WAKEFIELD — The Lynnfield-North Reading wrestling team celebrated its 20th season as a co-op with its annual awards banquet at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
And what a season it was.
Just one year removed from back-to-back seasons in which the Black and Gold won just one dual-meet and lost 45, the team began to turn things around in 2024, finishing with a record of 13-11-1.
This year, LNR stepped it up in a big way with a breakout season, finishing 23-4-1 and winning a Cape Ann League championship.
But that’s only the beginning of the story. LNR saw remarkable success across the board in nearly every statistical category, including not only dual-meet victories, but tournament performances, both as a team and individually.
If anyone knows a thing or two about LNR wrestling, it’s Craig Stone, who, this year, completed his 49th season as the Black and Gold’s head coach.
“I couldn’t be more proud of what we have accomplished these past two years. I am especially happy for seniors Cam Arya, James Fodera, Isaac Medford, and junior David Glynn, who labored through the first two years after COVID with our team going 1-45 in dual-meets,” Stone said. “Hopefully, with the attention we have brought to our program this season, we can continue to draw new athletes into the program and continue to build upon this success in future years.”
The Black and Gold finished runner-up in the Division 3 North Tournament, sixth in the Division 3 State Tournament, second in the Pentucket Tournament, second in the CAL/Northeastern Conference Tournament, and third in the Cohasset Tournament.
The team continued to showcase its individual talent, placing more wrestlers than the previous year at tournaments with four in the Wakefield tournament, eight in the Pentucket Tournament, 12 in the Cohasset Tournament, 10 in the CAL/NEC Tournament, 10 in the Division 3 North Sectional Tournament, four in the Division 3 State Tournament, and one in the All-State Tournament.
Varsity letters were awarded to the following freshmen: Michael Glynn, Gianni D’Apolito, Lucas Lopes (sixth in Cohasset), Griffin McCarthy, and Jayce Melara.
Sophomores earning varsity letters included: Nathan Barstow (second in Wakefield (second in Pentucket, first in Cohasset, second in CAL/NEC, second at Division 3 North, thirds in Division 3 State, CAL All-Star); Sam Bird; Jakob Hulett (fifth in Wakefield, second in Pentucket, third in Cohasset, fourth in CAL/NEC, fifth in Division 3 North, CAL All-Star); Jason Kouyoumdjian (third in Pentucket, third in Cohasset, third in CAL/NEC, sixth in Division 3 North, CAL All-Star), and Zach Inafuku (fifth in Cohasset, fourth in CAL/NEC, fourth in Division 3 North).
Varsity letters were awarded to the following juniors: Jack Cuddy (third in Cohasset); captain David Glynn (fifth in Wakefield, second in Pentucket, third in CAL/NEC, second in Division 3 North, fifth in Division 3 State, CAL All-Star); Dylan Mathews (second in Cohasset, fifth in CAL/NEC, third in Division 3 North, fourth in Division 3 State, CAL All-Star), and Zack Morse (fourth in Pentucket, second in Cohasset, fourth in CAL/NEC, fourth in Division 3 North).
The following seniors also received varsity letters: Abdel Abdalla (sixth in Cohasset, fifth in Division 3 North); captain Cam Arya (third in Pentucket, fourth in Cohasset, first in Division 3 North, CAL All-Star); Isaac Medford (sixth in Pentucket, sixth in Cohasset, sixth in CAL/NEC), and captain James Fodera (first in Wakefield, Lowell, Pentucket, Cohasset, CAL/NEC, Division 3 North, Division 3 State, fifth in All-States and CAL All-Star).
Sophomores Drew Cuddy, Xander Janicki, Ephram Donahue, Dylan Harris, and Jacob Miller received junior varsity certificates.
Kouyoumdjian, Lopes, Mathews, McCarthy, and Melara received Iron Man awards. Arya, Hulett, Barstow and Morse received Iron Man awards for a second time. Bird, Fodera, and Glynn received third Iron Man awards, while Medford received his fourth Iron Man award.
Arya received Unsung Hero and 100 Point Club awards. Barstow received Most Wins, Most Pins, Most Points, 100 Point Club and Outstanding Achievement awards. Fodera received Most Takedowns, CAL Wrestler of the Year, 100 Point Club and Contributed Most awards.
Glynn received Fastest Fall, 100 Point Club, and Outstanding Achievement awards. Hulett received a 100 Point Club award and the Coaches Award. Morse received a 100 Point Club, Most Improved and John O’Donnell Team Spirit awards.
Inafuku and Mathews received 100 Point Club awards, Kouyoumdjian received a 90 Point Club award, and Medford received the Scholar/Athlete award and an 80 Point Club award.
The captains of the 2025-2026 team were announced in
Barstow, Glynn, and Morse.
