Saturday was a banner day for the Lynnfield/North Reading wrestling team — and its coach Craig Stone and junior Jason Kouyoumdjian.
All Stone did was pick up the 1,300th win of his career with a 46-36 victory over Dedham in a tri-meet. That win came on the heels of a 54-36 win earlier that day against Brookline. Stone has 613 wrestling wins and 687 girls tennis wins across 94 combined seasons coaching in Lynnfield.
“I have been very fortunate to have had incredible athletes and amazing parents,” Stone said. “They have worked hard to make both programs extremely successful. I have always stressed T.E.A.M, Together Each Achieves More, and the importance of building relationships. Qualities that will help them to continue to be successful in life. For me, it’s always been about the journey, not the destination.”
Meanwhile, Kouyoumdjian achieved a milestone of his own, becoming only the fourth wrestler in program history to go undefeated in the regular season. He finished the year 22-0, joining Eric Kerr (25-0 in 2013, 25-0 in 2014), Joey Wise (25-0 in 2014), and Tom Arseneault.
“He’s had a phenomenal season,” Stone said. “He was a spot starter as a freshman and sophomore, and last year had to wrestle up at 126. This year, he just settled in at 120, which is his ideal weight. He wrestled in the offseason and came back with a new attitude and was mentally into it and more physical. The kid has a motor that just won’t stop.”
Kouyoumdjian (120), Zach Inafuko (106), Jakob Hulett (126), Caleb DeSouza (144), Luke Molla (150), Jack Cuddy (190) and Zack Morse (215) won both of their matches in the tri-meet, helping LNR finish the season with a final record of 15-7. Nathan Barstow (113), Dylan Hariss (138), and Griffin McCarthy (157) won one match apiece.
“The team wrestled very well against good competition,” Stone said. “They have continued to improve all season long.”
Stone was especially pleased with the Dedham win, clinched by Morse.
“We led 40-30 after 12 weight classes, but don’t have a 285, so the match came down to the 215-pound bout. Both wrestlers took turns putting each on their back until finally Morse prevailed (3:04 pin). Dedham is a highly-touted Division 3 South team that is expected to do very well at the sectional and state level.”
The Black and Gold honored David Glynn, Cuddy, and Morse on Senior Night Feb. 5, delivering a solid 65-17 win over Wilmington at Lynnfield High.
“It was an impressive win in front of the home crowd,” Stone said. “Glad we could get the win as well as recognize our seniors, who have contributed much over the past four years, as well as their parents and family who have supported them and our team throughout their careers.”
Sophomore Jayce Melar (190) and freshman Nolan Luongo (165) picked up their first varsity wins.
Other LNR winners were Inafuku (106), Kouyoumdjian (120), Logan Barstow (126), Hulett (132), DeSouza (144), Molla (150), Cuddy (175) and Morse (215).
Lynnfield is back on the mats Saturday at the Division 3 sectional tournament at Dracut (9 a.m.). Wrestlers who place in the top four will advance to the state tournament the following weekend at Gloucester.
Stone hopes there are more good things in store for the Black and Gold.
“It’s an interesting sectional this year as there are no clear favorites,” Stone said. “There are three or four teams, including us, that have a shot at it. It will just all depend on which team can stay on the mat the longest and which team places the most kids.
“We also, likely, will have at least three wrestlers hitting the 100-win mark with David (Glynn), Nate (Barstow) and Jakob (Hulett) all just one win away. Jason (Kouyoumdjian) needs seven, so he also has a chance with a good showing.”
