RallyNorth.net

The premier dual meet of the Cape Ann League schedule didn't quite pan out as advertised, at least as far as the score was concerned.

North Andover, the defending Division 2 state champion, locked horns with Division 3 titlist Triton in Byfield and took home a 48-17 decision that was commanding only in numbers.

It was just a matter of survival for Pentucket. Wait until the lightweight matches started and the Sachems would be OK.

And that's what happened last night as the meet started at 160 pounds and Andover took four of the first six classes. But 113-pounder Tom Funk started a run of seven straight Pentucket victories en route to a 43-21 Sachem triumph.

 St. John's Prep's wrestling team improved to 20-1 with a 69-0 romp over BC High. Among the winners for the Eagles were Lawrence's Jamie Morey, Andover's David Kou, North Andover's Ian Butterbrodt and Haverhill's Corey Jean-Jacques.

In his first action since recovering from a concussion suffered in football, Haverhill senior Parris Williams went 3-0 with three pins in a multi-team wrestling meet at Pentucket.

WEST NEWBURY — Thanks to 106-pound sophomore Eric Kerr, North Reading/Lynnfield batted .500 yesterday at the Pentucket Holiday Wrestling Toutnament. The Black and Gold finished second to Tri-County in the 19-team tournament, the second time this year it was runner-up in a large tournament (also at Wakefield), and Kerr captured the 106-pound crown for North Reading/Lynnfield’s first individual tourney champ in two years. During that span, the veteran coach Craig Stone’s team had also not won a crown. “He (Stone) wants the team to win first, that’s most important,” said Kerr. “But he has high expectations for me so I know he’s happy for me, too.” Kerr held a lead in the third period against Georgetown’s Charlie Galanis before pinning him at the 4:34 mark. In the semifinals, Kerr eked out an impressive 2-0 win over Timberlane sparkplug Tyler Fitzpatrick, who eventually took third. Losing in the finals for North Reading were 182-pounder Bud Flaherty and 220-pounder Tom Arseneault, who lost a heartbreaking 1-0 victory to Norwood’s Quincy Wilson. Arseneault seemed to have gotten back points in the third period thanks to a cradle move, but the official denied them and Wilson got an escape with one second remaining to get the win. Although disappointed with how that match turned out, Stone was far from upset with his squad’s runner-up finish. “I don’t have a problem finishing second,” said Stone. “We were fifth last year and graduated five sectional placers.”  Timberlane’s B team, which was defending champion, fifth, thanks to second-place finished by Jake Kappler (120), Derek Bohle (126) and Mike DiGregorio (145). DiGregorio was winning for most of the match before getting turned and pinned with just 15 seconds remaining. Host Pentucket finished eighth as Tom Funk continued to wrestle well, taking top honors at 113 and capping his day with a 10-0 major decision. Winning his weight class with an impressive performance was Georgetown’s Luke Rabel. He had three straight pins, including two within 40 seconds. before beating Kappler 7-1 in the finals. It was his first tourney crown and improved him to 12-3 on the year. Scheidegger on roll Sanborn’s Jon Scheidegger doesn’t particularly like losing weight, but the way he’s wrestling, he thinks it’s worth it. The 152-pound junior captured his third tournament crown of the year, crushing Exeter’s Ross Dannar with a 17-0 technical fall. He regularly trains with Dannar at Exeter and are good friends. “He’s been my drilling partner since I started,” said Scheidegger. “We know everything about each other. ... He beat me once last year, but I think I’ve gotten stronger.” For the year, Scheidegger is now 15-1, his only loss coming to Timberlane’s Luke Morrier at 160, a weight which would be much more convenient. “I definitely have to lose weight and it’s not always easy — I weighed 11 pounds over (152) on Christmas Eve,” said Scheidegger. “But I like putting in the hard workand I like my chances.” Sanborn’s other wrestler, Tristan Leek, finished third at 132, getting a five-point move in the closing seconds against Pentucket’s Jeff Funk to steam a 7-4 decision.

With the match up in the air, freshman 106-pounder Kyle Knox posted a big pin and Pentucket went on to hand Salem (Mass.) its first loss in four matches this fall. Tom Funk impressed with his win by tech fall at 113.

With the match up in the air, freshman 106-pounder Kyle Knox posted a big pin and Pentucket went on to hand Salem (Mass.) its first loss in four matches this fall. Tom Funk impressed with his win by tech fall at 113.

In a battle of two of the top 189-pounders in the area, North Andover sophomore Ryan Neals controlled Pentucket's Andy Stasiuk 7-2 as the Knights rolled to a 47-10 victory to improve to 25-1.

Georgetown recorded its biggest dual-meet win in years, edging North Reading/Lynnfield 39-34. Freshman Matt Prescott, who was trailing at the time, had a huge pin at 145, and in the last match of the day freshman 103-pounder Mike Gallanar clinched the win with a 7-1 decision.

Georgetown 112-pound freshman Dave Ingraham got a pin in the last match to give the Royals a 36-36 tie against Beverly.

North Andover sophomore Danny Connelly handed Pentucket's Austin Perreault his first loss of the season, a 4-0 decision at 152, as the Knights (22-3-1) rolled over Pentucket 45-18.

Freshman Kevin Clark had a second-period pin at 130 to spark Pentucket to a resounding 66-12 victory over Everett. Peter Koopman had a 13-second pin at 171 for the Sachems (7-4).

Methuen's wrestling team rolled to three easy wins, 61-4 over Lwominster, 56-10 over Georgetown and 60-18 over Pentucket to improve to 6-0. Framingham Tournament champ Shaun McCarthy won three more matches at 215 and Framingham winner C.J. Doherty was unbeaten at 135. Also, Scott Delrossi continued to impress at 160 with three wins.

Pentucket recorded seven pins to outlast Salem 42-39. Junior 160-pounder Brandon Leach was clutch with a late fall, at 5:30, to secure the win.

Losing in the final 15 seconds, heavyweight Shane Sloban rallied for a 9-6 decision to turn the tide in Pentucket's 44-27 major upset of Triton. Devrick Felder (145) and Jordan Pinzone (189) had key pins for the Sachems (7-14-1). Triton fell to 20-4.