By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team concluded the 2024-2025 dual meet season last week, and is now gearing up for the end of the season tournaments.
LNR finished the season with a 23-4-1 record. The Black and Gold concluded the 2023-2024 season with a 13-11-1 record, went 1-23 during the 2022-2023 season and concluded the 2021-2022 season with a 0-22 record.
“I could not be more pleased with what we accomplished and how far we have come over the past four years,” said Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone. “I have nothing but praise for how they have faced such adversity over the past four years and turned it into such prosperity. They will be a great example for future teams to follow.”
The Black and Gold concluded the regular season by crushing Wilmington 63-17 on Feb. 5.
Sophomore Zach Inafuku (106 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 35 seconds. Freshman Mike Glynn (113 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:16. Sophomore Nathan Barstow (120 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 1:17. Sophomore Jakob Hulett (126 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:26.
Sophomore Jason Kouyoumdjian (132 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:04. Senior Isaac Medford (138 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 3:31. Freshman Griffin McCarthy (144 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 3:33. Senior Abdel Abdalla (150 lbs.) won his match by fall at 2:25.
Captain David Glynn (157 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 10 seconds. Senior captain Cam Arya (165 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 2:25. Junior Jack Cuddy (175 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall at 57 seconds. Junior Dylan Matthews (285 lbs.) won his match by a 3-2 decision.
“LNR won 11 out of 14 matches,” said Stone. “Ten of those wins were by pin.”
D3 State Dual Meet Championship
The Black and Gold competed in the Division 3 State Dual Meet Championship at Ashland High School on Saturday, Feb. 8.
LNR began the tournament by defeating Norton 51-18 during the round of 16.
Inafuku (106 lbs.) won his match by a 21-6 technical fall. Barstow (113 lbs.) defeated his counterpart by a 16-0 technical fall. Hulett (120 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:11. Kouyoumdjian (126 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 1:09.
David Glynn (157 lbs.) defeated his opponent by an 18-2 technical fall. Cuddy (175 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 1:02. Arya (165 lbs.), Matthews (285 lbs.), freshman Jayce Melara (190 lbs.) and junior Zack Morse (215 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.
The Black and Gold fell 63-12 to tournament champion Ashland during the quarterfinals.
Hulett (120 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 3:43. Matthews (285 lbs.) won his match by fall at 3:19.
LNR edged Franklin County Tech 36-35 during the consolation round.
Barstow (113 lbs.) finished the dual meet season with a 27-1 record after pinning his counterpart at 26 seconds. Inafuku (106 lbs.) won his match by fall at 3:30. Hulett (120 lbs.) earned his third consecutive victory of the tournament after winning his match by a 5-3 decision.
Medford (138 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground at 43 seconds. David Glynn (157 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:55. Cuddy (175 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 18 seconds. Morse (215 lbs.) won his match by a 10-7 decision.
Stone commended the Black and Gold’s impressive performance on the mat during the Division 3 State Dual Meet Championship.
“Ashland went on to win the tournament,” said Stone. “We were missing a few wrestlers due to sickness, but Ashland is an outstanding dual meet team and will place high at the Division 3 State Individual Tournament in a few weeks. But, being there among the top dual meet teams in the state and competing at this event was a well-accomplished honor.”
LNR will be competing in the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament at Gloucester High School on Saturday, Feb. 15.
“Wrestlers who place in the top four of their weight class qualify for the Division 3 State Tournament at Foxboro on Feb. 21-22,” said Stone.