Published in the January 11, 2018 edition

SENIOR CAPTAIN Andrew DiPietro (on top) finished third in the 152 lb. weight class during the Cohasset Tournament Jan. 6. (Courtesy Photo)

By DAN TOMASELLO

COHASSET — Old Man Winter didn’t stop the Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team from giving a strong performance during the Cohasset Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 6.

The Black and Gold finished third out of seven teams during the tournament. There were 12 grapplers who placed in the tournament, and five wrestlers advanced to the finals. Teams were allowed to enter two wrestlers in each weight class.

Senior captain Anthony Wilkinson won his first career tournament championship in the 170 lb. weight class after concluding the tournament with a 3-0 record. Wilkinson began the tournament pinning Rockland’s Liam Sullivan in 1:22 during the quarterfinals. He defeated Cohasset’s David Burke by fall in 36 seconds during the semifinals. Wilkinson was trailing Nauset’s Isiah Honneycutt 5-0 in the finals, when Wilkinson pinned Honneycutt at 4:47.

SOPHOMORE Sean McCullough (on top) was crowned champion of the 182 lb. weight class during the Cohasset Tournament Jan. 6. (Courtesy Photo)

Sophomore Sean McCullough was crowned champion of the 182 lb. weight class, which was his first career tournament championship and marked the third time he advanced to a tournament’s finals this season. McCullough, who went 3-0 during the tournament, pinned Wilmington’s Nick Kullman in 1:06 during the quarterfinals. He defeated Tri-County’s Bobby Fryar by fall in 5:05 in the semifinals. McCullough pinned Hanover wrestler Stephen Zinkel, a returning sectional place finisher, in 3:07 during the finals.

Senior captain Kevin Farrelly (195 lbs.) placed second during the tournament after finishing with a 2-1 record. Farrelly competed in the Cohasset Tournament’s finals last year.

Sophomore Stuart Glover (120 lbs.) finished second during the tournament after compiling a 2-1 record. Glover advanced to the finals in the 106 lb. weight class last year.

Sophomore Timmy Leggett (132 lbs.) earned his highest career tournament finish after placing second. Leggett concluded the tournament with a 2-1 record.

Senior captain Andrew DiPietro (152 lbs.) earned his highest career tournament place finish after finishing third overall. DiPietro concluded the tournament with a 3-1 record.

Senior Josh Bedell (126 lbs.) finished third in the tournament after compiling a 3-1 record. Bedell, a first-year wrestler, has placed in three tournaments this winter.

Freshman Nik Marotta (160 lbs.) placed in his first varsity tournament after finishing fourth overall. Marotta concluded the tournament with a 2-2 record.

Freshman Jack Bird (106 lbs.) finished fourth in the Cohasset Tournament after going 2-2. The fourth place finish marked the first time Bird has placed in a varsity wrestling tournament.

Freshman Christian Real-Costa (106 lbs.) finished fifth, which was the first time he has placed in a varsity tournament.

Sophomore Giovanni Collucciello (160 lbs.) finished sixth during the tournament after compiling a 1-3 record. Sophomore Greg Camier (220 lbs.) also went 1-3 during the tournament, which earned him a sixth place finish.

Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone commended the grapplers for giving a strong performance during the tournament.

“I was really excited with our performance at the tournament,” said Stone. “Placing 12 out of the 17 wrestlers that we brought, and putting five in the finals was a real plus for our program. Hopefully, we can build on that momentum through the rest of the season.”

Falls to Triton

The Black and Gold (3-9-1) began last week falling 47-35 to Triton on Jan. 3.

Wilkinson (170 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 3:20. McCullough (182 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by a 21-6 technical fall. Farrelly (195 lbs.) won his match by fall in 28 seconds.

Glover (120 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground in 5:04. Leggett (132 lbs.) won his match by pin in 1:14. Junior Dylan Reardon (145 lbs.) won his match by disqualification.

“We won six out of 11 matches wrestled and led 35-29,” said Stone. “Unfortunately, we forfeited three weight classes to swing the match to Triton. Obviously the outcome is frustrating, but the effort out there is very noticeable and positive. We just don’t have any depth in some weight classes, and an injury or absence has a huge effect on a match.”