Warriors have impressive showing, six wrestlers qualify for Div. 3 state meet
NORTH READING — Senior captains Dan Wensley and Alex Kane captured sectional titles while Wakefield had six other place winners as it had a strong showing at the Div. 3 North sectional meet which was held Saturday at North Reading High School.
As a team, the Warriors placed fifth overall with 156 points. Lynnfield/North Reading captured the tourney title with 206.5 points while Melrose finished second with 197.5 points. Danvers (172.5 points) and Triton (166.5 points) were third and fourth in the team scoring.
Finishing behind Wakefield were Tyngsboro (138 points), Pentucket (138 points), Saugus (111.5 points), Wilmington (85 points), Gloucester (76.5 points), Georgetown/Ipswich (72.5 points), Minuteman Tech (54 points), Essex Tech (36 points) and Marblehead/Swampscott (25 points).
Wensley became the first Warrior wrestler to win three sectional titles as he was crowned the champ at the 195 weight class. Wensley posted a 3-0 record to win the title.
Wensley pinned Wilmington’s Ryan Adams at 20 seconds. He then made quick work of Triton’s Alec Moffat winning by pin at 38 seconds. In the final, Wensley faced Melrose’s Matt Parker. Wensley won by fall at 1:28 to take first.
Wensley advances to the Div. 3 state meet and will face Quabbin’s Steve Trembley in a first round match.
Kane went 4-0 to win his second Div. 3 North championship as he captured first at the 220 weight class.
Kane pinned Melrose’s Jesse Gauvin at 2:43 and then he pinned Minuteman Tech’s Alex Sisneros at 52 seconds. The senior then scored a 5-2 decision over Danvers’ Skylar Falite. In the final, Kane took on Saugus’ Luke Surrette. In a thrilling contest, Kane prevailed by a 3-2 decision in four overtimes.
In the Div. 3 state meet, Kane will face Nauset’s Jake Colson in the first round.
Wakefield also had two runners-up in the sectional meet as sophomore Jack Spicer and junior Evan Gourville earned second place finishes at 106 and 160.
Spicer went 3-1 to take second place at 106. Spicer pinned Marblehead/Swampscott’s Ian Shevoy at 15 seconds. Spicer then prevailed by major decision (16-2) over Georgetown/Ipswich’s Josiah Krason. Spicer pinned Saugus’ Mike Titus at 3:58. In the final, Spicer lost by fall to Tyngsboro’s Kevin Morris at 27 seconds.
Spicer advanced to the Div. 3 state meet and will face Gateway Regional’s Brandon Daniels in the first round.
Gourville took second place at 160 with a 3-1 record. Gourville won by major decision (9-1) against Georgetown/Ipswich’s Charlie Koshivas. Gourville then pulled out a 2-1 three overtime decision over Pentucket’s Devin Young. The junior then squeaked out a 4-2 decision over Melrose’s Pat Whelan. In the final, Gourville dropped a 9-6 decision to Saugus’ Seth Roy.
Gourville will be competing in the Div. 3 state meet and he will take on Holliston’s Eric Jacobson in the first round.
Seniors Connor Shine and Matt Yirrell both claimed fourth place finishes at the 126 and 182 weight classes.
Shine posted a 2-2 record at 126. Shine lost by fall to Triton’s Jared Durkin at 1:59. He rebounded by pinning Marblehead/Swampscott’s Brett Resnik at 1:39. The Warrior senior then won by pin over Gloucester’s Juan Miguel at 3:48. Shine squared off against Durkin once again and lost by major decision (16-6) for his fourth place showing.
Shine will take on Scituate’s Rob MacDonald in the first round of the Div. 3 state meet.
Yirrell posted a 3-2 record at 182 for his fourth place finish. Yirrell will face Quabbin’s Brendan Roach in the first round of the Div. 3 state meet.
Yirrell lost a 5-2 decision in three overtimes to Tyngsboro’s Andrew Carroll. The senior then pinned both Saugus’ Sal Guriano and Minuteman Tech’s Anthony Buscemi at 3:06 and 3:26. Yirrell then prevailed by 7-2 decision against Gloucester’s Tom Donahue. The senior dropped a 7-3 decision against Lynnfield/North Reading’s Austin Bradley to take fourth place.
At 285, Mike Lima, a junior, secured a fifth place finish and is an alternate for the Div. 3 state meet. Lima posted a 3-2 record.
Lima pulled out a 3-0 decision over Marblehead/Swampscott’s Ryan Flynn. He then prevailed by major decision (9-0) against Triton’s John Falasca. Lima then lost by fall to Lynnfield/North Reading’s Brandon Troisi and Melrose’s Nick Disley at 4:36 and 1:46. In his fifth and final match, Lima pinned Essex Tech’s Kevin Sousa at 48 seconds.
Sophomore Ben Piercy had a good day placing sixth at the 145 weight class. Piercy had a 1-3 record for his sixth place finish.
Piercy lost by fall to Melrose’s John Seibert at 1:10. He then pinned Georgetown/Ipswich’s Bill Waiswilos at 45 seconds. Piercy then lost by fall to Tyngboro’s Jason Wojik and Danvers’ Matt Reidy at 46 seconds and 48 seconds.
Wakefield had six other wrestlers that competed in the meet.
Junior Shannon Drager went 0-2 at 113, junior Evan McGuire went 2-2 at the 120 weight class, freshman Jake Goodchild posted an 0-2 record at 132, freshman Ryan Smith went 0-2 at 138, senior Dan Bertini had a 1-2 record at 152 and senior captain Ryan Cunningham posted an 0-2 record at 170.
The Div. 3 state meet will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Charbonneau Field House. Competition on the two days starts at 8 a.m. Host Wakefield will be well-represented with six wrestlers and one alternate.