SENIOR Brandon Troisi (at left) was crowned champion of the 285 lbs. weight class during the Pentucket Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27. He defeated a Josiah Quincy wrestler by fall in 1:56 while on his way to the 285 lbs. weight class title. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-operative wrestling team won the Pentucket Holiday Tournament for the third straight year on Dec. 27.
The Black and Gold finished with 217 points. Exeter, N.H. finished a distant second with 141 points. Malden Catholic was third with 139 points. Roxbury Latin finished fourth with 136 points and Masconomet was fifth with 114 points.
The co-op team crowned three champions during the tournament and seven wrestlers advanced to the finals.
Junior Zach Monzione won the 160 lbs. weight class in his first tournament. He defeated Exeter’s Connor Bourque, who was seeded second in the weight class, by a 6-0 decision in the finals. Zach Monzione defeated Georgetown-Ipswich’s Charlie Koshivas by a 10-6 decision in the semifinals. He defeated Roxbury Latin’s Yan by a 5-2 decision in the first round of the tournament.
Senior Brandon Troisi finished first in the 285 lbs. weight class, which was his second career championship. He pinned a wrestler from Timberlane, N.H. in 3:43 during the finals. He defeated Josiah Quincy’s White by fall in 1:56. Troisi pinned a Leominster wrestler in 1:28 and pinned Exeter’s Willett in 34 seconds.
Junior Max Whyman won his first career tournament championship after he was crowned champion of the 126 lbs. weight class. He defeated a wrestler from Leominster by a 5-2 decision in the finals. He pinned a Timberlane wrestler in 1:25 in the semifinals. He defeated a Roxbury Latin wrestler by fall in 4:34 and pinned a St. John’s (Shrewsbury) wrestler in 4:36. Whyman was a finalist in last year’s tournament.
Senior captain Joe Morse was the runner-up in the 113 lbs. weight class. Morse fell to Masco’s Eric Bart by a 4-2 decision in the finals. He defeated St. John’s (Shrewsbury) by an 8-2 decision. Morse pinned Exeter’s Turnbull in 1:12 and Whittier Tech’s Beckwith in 18 seconds during the first two rounds of the tournament.
Senior Jake Mullin–Bernstein was the runner-up in the 132 lbs. weight class in his first varsity tournament. He lost to Essex Vocational’s Leete by a 4-1 decision in the finals. Mullin-Bernstein defeated Greater Lawrence’s Roman by a 3-0 decision. He pinned Georgetown-Ipswich’s Henry Gorrell in 3:29, and also defeated a wrestler from Roxbury Latin.
Senior captain Lucas Pascucci was the runner-up in the 138 lbs. weight class. He lost in the finals to Pentucket’s Josh Wesolowski, an All-State place finisher last year, by a 16-0 decision. Pascucci also pinned St. John’s Stamos in 58 seconds. He defeated Roxbury Latin’s McIntire by an 8-1 decision.
Senior captain Dominic Monzione was the runner-up in the 145 lbs. weight class. He fell to a wrestler from Whittier Tech by a 12-10 decision in the finals. He defeated Georgetown-Ipswich’s Waiswilos by fall in 2:07. He also pinned a St. John’s wrestler in 53 seconds and defeated a Salem wrestler by fall in 1:25.
Junior Kai Jean-Simon placed in his first tournament after finishing fifth in the 120 lbs. weight class. Junior Michael Reardon also placed in his first varsity wrestling tournament after finishing fifth in the 152 weight class. Senior Nick Wilkinson finished fifth in the 195 lbs. weight class.
Junior Max Robert (170 lbs.), senior Austin Bradley (182 lbs.) and sophomore Vitaliy Andrusyshyn (220 lbs.) all won matches during the Pentucket Holiday Tournament.
2-1 in quad
The Black and Gold faced off against Holliston, Bellingham-Medway and Arlington in a quad meet on Dec. 31.
The grapplers defeated Holliston 37-30.
Morse (120 lbs.) moved up a weight class and defeated a returning sectional place finisher by a 2-1 decision. Mullin-Bernstein defeated his counterpart by a 10-2 decision. Pascucci pinned his opponent in 2:24. Troisi defeated his counterpart by fall in 55 seconds.
Sophomore Joe Reardon (113 lbs.), Dominic Monzione, Reardon and junior Jared Curran (220 lbs.) all won their respective matches by forfeit.
The Black and Gold defeated Bellingham-Medway 45-3. The grapplers won eight of nine matches.
Morse (113 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 1:09. Jean-Simon defeated his opponent by fall in 3:23. Whyman pinned his opponent in 2:45. Pascucci defeated his opponent by fall in 3:03. Dominic Monzione pinned his opponent in 55 seconds.
