By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team is looking to get back on track after concluding last week with a win and three losses.
LNR (6-6-1) began last week falling 42-28 to Triton on Jan. 4.
Freshman Nathan Barstow (106 lbs.) defeated his opponent by a 15-3 major decision. Freshman Sam Bird (113 lbs.) won his match by a 16-10 decision. Freshman Jakob Hulett (120 lbs.) came from behind to defeat a returning sectional place finisher by an 8-4 decision.
Captain David Glynn (138 lbs.) won his match by an 11-7 decision. Junior Cam Arya (144 lbs.) pinned a returning sectional place finisher at 6:22 in overtime. Captain James Fodera (190 lbs.) won his match by forfeit.
Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone noted that LNR was missing senior Gavin Iby due to illness and sophomore Dylan Matthews due to injury during the Triton meet. He said LNR had a 22-19 lead after nine weight classes.
“It was a very competitive dual meet from start to finish,” said Stone. “We had a number of outstanding performances throughout the lineup. Triton is always one of the top teams in Division 3 North and to hang in there with them shows how far we have come, but also motivates us to how far we can go.”
Winchester quad meet
The Black and Gold went 1-2 during a quad meet against Burlington, Hanover and Winchester on Jan. 6.
LNR defeated Burlington 54-18 during the quad meet.
Bird (113 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:15. Arya (150 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 3:10. Senior Matt Howell (157 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall at 3:18. Sophomore Zack Morse (215 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:48. Fodera (190 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by fall at 3:27.
Barstow (106 lbs.), Hulett (120 lbs.), Iby (144 lbs.), freshman Jason Kouyoumdjian (126 lbs.), sophomore Jack Cuddy (175 lbs.) and sophomore Dylan Matthews (285 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.
“Burlington was unable to fill a complete lineup,” said Stone. “LNR still won five out of the eight matches that were wrestled.”
The Black and Gold fell 49-24 to Winchester.
Arya (144 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:18. Iby (150 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 20 seconds. Cuddy (175 lbs.) won his match by fall at 24 seconds. Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his opponent on 47 seconds.
“Winchester is a solid Division 2 dual meet team from top to bottom,” said Stone. “We had some success with the upper weights, but got shut out with the lower weights.”
The Black and Gold fell 46-30 to Hanover.
Freshman Zach Inafuko (113 lbs.) earned his first varsity win after pinning his opponent at 5:43. Junior Issac Medford (138 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 1 minute. Arya (144 lbs.) won his match by fall at 3:02.
Fodera (190 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:57. Morse (215 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 4:23.
“LNR led 18-16 after the first seven matches, but could not hang on,” said Stone.
Stone said LNR had strong performance during the quad meet.
“We went 1-2 against three Division 2 teams, and held our own in the two matches we lost against the bigger schools,” said Stone. “We are constantly moving forward each match and the improvement of each wrestler is very visible. However, with half the season finished, we need to keep our goals in mind and continue to work hard at each practice and keep each other motivated.”
Upcoming meets
The Black and Gold travels to Pentucket after press time on Wednesday, Jan. 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. LNR hosts Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Salem and Whittier Tech on Saturday, Jan. 13, beginning at 10 a.m. at North Reading High School.