The Lynnfield-North Reading wrestling team finished the dual-meet season with a record of 23-4-1 after winning two matches and losing one at the state Division 3 Dual-Meet Championship at Ashland High on Saturday.
Jakob Hulett (120 pounds) had a perfect day, winning all three of his matches. Nathan Barstow (113 pounds) saw his undefeated record streak come to an end with a loss in the quarterfinals to Logan Costello of Ashland, a returning state place finisher and the No. 9 ranked wrestler in New England. Barstow finished the dual-meet season 27-1.
Zach Inafuku (106 pounds), David Glynn (157 pounds), and Jack Cuddy (175 pounds) also finished with two wins.
“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,” said LNR coach Craig Stone. “But, being there among the top dual-meet teams in the state and competing at this event was a well-accomplished honor.”
LNR opened with a 51-18 win over Norton in the round of 16. Winners included Inafuku (21-6 technical fall), Barstow (16-0 technical fall), Hulett (1:11 pin), Jason Kouyoumdjian (1:09 pin at 126 pounds), Glynn (18-2 technical fall), Cam Arya (forfeit at 165 pounds), Cuddy (1:02 pin), Jayce Melara (forfeit at 190 pounds), Zack Morse (forfeit at 215 pounds), and Dylan Matthews (forfeit at 285 pounds).
LNR was upended in the quarterfinals by Ashland, 63-12, which went on to win the tournament. The only two LNR winners were Hulett (3:43 pin at 120) and Matthews (3:19 pin at 285).
The Black and Gold rebounded with a 36-35 win over Franklin County Tech in the consolation bracket. Stone said the difference between winning and losing came down to Griffin McCarthy’s match at 144 pounds.
“He lost his match 15-0 (technical fall), but only gave up five points instead of a fall (pin), which would have given Franklin six points,” Stone said. “Looking back, that was the difference in the team match.”
LNR winners included Inafuku (3:30 pin), Barstow (26-second pin), Hulett (5-3 decision), Glynn (1:55 pin), Cuddy (18-second pin), and Morse (10-7 decision).
“As for the dual-meet season, I could not be more pleased with what we accomplished and how far we have come over the past four years,” Stone said. “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 are back on the mat in the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament Saturday at Gloucester High. The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for the Division 3 State Championship Meet at Foxborough High School on Feb. 21-22.
LNR 63
Wilmington 17
The Black and Gold won 11 of 14 matches – 10 by pins – in a road rout on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Glynn (157) and Arya (165) had the quickest wins, pinning opponents in just 10 and 11 seconds, respectively. Inafuku (35-second pin at 106), Mikey Glynn (1:17 pin at 113), Barstow (1:17 pin at 120), Hulett (1:26 pin at 126), Kouyoumdjian (1:04 pin at 132), and Jack Cuddy (57-second pin at 175) had first-period pins. Isaac Medford (3:31 pin at 138), McCarthy (3:33 pin at 144), and Abdel Abdalla (2:25 pin at 150) had second-period pins. Matthews won the tightest match of the day, a 3-2 decision at 285 pounds.
