Published in the January 3, 2018 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
NEWBURY — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team finished 10th in the Pentucket Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27.
FRESHMAN Nik Marotta (on top) won pinned his Greater Lawrence Tech in 3:30 on Dec. 30. (Courtesy Photo)
The Black and Gold concluded the 19-team tournament with 71 points. The grapplers finished 13th during last year’s tournament.
Sophomore Sean McCullough (182 lbs.) finished second after concluding the tournament with a 2-1 record.
“McCullough found himself in the finals for the second straight tournament,” said Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone.
Senior Josh Bedell (126 lbs.) took home his first wrestling medal after finishing fourth with a 4-2 record. Senior captain Kevin Farrelly (195 lbs.) secured a fourth place finish after concluding the tournament with a 2-2 record. Farrelly finished fourth in last year’s Pentucket Holiday Tournament.
Sophomore Stuart Glover (120 lbs.) concluded the tournament with a 2-2 record. Junior Dylan Reardon (145 lbs.) finished the tournament with a 3-2 record. Senior captain Andrew DiPietro (152 lbs.) went 1-2 during the tournament. Freshman Nik Marotta (160 lbs.) concluded the tournament with a 1-2 record. Senior captain Anthony Wilkinson (170 lbs.) went 2-2 during the tournament.
“We only took eight wrestlers due to illness and personal obligations, and they all won matches and earned team points,” said Stone. “I was impressed that we were able to improve on last year’s performance. This should go a long way toward building the confidence necessary toward continued success.”
Beverly quad meet
The Black and Gold went 0-3 during a quad meet featuring North Andover, Arlington, Beverly and Greater Lawrence Tech on Dec. 30, bringing the co-op team’s record to 3-8-1.
The co-op team began the tournament falling 57-18 to North Andover. The Scarlet Knights returned five state place finishers from last year’s team.
Freshman Christian Real-Costa (106 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 1:29. McCullough (182 lbs.) won his match by fall in 3:55. Farrelly (195 lbs.) pinned his counterpart in 1:44.
The Black and Gold fell 56-24 to Arlington during the meet. Similar to the Knights, Arlington returned five sectional place finishers from last year’s team to its starting lineup.
DiPietro (152 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 2:20. Wilkinson (170 lbs.) won his match by fall in 51 seconds. Real-Costa (106 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 1:13. McCullough won his match by forfeit.
The Black and Gold fell 54-30 to Beverly.
Bedell (120 lbs.) won his match by fall in 3:03. DiPietro pinned his counterpart in 4:28. Wilkinson brought his opponent to the ground in 1:18. Farrelly pinned his opponent in 3:42. Real-Costa (113 lbs.) won his match by forfeit.
The Black and Gold concluded the tournament falling 45-33 to Greater Lawrence Tech.
DiPietro defeated his opponent by a 17-14 decision. Marotta (160 lbs.) pinned his counterpart in 3:30. McCullough (182 lbs.) won his match by fall in 1:49. Farrelly pinned his opponent in 20 seconds. Sophomore Greg Camier (285 lbs.) won his match by fall in 1:44. Bedell won his match by forfeit.
“We were not even close to full strength for the quad, having to forfeit at least four weight classes, 24 points, in each of the dual meets,” said Stone. “We wrestled tough on the mat though and could have won at least two of the meets with a full lineup.”
Stone was pleased DiPietro, Farrelly, McCullough and Farrelly each won three out of four matches during the quad meet.
