A long and successful season of wrestling has come to an end for the Lynnfield-North Reading wrestling squad.
The last man standing for the Black and Gold was senior James Fodera, who represented the team at the annual New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championship last weekend at the Providence Career and Technical Academy in Providence, R.I.
While Fodera finished 0-2 at 190 pounds in his first time wrestling at the New England meet, his performance didn’t diminish the incredible success he enjoyed over his four-year career.
“Obviously, we were hoping for a New England tournament place finish to end such an outstanding career, but what James has been able to accomplish during that time is one for the record books,” LNR Coach Craig Stone said. “His career will be an example for others to follow in terms of what is possible with hard work during and out of the season.”
Fodera qualified last year but could but compete due to an injury. He opened with a 17-5 loss to Cole Grenier (Fairfield Warde) in the round of 32, then lost a 12-8 decision in the consolation bracket to Concord-Carlisle’s Edward Myles. Fodera lost to Myles in the first dual meet of the season back in December, then was undefeated for nearly three months until he suffered a loss in the MIAA All-States Championship last week. While Fodera finished fifth in that meet, he leveled the score against Myles, defeating him in the quarterfinals with a win over Myles.
Fodera finished the season with a 23-1 dual meet record and 54-5 overall record.
With the exception of the New England Championship and the MIAA All-States Championship meet where he finished fifth, Fodera won every tournament he entered this year. His tournament wins included the 2024 Wakefield/Listatano Memorial tournament, the 2024 Pentucket Holiday tournament, the 2024 George Bossi/Lowell Holiday tournament, the 2025 Cohasset Invitational, the Cape Ann League/Northeastern Conference Championship, the MIAA Division 3 North Sectional Championship and the MIAA Division 3 State Championship.
He finished his career with a 78-14 dual meet record and a 153-36 overall record, second only to 2015 Lynnfield High graduate Eric Kerr, the all-time leader with a record of 162-37.
Fodera is a three-time CAL/NEC, north sectional and state place finisher as well as a two-time all-state place finisher.
Ponganset High School (Smithfield, RI) dominated the meet, running away with the team title with 205 points, well ahead of runner-up Xavier, which finished with 95 points.
St. John’s Prep tallied points and finished tied for 10th. Alex Bajoras (285 pounds) and Braedon Goes (126 points) were the only two Eagles to place. Bajoras sailed through the early rounds only to be upended in the championship bout by Chelmsford’s Thomas Brown, 9-3.
Goes was knocked out in the semifinals by Cahota Lafond of Colchester in an 8-1 decision, but rebounded to win his third-place bout 6-5 over Jared Hood of Ponganset.
