LNR wrestling improves to .500

Published January 15, 2020

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading co-op wrestling team went 3-3 last week, improving the Black and Gold’s overall record to 8-8.

The Black and Gold began last week defeating Masconomet 42-36 on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

LNR had a 30-24 lead over the Chieftains when senior Brandon Ouellette (220 lbs.) pinned a returning sectional place finisher at 1:15. Senior Greg Camier (285 lbs.) secured the victory over Masco after winning his match by fall at 2:28.

Senior captain Timmy Leggett (132 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 38 seconds. Senior Dan Ryan (160 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 4:12.

Senior Gerry Callagy (170 lbs.) defeated opponent by fall at 2:35. Senior Giovanni Colucciello (182 lbs.) and senior captain Sean McCullough (195 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.

Black and Gold head coach Craig Stone commended the co-op team’s performance against Masco.

“LNR was down 24-6 after the first six weight classes,” said Stone. “We then won the next six weight classes to pull ahead 42-24 before losing the last two bouts. Up 30-24, Ouellette had a huge win at 220, then Camier put the match away with his victory. Masconomet was last year’s Cape Ann League’s champion, and they beat us in the dual meet 67-12. Needless to say, we have come a long way.”

Super quad meet

The Black and Gold went 2-3 during a super quad meet against Gloucester, Melrose, Swampscott-Marblehead. Essex Tech and Salem on Saturday, Jan. 11 at North Reading High School.

LNR began the meet by falling 39-36 to Gloucester.

Junior Christian Real-Costa (120 lbs.) pinned his opponent in 1:14. Senior captain Stuart Glover (138 lbs.) won his match by fall at 4:40. Sean McCullough (182 lbs.) pinned his counterpart in 32 seconds.

Leggett (132 lbs.), Camier (220 lbs.) and senior Steven Kane (285 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.

“LNR forfeited 106 lbs. and 120 lbs., which gave away 12 points,” said Stone. “That was the difference in the match. It was a tough loss to start with.”

The Black and Gold fell 48-30 to Melrose.

Leggett (132 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:44. Glover (138 lbs.) brought his opponent to the ground in 14 seconds. Callagy (170 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:26.

Sean McCullough (182 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 2:25. Colucciello (195 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground in 40 seconds.

“Melrose is a solid team up and down the lineup,” said Stone. “Traditionally, Melrose is one of the top teams in Division 3 North. We hung in there, but just did not match up well.”

The Black and Gold fell 54-24 to Marblehead-Swampscott.

Glover (138 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:11. Ryan (160 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground at 3:08. Sean McCullough (195 lbs.) defeated his opponent by fall at 1:06. Camier (285 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 2:39.

“Marblehead-Swampscott returned 90 percent of last year’s team,” said Stone. “They were the runner-up at the Lisitano Tournament in Wakefield and finished third at the Pentucket Holiday Tournament. We had some good head-to-head matchups, but we didn’t have enough wins to turn it around.”

After three tough losses, the Black and Gold bounced back by pounding Essex Tech 49-12.

Glover (138 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 1:10. Senior Cameron Randazzo (152 lbs.) won his match by fall in 19 seconds. Junior Nik Marota (160 lbs.) brought his counterpart to the ground in 50 seconds.

Callagy (170 lbs.) won his match by an 8-1 decision. Colucciello pinned his opponent at 2:10. Sean McCullough (195 lbs.) won his match by a 14-4 major decision. Leggett (132 lbs.) and junior Alex Lin (126 lbs.) won their respective matches by forfeit.

“LNR bounced back after three tough losses,” said Stone. “The Black and Gold won all six of the individual matches wrestled. It felt good to get a win and turn things around.”

The Black and Gold concluded the tournament by crushing Salem 36-12.

Glover (138 lbs.) earned his fifth pin of the day and his 100th career victory after he brought his opponent to the ground at 1:37. Leggett (132 lbs.) pinned his counterpart at 1:40. Randazzo (145 lbs.) took down his opponent in 57 seconds.

Sophomore Ryan McCullough (160 lbs.) pinned his opponent at 1:12. Marotta (170 lbs.) won his match by fall at 1:12. Kane (220 lbs.) won his match by a takedown in 44 seconds.

“LNR was able to pick up their eighth win of the season,” said Stone. “We have a dual meet record of 8-8. We only won seven dual meets last year. We have been working very hard, and you can see the improvement each day. The results have been obvious. We need to continue pushing each other in practice in the hopes of achieving even more positive results.”

Upcoming matches

The Black and Gold will travel to Saugus on Thursday, Jan. 16, beginning at 7 p.m. LNR will compete in a quad meet against Reading, Wakefield and Shawsheen Tech on Saturday, Jan. 18, beginning at 10 a.m. at Reading Memorial High School.