JUNIOR Max Whyman (on top) was only one win away from placing in the 126 lbs. weight class during the All State Tournament at Salem High School on Feb. 27 and 28. Whyman defeated Lawrence’s Victor Guzman by a 4-0 decision in the first consolation round at the All State Tournament. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
SALEM — Three members of the Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team competed in the All State Tournament on Feb. 27 and 28 at Salem High School.
Junior Max Whyman was only one win away from placing in the 126 lbs. weight class during the All State Tournament. Whyman began the tournament defeating Newton North’s Joe Arcuri by a 9-7 decision. He was pinned by Arlington’s Andrew Ellis, who won the 126 lbs. weight class, at 2:23 in the second round of the tournament.
In the first consolation round, Whyman defeated Lawrence’s Victor Guzman by a 4-0 decision. He concluded the tournament falling to Scituate’s Rob McDonald, the Division 3 state champion, by a 12-1 decision.
Whyman concluded the 2014-2015 season with a 37-11 overall record. He placed first in the 126 lbs. weight class during the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament and placed sixth in the Division 3 State Tournament. He also won the Pentucket Holiday Tournament, finished second in the CAL/NEC Tournament, finished second in the Cohasset Tournament and finished third in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament.
Whyman, who has been a varsity starter since he was a freshman, concluded his junior year with a 37-11 overall record. He currently has a career record of 83-30 and will be looking to break the 100 win mark next season.
Senior captain Dominic Monzione competed in the 145 lbs. weight class during the All State Tournament. Monzione began the tournament defeating Stoughton’s Tom Mone by an 8-6 decision in overtime. He fell to Agawam’s Anthony Baile, the Division 1 state champion, by an 8-4 decision in the next round of the tournament.
In the consolation round, Monzione fell to Winchester’s Kevin McGee by a 10-7 decision. Monzione concluded the 2014-2015 season with an overall record of 39-11. He won the 145 lbs. weight class during the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament and was crowned champion of the CAL/NEC Tournament.
Additionally, Monzione finished fifth in the Division 3 State Tournament. He also finished second in the Anthony Lisitano, Pentucket Holiday and Cohasset tournaments. Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone said Monzione concluded his high school wrestling career with a 78-22 overall record, which he said is “remarkable when you realize that he only wrestled two varsity matches during his freshman and sophomore seasons due to elbow injuries.”
Senior Brandon Troisi competed in the 285 lbs. weight class during the All State Tournament. He began the tournament falling to Nashoba’s Richie Stamos by a 5-2 decision.
In the first consolation round, Troisi pinned Quabbin’s Brent Leger at 1:31. He fell to Reading’s Matt Ferrari by an 11-6 decision in the second consolation round.
Troisi concluded his senior year with a 43-5 overall record. He was crowned champion of the Division 3 North Sectional, Pentucket Holiday, Cohasset and CAL/NEC tournaments. He also finished third at the Division 3 State Tournament and Anthony Lisitano Tournament.
“Brandon has a career record of 74-24, which is eye opening when you realize that he sat out his freshman season with an elbow injury and only wrestled two varsity matches during his sophomore year,” said Stone.
Stone said he was proud Whyman, Monzione and Troisi qualified for the All State Tournament this year.
“Once you’re there, you forget about the talent level participating and it becomes just another tournament where you hope to do well,” said Stone. “Obviously, I would have liked our wrestlers to have gone further but, in retrospect, being there is an accomplishment in itself and winning matches at that level is even more of an achievement. These three wrestlers have put quite an exclamation mark their seasons this year.”
