CAPTAIN James Fodera (left) and senior Gavin Iby proudly display the medals they received after placing in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament on Dec. 16. Fodera placed first in the 190 lb. weight class and Iby finished first in the 144 lb. weight class. (Courtesy Photo)

 

By DAN TOMASELLO

WAKEFIELD — Five grapplers from the Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team placed in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament at Wakefield Memorial High School on Dec. 16.

LNR placed 11th out of 16 teams, and concluded the tournament with 104.5 points.

Captain James Fodera placed first in the 190 lb. weight class. He pinned a Watertown grappler at 1:50 in the Round of 16. He won his quarterfinals match by fall at 22 seconds. He brought an Arlington grappler to the ground at 3:22. Fodera concluded the tournament by pinning an Athol wrestler at 2:44.

Senior Gavin Iby was crowned champion of the 144 lb. weight class. He began the tournament by pinning an Athol wrestler at 34 seconds in the Round of 16. He defeated a Greater Lawrence Tech grappler by fall at 1:57. Iby defeated Marblehead-Swampscott’s Mason Hinshaw by a 13-3 major decision in the semifinals. He won the 144 lb. weight class after defeating Greater Lawrence Tech’s Dylan Smith by a 7-0 decision in the finals.

“Both Hinshaw and Smith were returning sectional place finishers,” said Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone.

Freshman Nathan Barstow finished fourth in the 106 lb. weight class after concluding the Anthony Lisitano Tournament with a 1-2 record. Freshman Sam Bird placed sixth in the 113 lb. after finishing with a 3-2 record. Junior Cam Arya finished sixth in the 144 lb. weight class after concluding the tournament with a 3-2 record.

Stone recalled that the Black and Gold finished last during the 2022 Anthony Lisitano Tournament. He said LNR concluded last year’s tournament with 24 points and did not have any wrestlers place.

“What a difference a year makes,” said Stone. “It was just a total team effort, and we did not compete in four of the 14 weight classes due to sickness and were just 10 points away from finishing seventh. With a lot of the season still ahead, it leads us to be very optimistic about both our dual meet and tournament schedule.”

Splits tri-meet

The Black and Gold (3-1) split a tri-meet against Lynn Vocational Tech and Saugus-Peabody on Dec. 14.

LNR defeated Lynn Vocational Tech 42-0.

Junior Issac Medford (132 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 56 seconds. Captain David Glynn (138 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 59 seconds. Arya (144 lbs.) won his match by fall at 32 seconds.

Freshman Xander Janice (150 lbs.) won his first varsity wrestling match after pinning his opponent at 40 seconds. Senior Matt Howell (157 lbs.) won his match by fall at 59 seconds. Sophomore Jack Cuddy (165 lbs.) earned his first varsity wrestling win after pinning his opponent at 1:14. Sophomore Zack Morse (215 lbs.) got his first varsity win after defeating his opponent by fall at 20 seconds.

The Black and Gold fell 48-27 to Saugus-Peabody.

Barstow (106 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 3:21. Freshman Jakob Hulett (120 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 2:41. Arya (144 lbs.) won his match by a 6-3 decision. Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 3:19. Freshman Jason Kouyoumdjian (126 lbs.) won his match by forfeit.

Stone commended the Black and Gold’s performance against Lynn Vocational Tech and Saugus-Peabody.

“It was a very competitive tri-meet and not decided until the very end,” said Stone. “We are competing with six starters who are in their first year of varsity competition, which bodes well for the future and level of talent we have now.”

Upcoming meets

The Black and Gold hosts Excel Academy on Wednesday, Dec. 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Lynnfield High School. LNR will be competing in the Lowell Holiday Tournament at the Tsongas Center on Dec. 22 and 23.