Tom Ferrell
Class of 2006
Tom Ferrell, Class of 2006, was an elite wrestler with a nearly unparalleled Green Wave mat resume who also proved to be an elite lineman for Green Wave football and an SWC track & field contender in the shot put.
Tom was an imposing presence for the Green Wave football team both physically and with his on-field performance. His athletic talents and admirable work ethic allowed him to evolve into an all-SWC and state-class offensive and defensive lineman for Green Wave football, twice earning the team’s MVP lineman honor.
His Green Wave coach, Chuck Lynch, recalled Tom “was exceptional as an offensive lineman, and just as good on the defensive side of the ball. He was a consummate teammate, and an extension of the coaches on the field, everything you’d want in a player.”
Those lofty words might well have been those of Tom’s wrestling mentors. As effective as he was on the gridiron, Tom found his true home on the mat.
As a heavyweight grappler for the powerful Green Wave, Tom established himself as a sophomore as one of the South-West Conference’s dominant forces. He posted a 36-7 record and won an SWC individual gold medal to help the Green Wave to a 22-2-1 overall record and the SWC team title.
Tom stepped up his wrestling efforts as a junior en route to a 34-5 record, another SWC heavyweight title, second place in the state ‘L’ meet, runnerup in the state open and third at the New England tournament. Once again the Green Wave reigned as SWC team champions, this time boasting a 15-2 overall ledger. Icing on the cake was Tom’s impressive fourth-place performance at the junior national tournament.
As excellent as he had been in earlier seasons, Tom reached a new level in his senior campaign. While leading the Green Wave to yet another SWC championship and an overall 19-2 record, he grappled his way to his third straight SWC individual title, the state class ‘LL’ heavyweight championship and state open laurels.
Undefeated as he stared down a climactic New England title, Tom absorbed his first defeat of the season in the championship bout, suffering a stunning, late third-period reversal that turned a potential perfect season into a quite remarkable 44-1 ledger.
When his Green Wave mat career was behind him, Tom could look back on two SWC team championships, an overall 116-15 individual record, three SWC individual titles, state class and state open titles, and a pair of top-three efforts in New England competition.
Tom added to his impressive Green Wave athletic resume in the spring of his senior year by claiming third place in the shot put at the SWC track meet, in the process qualifying for the state meet.
Following graduation, he headed north to the University of New Hampshire, where he played football.
After his college days, Tom returned to wrestling as a coach.