning teammates and coaches along the way to making history. In honoring their late coach, Mark Donovan, the Tildsleys exemplify the connection between athlete and mentor, showcasing how personal bonds can fuel incredible achievements.
CHELMSFORD, MASS. (WHDH) – A wrong-way driver crashed into another vehicle on I-495 in Chelmsford Tuesday night, shutting down the soundbound lanes in that area, according to Massachusetts State Police and The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
State police said Troopers from the Concord Barracks responded to a two-car crash on I-495 at the Hunt Road overpass shortly before 10 p.m. They said preliminary information indicates the crash happened as a result of a wrong-way driver striking a vehicle traveling in the correct direction.
Chelmsford Fire and EMS responded to the scene, and the driver was taken to the hospital by MedFlight. State police said they suffered life-threatening injuries.
MassDOT said the highway southbound is currently closed at exit 88 due to the crash, and is expected to remain closed for several hours.
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Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes at this time.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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Two people were seriously injured in a stabbing at the Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods manufacturing facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Tuesday morning.
Haverhill police said they responded to the Cedar’s plan on Foundation Avenue around 10:30 a.m. for a report of a disturbance involving a weapon. When they arrived, they found two people suffering from apparent stab wounds.
Both people were provided with medical assistance on scene and taken to area hospitals with what police described as serious injuries. Their names have not been released, and no update on their conditions was immediately available.
Preliminary investigation determined that the two people knew each other, and police said there is no ongoing threat to the public. They said their investigation into the incident remains active.
Two Plymouth, Massachusetts teens were saved from the summit of Mount Washington after a leg injury stranded them.
Khang Nguyen,17, said he and his friend, 18-year-old Vaughn Webb, thought they were well prepared for their hike on Saturday. They brought trekking poles, layers, microspikes for their boots and more.
But halfway up the trail, Nguyen feared the worst when his leg began to hurt.
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“It was just incredibly painful to lift up my right leg,” he explained. “I told [Vaughn] to leave me behind so I could go on my own pace and for him to reach the summit to get help at first.”
The pair managed to reach the top of the mountain but had to seek shelter next to a building as wind gusts increased, and the air temperature reached 38 degrees. Nguyen said they also ran out of food and water. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received the 911 call around 7:30 p.m. and quickly alerted a State Park employee who began to search for the two teens.
“Conservation Officers then began responding in four-wheel-drive pickup trucks to try and get to the summit and back ahead of incoming snow,” the game department said in a statement.
After around 30 minutes of reaching both Webb and Nguyen were found. They were taken inside a building and Nguyen was being treated for his injury.
“The worker that was up there, [said] that they came in record time, and we appreciate their help a lot. It saved our lives potentially,” Nguyen explained.
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The pair was successfully taken off the mountain by 10 p.m. The two teens are now safely back in Massachusetts and are incredibly grateful to their rescuers.
