LYNNFIELD-NORTH READING co-operative wrestlers, from left, Dominic Monzione, Brandon Troisi and Max Whyman placed during the Division 3 State Tournament at Wakefield Memorial High School last weekend. Monzione finished fifth in the 145 lbs. weight class, Troisi was third in the 285 lbs. weight class and Whyman was sixth in the 126 lbs. weight class. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
WAKEFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team finished 14th out of 57 teams during the Division 3 State Tournament at Wakefield Memorial High School last weekend.
The Black and Gold concluded the tournament with 50 points. There were three wrestlers who placed during the tournament.
Senior captain Brandon Troisi, who was only one win away from placing in last year’s tournament, placed third in the 285 lbs. weight class. He began the tournament pinning Monument Mountain’s Jacob Hines at 3:26 in the first round. He defeated Wayland’s Jared Thompson by an 8-0 decision in the quarterfinals. He fell to Dean Tech’s Philip Fernandez, a returning state champion, by an 11-6 decision in the semifinals.
Troisi pinned Quabbin’s Brent Leger at 3:14 in the next round of the tournament. He clinched his third place finish after defeating Dave Jones, a Division 3 West Sectional runner-up, by a 6-3 decision.
Junior Max Whyman, who finished eighth in the 132 lbs. weight class last year, finished sixth in the 126 lbs. weight class. He defeated Somerset-Berkley’s JJ Nunes by a 4-2 decision in the first round of the tournament. Whyman defeated Southwick’s Eddie Martinez, a Division 3 West Sectional champion, by a 4-3 decision in overtime during the quarterfinals.
Whyman fell to Scituate’s Rob MacDonald, a Division 3 South Sectional champion, by a 4-3 decision in the semifinals. He fell to Wilmington’s Fox Maxwell by a 5-4 decision and Taconic’s Nick Bailey by a 6-4 decision in the consolation rounds.
Senior captain Dominic Monzione, who finished eighth in last year’s Division 3 State Tournament, placed fifth in the 145 lbs. weight class. He defeated Quabbin’s Jerimah Monks by a 12-2 decision in the first round. He lost to Hanover’s Colin Boutin, a Division 3 South Sectional champion, by a 6-4 decision in the quarterfinals.
In the first consolation round, Monzione pinned Norton’s Zach Scarpetti at 3:04. He also pinned Dean Tech’s Jose Berios at 4:32 before losing to Division 3 South Sectional champion Matt Landry by an 8-3 decision. In the fifth place match, Monzione defeated Taconic’s Isaiah William by a 4-1 decision.
Troisi, Monzione and Whyman will wrestle this weekend at the All-State Tournament at Salem High School on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28. The top six finishers in the Division 1, 2 and 3 state tournaments will be competing at All-States.
Senior captain Joe Morse (113 lbs.), senior captain Lucas Pascucci (138 lbs.) and senior Jake Mullin-Bernstein each won matches during the tournament but were unable to place. Morse and Pascucci were not 100 percent during the tournament because they were nursing injuries.
Morse, a three-year varsity starter, finished his career with a 106-35 overall record. He is currently ninth among the Top Career Overall Record holders and is first among North Reading wrestlers who have competed with the Black and Gold since its formation in 2005. He previously finished fourth in states as a junior in the 106 lbs. weight class. Morse concluded his senior year placing first in the Cohasset Tournament, second in the CAL/NEC Tournament, second in the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament, second in the Pentucket Holiday Tournament and was fourth in the Anthony Lisitano Tournament.
Pascucci, a four-year varsity starter, concluded his high school wrestling career with an overall record of 118-52. He is currently placed sixth among the Top Career Overall Record holders. He placed seventh in the 132 lbs. weight class during the Division 3 State Tournament as a sophomore, but an injury prevented him from competing as a junior. Pascucci concluded his senior year placing first in the Cohasset Tournament, was second at the Pentucket Holiday Tournament, third at the CAL/NEC Tournament, third at the Anthony Lisitano Tournament and finished fourth in sectionals.
Mullin-Bernstein, a third year wrestler who wrestled JV the past two years, concluded his senior year with a 27-8 overall record. He won the Cohasset Tournament, was second in the CAL/NEC Tournament, second in the Pentucket Holiday Tournament and finished third at sectionals.
Senior Austin Bradley (182 lbs.) also competed in the state tournament and concluded his senior year with a 23-15 overall record. He finished third at the CAL/NEC Tournament and sectionals.
Senior Garrett Anderson (152 lbs.) and sophomore Vitaliy Andrusyshyn (195 lbs.) were alternates during the State Tournament but did not compete. Anderson, a spot starter, concluded his senior year with an 11-4 overall record and placed fifth in the sectional tournament.
Andrusyshyn, a first year varsity starter, concluded the season with an overall record of 22-17. He finished third in the CAL/NEC Tournament and placed fifth during sectionals.
Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone praised his team’s performance during the Division 3 State Tournament.
“I was pleased with our performance,” said Stone. “I felt we had the potential of doing better but at this level of competition there are always surprises and some disappointments. I am happy we have some wrestlers going on to compete this weekend at the All State Tournament and I am especially proud of what we were able to accomplish this season. We only returned six out of 14 starters and still managed, for the third year in a row, to win the Pentucket, Cohasset and CAL/NEC Tournaments, the Cape Ann League Championship and the Division III North Sectional Championship.”