Senior Josh Marcinowski (160 lbs.) defeated his opponent by an 11-8 decision. Curran secured his first varsity victory after pinning his opponent in 54 seconds. Troisi defeated his opponent by fall in 21 seconds.
Senior Victor Buonfiglio (170 lbs.), Bradley, Zack Monzione and Andrusyshyn all won their respective matches by forfeit.
The Black and Gold fell 45-25 to Arlington during the quad meet. Arlington, a Division 2 team, is ranked as one of the top 10 teams in the state.
Whyman defeated his opponent by a 12-3 major decision. Pascucci pinned his opponent in 1:34. Senior Garrett Anderson (145 lbs.), a current spot starter, defeated his opponent by fall in 1:20. Andrusyshyn (195 lbs.) defeated his opponent by a 7-2 decision. Troisi pinned his opponent in 1:25.
Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone decided to move Dominic Monzione up to the 152 lbs. weight class to face Lukas Stravopoulous, who was fifth in the state last year. Unfortunately, Stravopoulos defeated Dominic Monzione by a hard fought 10-1 decision.
Undefeated in super quad
The Black and Gold defeated Masconomet, Woburn, Wellesley, Dedham and Beverly in a super quad meet on Jan. 3. The five victories improved the grapplers’ record this season to 12-2.
The grapplers defeated Masco 65-10. The co-op team won 12 of 14 weight classes.
Glover (106 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 1:15. Morse (113 lbs.) defeated Sam Bart, who had defeated him in the Pentucket Tournament finals, by fall in 5:17. Mullin-Bernstein (132 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by a 9-0 major decision. Pascucci defeated his opponent by a 10-0 major decision.
Dominic Monzione (145 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 1:35. Macrinowski defeated his opponent by a 10-7 decision. Buonfiglio (170 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall in 1:06. Bradley pinned his opponent in 1:32. Andrusyshyn defeated his opponent by fall in 31 seconds.
Whyman (126 lbs.), Nick Wilkinson (195 lbs.) and Troisi (285 lbs.) all won their respective matches.
The Black and Gold defeated Woburn 51-23.
Glover defeated his opponent by fall in 2:45. Whyman defeated his opponent by a 10-5 decision. Mullin-Bernstein pinned his opponent in 46 seconds. Pascucci defeated his counterpart by fall in 1:25. Dominic Monzione defeated his opponent by a 12-0 major decision.
Marcinowski defeated his opponent by a 15-0 technical fall. Buonfiglio pinned his opponent in 1:36. Bradley defeated his counterpart by fall in 59 seconds. Troisi was trailing his opponent 4-5 but he quickly turned the tables on his opponent and defeated him by a 6-5 decision with just seconds remaining on the clock. Joe Reardon (113 lbs.) defeated his opponent by forfeit.
The Black and Gold crushed Wellesley 48-21.
Glover pinned his opponent in 1:47. Morse defeated his opponent by fall in 1:43. Jean-Simon (120 lbs.) defeated a returning sectional place finisher by a 12-8 decision. Whyman defeated his counterpart by a 10-3 decision.
Mullin-Bernstein defeated his opponent by fall in 1:18. Pascucci pinned his opponent in 1:39. Dominic Monzione defeated his opponent by fall in 1:41. Troisi pinned his opponent in 2:15. Zach Monzione (152 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by forfeit.
The Black and Gold defeated Dedham 48-21.
Glover pinned his opponent in 2:57. Morse defeated Jason Sulinksi, a sectional runner-up last year, by a 6-4 decision. Whyman defeated his counterpart by fall in 1:17. Mullin-Bernstein pinned his opponent in 3:15. Pascucci defeated his opponent by fall in 31 seconds.
Marcinowski defeated his opponent by a 4-3 decision. Troisi pinned his opponent in 1:11. Jean-Simon, Zach Monzione (152 lbs.) and Bradley all won their respective matches by forfeit.
The Black and Gold crushed Beverly 57-12. The co-op won 11 out of 14 weight classes.
Glover defeated his counterpart by a 2-0 decision. Morse pinned his opponent in 3:47. Jean-Simon defeated his opponent by fall in 2:33. Whyman defeated his opponent by a 5-3 decision. Mullin-Bernstein pinned his opponent in 54 seconds.
Garrett Anderson (145 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall in 3:46. Dominic Monzione (152 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 3:57. Bradley pinned his opponent in 59 seconds. Jarred Curran (220 lbs.) defeated his opponent by a 2-0 decision. Troisi pinned his opponent in 3:52.
