FRESHMAN Jason Kouyoumdjian (on top) won all three of his matches, including two by pins, during a quad meet against Cambridge, Rindge and Latin, Bedford/Acton-Boxborough and Salem at North Reading High School on Jan. 13. (Courtesy Photo)

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team won three out of four dual meets last week. 

LNR (9-7-1) defeated Pentucket 48-36 on Jan. 10. 

Freshman Nathan Barstow (106 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 50 seconds. Freshman Sam Bird (113 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 43 seconds. Freshman Jakob Hulett (120 lbs.) won his match by fall at 21 seconds. Captain David Glynn (138 lbs.) defeated a returning sectional place finisher by fall at 4:38. Junior Cam Arya (144 lbs.) came roaring back from a 5-0 deficit to pin his counterpart at 3:54. 

Senior Gavin Iby (150 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 2:34. Captain James Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 3:57. Sophomore Dylan Mathews (285 lbs.) secured the Black and Gold’s victory over the Panthers after winning his match by fall at 5:04. 

Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone said LNR won eight out of 14 matches against Pentucket. 

“LNR jumped out to an 18-0 lead,” said Stone. “Pentucket closed it to 18-12, only to see LNR win the next three and go up 36-12.  Pentucket won the next three to narrow the lead to 36-30. James Fodera put LNR up 42-30, meaning Pentucket would have to pin in the last two weight classes to tie. They got the win at 215 lbs., bringing the score to 42-36, but Mathews clinched the win for the Black and Gold with his pin at 285 lbs. It was another competitive dual meet from start to finish.  After losing to them the last two years, with many of those LNR team members on this year’s team, it was very gratifying to get the win.” 

Shines at quad meet

The Black and Gold went 2-1 during a quad meet against Cambridge, Rindge and Latin, Bedford/Acton-Boxborough and Salem at North Reading High School on Jan. 13. 

LNR defeated Cambridge, Rindge and Latin 60-15. 

Freshman Jason Kouyoumdjian (126 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 3:34. Junior Issac Medford (132 lbs.) won his match by fall at 2:29. Iby (144 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:29, which Stone noted was “the fastest dual meet pin of the season.” Arya (150 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 21 seconds. 

Sophomore Jack Cuddy (165 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 56 seconds. Fodera (190 lbs.) won his match by fall at 4:14. Sophomore Zack Morse (215 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 1:26. Mathews (285 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 58 seconds. Barstow (106 lbs.) and Bird (113 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit. 

“LNR won 10 out of 14 matches, eight of which were by pin,” said Stone.

The Black and Gold defeated Bedford/Acton-Boxborough 51-21. 

Glynn (138 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 59 seconds. Iby (150 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 1:25. Senior Matt Howell (157 lbs.) won his match by fall at 2:56. 

Fodera (190 lbs.) won his match by a 13-6 decision. Barstow (106 lbs.), Bird (113 lbs.), Hulett (120 lbs.), Kouyoumdjian and Mathews (285 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit. 

“LNR won four matches on the mat and another five by forfeit,” said Stone. “We were in their shoes the last two years. Fortunately, we cover all but one weight class this year.” 

The Black and Gold fell 60-24 to Salem. 

Barstow (106 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 31 seconds. Kouyoumdjian (126 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 5:20. Arya (133 lbs.) won his match by fall at 23 seconds. Bird (113 lbs.) won his match by forfeit. 

“We led 24-18 after the first seven weight classes,” said Stone. “We then lost the next seven.”

Progress lauded

Stone praised the Black and Gold’s performance on the mat last week. 

“We had a very good week winning three out of four dual meets,” said Stone. “We are competitive throughout our lineup and gaining valuable experience each time out.  I have to remember that we are still young. We only have two seniors in the starting lineup who are accompanied by four freshmen, four sophomores, three of which are first year wrestlers, and three juniors. We will lose some matches along the way, but that will not deter from moving forward.” 

Upcoming meets

The Black and Gold travel to Wakefield Memorial High School on Wednesday, Jan. 17, beginning at 6:30 p.m. LNR will compete in the Cohasset Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 20