WAKEFIELD — The Lynnfield/North Reading wrestling team started the winter season with a bang, finishing fifth out of 16 teams at the Anthony Lisitano Memorial Wrestling Tournament with 153 points, its best team finish at the event since 2013. LNR placed 11th last year and 16th in 2022.
“We have come so far over the last four years,” said coach Craig Stone. “Coming out of the COVID year with only eight wrestlers and placing last for two years in a row to becoming a top-five team in a tournament that hosted some of the best teams in the state.”
James Fodera was the star of the day for the Black and Gold. He placed first in the 190-pound division for a second straight year, finishing 4-0. His round-of-16 win over Paul Suozza of Pentucket (1:38) marked his 100th career win. He advanced with technical fall wins in the quarterfinals (20-3) and semifinals (21-6), then clinched the championship with a 4:39 pin in the final.
Nathan Barstow (3-1) finished runner-up in the 113-pound division, improving on last year’s fourth-place finish. He won by a 19-3 technical fall in the round of 16, then advanced to the semis with a pin in 3:05 in which he won with another pin (2:31). His ride ended in the championship match with a 9-0 loss.
Three LNR wrestlers placed after not placing in 2023. Zack Morse (5-1) placed third at 215 pounds, while Jakob Hulett (3-2, 120 pounds) and David Glynn (3-2, 157 pounds) placed fifth.
Zach Inafuku (106), Sam Bird (113), Jason Kouyoumdjian (126), Isaac Medford (138), Abdel Abdalla (150), Cam Arya (165) and Jack Cuddy (175) all won matches, scoring team points, but did not place.
LNR is back on the mats Friday and Saturday at the Lowell Holiday Tournament. Then, it competes in a super-quad at Excell Academy on Monday.
