Published in the December 20, 2017 edition

SENIOR CAPTAIN Anthony Wilkinson (on top) finished third in the 170 lb. weight class during the Anthony Lisitano Tournament Dec. 16. (Courtesy Photo)

By DAN TOMASELLO

WAKEFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team finished 11th out of 17 teams in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament Dec. 16.

The Black and Gold concluded the tournament with 88 points.

Sophomore Sean McCullough (182 lbs.) finished second in the tournament. McCullough, who finished fifth in last year’s Lisitano Tournament, had a bye in the first round. He pinned Lincoln-Sudbury’s Ben Maratta in the second round of the tournament. He defeated Marblehead-Swampscott wrestler Dean Warren, a returning sectional place finisher, by fall in the semifinals. McCullough fell 14-5 to Methuen grappler Dan O’Connell in the finals.

Senior captain Anthony Wilkinson finished third during the 170 lb. weight class. Sophomore Stuart Glover (120 lbs.) placed fourth in the tournament for the second straight year. Senior Josh Bedell (126 lbs.), a first year wrestler, finished sixth in his first wrestling tournament.

Sophomore Timmy Leggett (126 lbs.), senior captain Andrew DiPietro (160 lbs.) and senior captain Kevin Farrelly each went 2-2 during the tournament and were one win away from placing. Junior Dylan Reardon (145 lbs.) also picked up a win during the tournament.

“I was pleased with our performance,” said Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone. “We only wrestled in 10 out of 14 weight classes due to our inexperience in the other weights at this time. Eight out of 10 of those wrestlers won matches and scored team points, while four of them placed. It is a tough tournament with Division I, II and III schools present, so competing at that level and experience success was very satisfying.”

Falls to Pentucket

The Black and Gold began last week falling 51-24 to Pentucket Dec. 13, bringing the co-op team’s overall record this season to 1-2-1.

Leggett (132 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 1:55. DiPietro (160 lbs.) improved to 4-0 on the season after defeating his counterpart by fall in 3:14. Wilkinson (1:43) pinned his opponent in 1:43. Freshman Jack Bird (113 lbs.) won his match by forfeit.

“We had some difficult individual match ups and fell victim to our inexperience in other weights,” said Stone. “The situation should improve as the season goes on, but for now we will struggle a bit.”