Black and Gold throttles Peabody-Saugus in Route 1 battle

Published January 24, 2019

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team went 2-2 last week, improving the Black and Gold’s overall record this season to 6-18.

The Black and Gold dismantled Route 1 rivals Saugus-Peabody 54-30 on Jan. 18.

Captain Stuart Glover (126 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:14. Junior Chris Metrano (132 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 3:20. Captain Timmy Leggett (138 lbs.) won his match by fall at 2:41. Freshman Ryan McCullough (152 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:28.

Sophomore Nik Marotta (160 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:05. Junior Aidan Carucci (182 lbs.) earned his first varsity win after pinning his opponent at 1:55. Captain Sean McCullough (195 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 1:12. Junior Greg Camier (220 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 1:56. Sophomore Christian Real-Costa (113 lbs.) won his match by forfeit.

Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone noted Peabody and Saugus formed a co-op team for the first time this year.

SENIOR CAPTAIN Dylan Reardon (center) and his family were honored before the Black and Gold’s quad meet on Jan. 19. The ceremony included, from left, Michael, Joe, Michele, Dylan, Chris and John Reardon. The Reardon family has been involved with LNR wrestling for the past seven years. (Courtesy Photo)

“LNR won nine out of 14 matches in the battle of the co-ops,” said Stone. “It’s always nice to get a win at home. This was one of our most solid performances throughout the lineup this season.”

Quad meet

The Black and Gold went 1-3 during a quad meet against St. John’s (Shrewsbury), Canton and Methuen on Jan. 19.

The co-op team defeated St. John’s 54-30.

Glover (126 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:18. Leggett (132 lbs.) dismantled his counterpart by a 13-8 decision. Metrano (138 lbs.) won his match by fall at the one-minute mark. Marotta (160 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 59 seconds.

Sean McCullough (182 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by fall in 40 seconds. Camier (220 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:45. Real-Costa (106 lbs.), Carucci (170 lbs.) and junior Brandon Ouellette (195 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.

“St. John’s is a Division 1 Central team,” said Stone. “The match was tied 24-24 after four weight classes. LNR then won seven out of the next 10 matches. It’s nice to get a win over a team you had lost to last year.”

The Black and Gold fell 46-33 to Canton during the quad meet.

Glover (126 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 4:24. Junior Cam Randazzo (160 lbs.), a first year wrestler, defeated his counterpart by a 13-6 decision. Sean McCullough (182 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 36 seconds.

JUNIOR Cam Randazzo (at left) defeated his 160 lb. Canton counterpart by a 13-6 decision during the Black and Gold’s 46-33 loss to the Bulldogs on Jan. 19. (Courtesy Photo)

Camier (220 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by fall at 4:50. Stone noted Camier “has become one of our most improved wrestlers from last year.”

Ouellette (195 lbs.) and junior Steven Kane (285 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.

Stone noted Leggett and senior captain Dylan Reardon were unable to compete in the match due to injuries.

“It was a close match against a team that beat us pretty badly last year,” said Stone. “Forfeits and injuries came into play, but we still had a shot with the lineup we had on the mat.”

The Black and Gold concluded the quad meet falling 54-12 to Methuen.

Glover (126 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:49. Sean McCullough defeated his counterpart by fall at 1:06.

“Methuen is one of the top teams in the state,” said Stone. “Sean McCullough and Glover finished the weekend with four wins by pin. We finished the weekend 2-2 and continue to improve each time we take the mat. All is good.”

In addition to competing in the quad meet, the Black and Gold honored Reardon on Senior Day.

“LNR recognized senior captain Dylan Reardon, his parents Michele and John, and his wrestling alumni brothers Michael (2016), Chris (2017) and Joe (2017) before the start of the quad,” said Stone. “The Reardons have been involved with the LNR wrestling program for the last seven consecutive years.”