After press time:
Lynnfield/North Reading defeats Triton 36-33 (Jan. 9)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team finished second in the Pentucket Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27.
LNR concluded the 21-team tournament with 167 points. Eight wrestlers placed during the Pentucket Holiday Tournament.
Senior captain James Fodera was crowned champion of the 190 lb. weight class for the second straight year. He defeated a Essex Tech-Masconomet wrestler by a 16-1 technical fall during the round of 16. Fodera pinned a Danvers grappler at 1:50 during the quarterfinals. He defeated a Tri-County wrestler by a 20-5 technical fall in the semifinals. During the finals, Fodera defeated a Whittier Tech wrestler by fall at 2:44.
“James also won the Pentucket Holiday Tournament last year,” said Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone.
Captain David Glynn placed second in the 157 lb. weight class after securing a 3-1 record during the Pentucket Holiday Tournament. Sophomore Nathan Barstow finished second in the 113 lb. weight class after compiling a 3-1 record. Sophomore Jakob Hulett placed second in the 120 lb. weight class after concluding the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Senior captain Cam Arya earned a third place finish in the 165 lb. weight class after finishing 3-1 in the tournament. Sophomore Jason Kouyoumdjian finished third in the 126 lb. weight class after securing a 3-1 record. Junior Zack Morse placed fourth in the 215 lb. weight class after going 2-2 during the tournament. Senior Isaac Medford finished sixth in the 138 lb. weight class after concluding the tournament with a 2-2 record.
Junior Jack Cuddy went 1-2 in the 175 lb. weight class. Junior Dylan Mathews compiled a 1-2 record in the 285 lb. weight class.
Stone recalled that the Black and Gold finished 12th in the 2023 Pentucket Holiday Tournament with 64 points, and only had two wrestlers place.
“It was a team effort,” said Stone about this year’s Pentucket Holiday Tournament. “All 10 wrestlers earned points. We have come a long way in the four years since our year after COVID with only eight wrestlers on the team. I am especially happy for David, Isaac, Cam and James, who experienced those frustrating seasons and are now able to enjoy this success.”
Lexington quad meet
The Black and Gold (12-1-1) went 4-0-1 during a quad meet against Lexington, Burlington and Billerica on Dec. 28.
LNR tied Lexington 39-39, which Stone noted is rare.
Hulett (126 lbs.) won his match by a 5-0 decision. Glynn (157 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 26 seconds. Fodera (190 lbs.), Barstow (113 lbs.), Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.), Morse (215 lbs.) and Mathews (285 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.
The Black and Gold dismantled Burlington 45-33.
Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.) came from behind to defeat his counterpart by an 11-8 decision. Glynn (157 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 3:40. Arya (165 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall at 3:40. Fodera (190 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 50 seconds. Morse (215 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 47 seconds. Barstow (113 lbs.), Hulett (126 lbs.) and sophomore Sam Bird (120 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.
LNR crushed Billerica 46-33.
Hulett (120 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 1:59. Medford (138 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 3:04, which Stone said swung the match to LNR’s favor. Fodera (190 lbs.) won his match by fall at 47 seconds. Mathews (285 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by a 16-2 major decision. Barstow (113 lbs.), Glynn (157 lbs.), Morse (215 lbs.) and sophomore Zach Inafuku (106 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.
Stone commended the Black and Gold’s performance during the quad meet.
“I was surprised at the number of forfeits,” said Stone. “All three opponents are Division 1 or Division 2 schools with large enrollments. Fortunately, we can take advantage of those forfeited weights with not only wrestler of our owns but talented wrestlers as well.”
Watertown quad
The Black and Gold went undefeated during a quad meet against Carver, Northeast Metro Tech/Bishop-Fenwick and Watertown on New Year’s Eve.
LNR defeated Carver 53-30.
Inafuku (106 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:20. Barstow (113 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 3 minutes. Hulett (120 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:51.
Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.) defeated his opponent by a 17-2 technical fall. Medford (138 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 1:42. Glynn (157 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:10. Arya (165 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 1:06. Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:30. Morse (215 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:20.
The Black and Gold defeated Northeast/Bishop-Fenwick 60-18.
Kouyoumdjian (126 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:38. Senior Abdel Abdalla (150 lbs.) won his match by fall at 2:19. Fodera (190 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 2:12. Morse (215 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 39 seconds. Mathews (285 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall at 1:46. Inafuku (106 lbs.), Barstow (113 lbs.), Hulett (120 lbs.), Glynn (157 lbs.), Arya (175 lbs.) and freshman Lucas Lopes (165 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.
The Black and Gold defeated Watertown 51-30.
Barstow (113 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 1:44. Hulett (120 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 3:19. Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.) won his match by fall at 3:19. Glynn (157 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 35 seconds.
Arya (165 lbs.) won his match by a 13-10 decision. Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 27 seconds. Morse (215 lbs.) won his third match of the day after bringing his opponent to the ground at 1:24. Mathews (285 lbs.) won his match by fall at 2:31.
Stone noted that the Black and Gold was leading Watertown 33-30 going into the last three weight classes. He said LNR secured the victory after earning three straight pins.
“It was a great way to end 2024 with a very competitive dual meet coming down to the final matches,” said Stone.
Home quad meet win
The Black and Gold won all three of its matches during a quad meet against Danvers, Malden-Everett and Greater Lowell Tech during the first home match of the season at North Reading High School on Jan. 4.
LNR defeated Danvers 54-15.
Inafuku (106 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 3:30. Barstow (113 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 5:07. Hulett (120 lbs.) won his match by fall at 59 seconds. Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:55.
Jack Cuddy (175 lbs.) won his match by fall at 56 seconds. Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:29. Morse (215 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 215 lbs. Glynn (157 lbs.), Arya (165 lbs.) and freshman Griffin McCarthy (150 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.
LNR dismantled Malden-Everett 71-6.
Barstow (113 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 4:26. Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall at 1:33. McCarthy (150 lbs.) won his first varsity wrestling match after bringing his opponent to the ground at 1:54.
Glynn (157 lbs.) defeated his opponent by a 15-0 technical fall. Arya (165 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 2:53. Jack Cuddy (175 lbs.) won his match by fall at 22 seconds. Morse (215 lbs.) won his match by a 12-11 decision. Inafuku (106 lbs.), Hulett (120 lbs.) and Medford (138 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit. Fodera (190 lbs.) won his match by an injury default.
The Black and Gold dismantled Greater Lowell Tech 46-35.
Barstow (113 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 5:54. Hulett (120 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by a 13-3 major decision. Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall at 3:14. Medford (138 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 27 seconds.
Glynn (157 lbs.) won his match by technical fall at 5:01. Arya (165 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 3:31. Jack Cuddy (175 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 17 seconds. Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 52 seconds.
Stone recalled that Greater Lowell Tech finished ninth at the Division 1 State Tournament last year. He said Greater Lowell Tech had an early 24-22 lead after eight weight classes, but the Black and Gold won the next four matches to secure the victory.
“Sweeping the quad meet was a great way to show the home crowd the talent and depth on this year’s team,” said Stone. “We are getting contributions from everyone in the line-up and not having to rely on certain individuals. We had a great start in 2024 and now we must continue this momentum into 2025.”
Upcoming meet
The Black and Gold travel to Triton on Wednesday, Jan. 8, beginning at 5 p.m.