Published January 1, 2020

By DAN TOMASELLO

WAKEFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team finished seventh in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament on December 21.

Six wrestlers placed in the 16-team tournament and three grapplers advanced to the finals. Senior captain Sean McCullough was crowned champion of the 182 lb. weight class after going 4-0 during the tournament.

Sean McCullough won all four of his matches by pin. He defeated a Methuen grappler by fall at 1:51 in the first round. During the quarterfinals, Sean McCullough pinned a Watertown wrestler at 24 seconds. Sean McCullough defeated a returning sectional place finisher from Arlington after he brought him to the ground during the semifinals. In the finals, he pinned a Shepherd Hill wrestler at 23 seconds.

Senior captain Tim Leggett finished second in the 132 lb. weight class after going 3-1 during the Lisitano Tournament. He began the tournament by pinning a Lincoln-Sudbury grappler at 1:02. Leggett brought a Malden Catholic grappler to the ground at 1:09 in the quarterfinals.

SENIOR CAPTAIN Tim Leggett (at left) finished second in the 132 lb. weight class after going 3-1 in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament on Dec. 21. (Courtesy Photo)

During the semifinals, Leggett defeated a returning sectional place finisher from Marblehead-Swampscott with a takedown in overtime. Leggett fell to a returning state place finisher from Georgetown-Ipswich by a 7-3 decision during the finals.

Senior captain Stuart Glover became a four-time Lisitano Tournament place finisher after finishing second in the 138 lb. weight class. Glover, who went 3-1 during the tournament, pinned a Lexington grappler at 54 seconds in the first round. He defeated a returning sectional place finisher from Georgetown-Ipswich by fall at 3:42 during the quarterfinals.

Glover defeated a Reading wrestler with a takedown in overtime during the semifinals. He concluded the tournament by getting pinned by a Methuen wrestler at 35 seconds in the finals.

Sophomore Ryan McCullough finished sixth in the 152 lb. weight class after concluding the Lisitano Tournament with a 3-2 record. Senior Greg Camier placed sixth in the 220 lb. weight class after finishing the tournament with a 2-3 record. Junior Christian Real-Costa earned a sixth place finish in the 113 lb. weight class after going 1-3 during the tournament.

Senior Steven Kane (285 lbs.) went 1-2 during the tournament. Senior Dan Ryan (160 lbs.), junior Nik Marotta (170 lbs.) and senior Giovanni Colucciello (195 lbs.) each went 0-2 in their respective weight classes.

LNR head coach Craig Stone said the Black and Gold’s performance in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament represented “another step forward.”

“Last year, we placed ninth, scored 86 points and only had four place finishers,” said Stone. “This year, we competed in 10 out of 14 weight classes, with seven out of 10 wrestlers winning matches and scoring team points. It was a positive day all the way around. Our team continues to gain more experience and confidence in knowing that they can compete with the best wrestlers and teams in the area.”

Upcoming matches

The Black and Gold competed in the annual Pentucket Holiday Tournament on Friday, December 27, taking place after deadline.

LNR will compete in a super quad meet against Beverly, North Andover, Greater Lawrence Technical School, Salem and Arlington on Tuesday, December 31, beginning at 9 a.m.

The Black and Gold will travel to Triton on Thursday, January 2, beginning at 5 p.m.

LNR will compete in the Cohasset Tournament on Saturday, January 4, beginning at 9:30 a.m.