Published in the December 14, 2017 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

NORTH READING — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team is back on on the mat and is looking to progress over the course of the 2017-2018 season.

The Black and Gold concluded last season with a 14-13-1 record. The co-op team lost a number of wrestlers from last year and are welcoming several new faces this winter.

THE LYNNFIELD-NORTH READING co-operative wrestling team will be led by senior captains, from left, Anthony Wilkinson, Andrew DiPietro and Kevin Farrelly this season. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

“We graduated seven starters from last year’s team,” said Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone. “We have 21 wrestlers on this year’s team, 12 returning from last year. Seven of the 14 weight classes will have first year wrestlers, so we will be a little on the inexperienced side this season.”

Even though the Black and Gold are a Lynnfield-based co-op team, there are more North Reading wrestlers than Lynnfield wrestlers taking the mat once again. There are 14 North Reading wrestlers and seven Lynnfield wrestlers suiting up for the Black and Gold.

Three senior captains will be leading the Black and Gold this season, including Andrew DiPietro. DiPietro will be competing in the 160 lb. weight class.

“Andrew had a 171-6 overall record last year,” said Stone. “He is a four-year wrestler with a great attitude and is a hard worker.”

Senior captain Anthony Wilkinson will be competing in the 170 lb. weight class this season.

“Anthony is a four-year wrestler who had a 30-16 overall record last year,” said Stone. “He placed at four tournaments last year. He has a great attitude and is a hard worker.”

Senior captain Kevin Farrelly has been competing for the Black and Gold the past three years. He will be competing in the 195 lb. weight class this winter.

“Kevin placed in four tournaments last year and is a returning sectional place finisher,” said Stone. “He has a great attitude and is a hard worker.”

The Black and Gold are also welcoming back five returning starters, including sophomore Timmy Leggett. Leggett, who compiled a 10-13 record last year, will be competing in the 132 lb. weight class.

Sophomore Stuart Glover (130 lbs.) is back in action after compiling a 15-8 record last year. Junior Dylan Reardon (145 lbs.) is a returning sectional place finisher, who went 6-7 last year. Sophomore Sean McCullough (182 lbs.) has returned to the fold after concluding last season with a 26-16 record. Sophomore Chris Metrano (182 lbs.) has returned to the mat after compiling a .500 record last year.

The returning letter winners from last year who will be competing for starting spots are sophomores Eric Benecke (160 lbs.), Giovanni Colucciello (160 lbs.), Dan Ryan 171 lbs., and Brandon Ouellette (182 lbs.).

Stone said newcomers Christian Real-Costa (106 lbs.), Jack Bird (106 lbs.), Josh Bedell (126 lbs.), Nick Marotta (160 lbs.) and Gerry Calagy (182 lbs.) “have opened some eyes at this time.” He said first-year wrestlers Jack Ross (152 lbs.), Aidan Carucci (160 lbs.), Greg Camier (220 lbs.) and Steven Kane (220 lbs.) are “improving each day.”

The Black and Gold head coach said the grapplers’ “attitude and work ethic will lead toward continuous improvement throughout the season.” When asked what the Black and Gold needs to work on, Stone said “skills, technique and experience, which can only come from continued drilling and match experience.”

“We will be competitive with most teams,” said Stone. “Only time will tell regarding wins and losses, as each team we face also has to deal with new personnel in new weight classes as well. We should be able to place wrestlers at the sectional and state level this season.”

First meet

The Black and Gold opened the season with a quad meet against Wilmington, Hopkinton and Whittier Tech on Dec. 9. The grapplers concluded the meet with a win, a loss and a tie.

The grapplers defeated Wilmington 48-27.

Stuart Glover (120 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 5:05. Tim Leggett (132 lbs.) won his match by fall in 2:25. Andrew DiPietro (160 lbs.) pinned his counterpart in 1:23. Anthony Wilkinson (182 lbs.) won his match by fall in 1:38. Sean McCullough (195 lbs.) pinned his counterpart in 1:15. Kevin Farrelly (220 lbs.) won his match by fall in 1:15. Chris Metrano (138 lbs.) and Dan Ryan (170 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.

The Black and Gold tied Hopkinton 42-42.

Leggett pinned his opponent in 58 seconds. Dylan Reardon (145 lbs.) won his match by fall in 2:45. DiPietro pinned his opponent in 1:18. McCullough won his match by fall in 1:25. Farrelly pinned his counterpart in 53 seconds. Glover (120 lbs.) and freshman Jack Bird (106 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.

The Black and Gold fell 59-24 to Whittier Tech.

Leggett pinned his opponent in 2:52. McCullough won his match by fall in 1:12. Glover and DiPietro won their respective matches by forfeit.

Stone was pleased with the Black and Gold’s performance in the meet.

“Considering we graduated seven starters from last year’s team, and have six first year wrestlers in this year’s line up, I could not be more pleased with both the varsity and junior varsity’s performance,” said Stone. “The intensity and the effort has been there since the first day of practice and our continued improvement each day bodes well for the future.”