SENIOR CAPTAIN Dominic Monzione (on top) became a two-time Cape Ann League/Northeastern Conference Tournament place finisher after defeating Triton’s Jake Durkin by a 7-6 decision in the final round of the 145 lbs. weight class on Jan. 31. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
GEORGETOWN — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team won its third straight Cape Ann League/Northeastern Conference Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 31 at Georgetown Middle/High School.
The Black and Gold dismantled the competition and concluded the tournament with 186.5 points. Danvers finished a distant second with 121 points. Triton finished third with 119 points.
There were 11 grapplers who placed during the tournament.
After finishing second in three tournaments this season, senior captain Dominic Monzione finally broke through and became a two-time CAL/NEC tournament place finisher after winning the 145 lbs. weight class. He defeated Triton’s Jake Durkin by a 7-6 decision in the finals after securing a buzzer-beater take down during the final seconds of the third period.
In the first round of the tournament, Dominic Monzione pinned Georgetown-Ipswich’s Bill Waiswilos in 2:24. He also defeated Beverly’s Terrence Saye by fall in 3:12. Dominic Monzione finished third in the same weight class during last year’s CAL/NEC tournament.
Senior Brandon Troisi won his third straight tournament this season after finishing first in the 285 lbs. weight class. In the first round of the tournament, Troisi pinned Danvers’ Joe Baker in 22 seconds. He defeated Beverly’s Nick Tripoli by fall in 52 seconds. In the finals, Troisi pinned Gloucester’s Andrew Amaral in 29 seconds.
According to Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone, Troisi earned the Madigan Most Falls Award “for having the most pins in the tournament over the least amount of time.” Troisi was crowned champion of the 195 lbs. weight class during last year’s tournament.
Senior captain Joe Morse became a three-time CAL/NEC Tournament place finisher after finishing second during the 113 lbs. weight class. He also won his 100th career match during the tournament.
In the first round of the tournament, Morse defeated Marblehead-Swampscott’s Michael Haskell by fall in 3:54. He also defeated Masconomet’s Sam Bart by a 12-3 decision. Morse lost to Danvers’ Colby Holland by a 9-0 decision in the finals.
SENIOR Brandon Troisi (on top) won his third straight tournament this season after finishing first in the 285 lbs. weight class during the Cape Ann League/Northeastern Conference Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 31 at Georgetown Middle/High School. The Black and Gold won the tournament with 186.5 points. (Courtesy Photo)
Junior Max Whyman became a two-time CAL/NEC Tournament place finisher after finishing second in the 126 lbs. weight class. After being awarded a bye in the quarterfinals, Whyman defeated Beverly’s Ahmad Alsharafi by a 2-0 decision in the semifinals. Whyman lost to Triton’s Jared Durkin by a 4-3 decision in the finals after Durkin completed a reversal just before the final buzzer.
Senior Jake Mullin-Bernstein placed second in the 132 lbs. weight class. He pinned Beverly’s Austin Beaulieu in 1:15 in the quarterfinals. Mullin-Bernstein defeated Georgetown-Ipswich’s Henry Gorrell by injury default in the semifinals. Stone said Mullin-Bernstein, who has been nursing a sore shoulder, injury defaulted during the finals to “prevent further injury that could keep him from missing wrestling over the next few weeks.”
Junior Zack Monzione placed second in the 160 lbs. weight class. He defeated Beverly’s Evan Hawkes by an 8-0 decision in the quarterfinals. Zack Monzione defeated Salem’s Javier Robles by a 5-1 decision in the semifinals. He fell to Masco’s Dan Gregorio in the finals.
Senior Austin Bradley finished third in the 182 lbs. weight class. After falling to Danvers’ R.J. Capodilupo by a 10-6 decision in the first round of the tournament, Bradley won his next three matches. He pinned Triton’s Tyler Ciarmataro in 3:25. He defeated Gloucester’s Donahue by a 5-3 decision. He had a rematch against Capolilupo and defeated the Falcon by a 7-2 decision to finish third during the tournament.
Senior captain Lucas Pascucci became a two-time CAL/NEC place finisher after finishing third in the 138 lbs. weight class.
Sophomore Vitaliy Andrusyshyn earned his first career tournament place finish after finishing third in the 195 lbs. weight class.
Sophomore Will Glover placed fourth in the 106 lbs. weight class. Senior Nick Wilkinson finished fourth in the 220 lbs. weight class despite weighing only 195 lbs.
Junior Kai Jean-Simon (120 lbs.) and senior Victor Buonfiglio (170 lbs.) also won matches during the tournament, but were unable to place. Senior Josh Marcinowski (152 lbs.) suffered an injury during his first match and was unable to finish the tournament. He is scheduled to return to the mat this week.
Andrusyshyn, Dominic Monzione, Morse, Pascucci, Troisi, Wilkinson and Whyman were named CAL All-League wrestlers after their impressive performances during the tournament.
Stone praised the Black and Gold’s performance during the CAL/NEC Tournament.
“I thought the tournament this year would be very competitive among the top four teams,” said Stone. “I am a little shocked that our margin of victory was so substantial. We have been working hard all season and constantly trying to improve each week, setting new goals and pushing each other toward greater achievements. The results so far have been very positive, but there are still more challenges ahead of us over the next few weeks.”
Crowned CAL champs
The Black and Gold won its third consecutive CAL title after the grapplers crushed Georgetown-Ipswich 48-6 on Jan. 29. The victory improved the grapplers’ overall record this season to 18-2 and league record to 4-0.
Morse (113 lbs.) defeated his opponent by an 11-4 decision. Jean-Simon (120 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by a 7-2 decision. Whyman (126 lbs.) won his match by forfeit. Mullin-Bernstein (132 lbs.) defeated his opponent by a 6-2 decision.
Pascucci pinned his opponent in 4:30. Dominic Monzione (145 lbs.) defeated his opponent by a 25-9 technical fall. Zack Monzione (160 lbs.) pinned his counterpart in 1:15. Junior Max Robert (170 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall in 45 seconds.
Bradley (182 lbs.) pinned his opponent in three minutes. Wilkinson (195 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by fall in 2:46. Troisi won his match by a 21-13 major decision. Andrusyshyn won his match by forfeit.
Upcoming matches
The Black and Gold will host undefeated Wayland on Wednesday, Feb. 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Lynnfield High School cafeteria. Stone said his team will be recognizing the Lynnfield seniors and their parents before the match.
The grapplers will be traveling to Wayland on Saturday, Feb. 7 for the Division 3 Dual Meet Championships. The tournament’s time schedule will be announced in the middle of the week.
The Black and Gold will be hosting the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 14 at North Reading High School. The grapplers will be honoring the North Reading seniors and their parents before the tournament.
