RallyNorth.net

Quality depth key in Scarlet Knights title run

Good wrestlers and plenty of them. That's what earned North Andover the Marshfield Holiday Tournament title over 31 other schools yesterday.

The Scarlet Knights had the most finalists (five) in the tourney and finished with a pair of individual champions, freshman Fritz Hoehn (138 pounds) and junior Ryan Neals (182 pounds). With 230.5 points, North Andover bested runners-up Norton (220.5) and North Attleboro (168) for the victory.

Facing a tough five-match road to his title, Hoehn continued an unbeaten start to his varsity career in impressive fashion with four pins and a major decision. In the finals, Norton's John Royle barely survived to make it to the second period before being downed at the 3:10 mark.

Throughout the tourney, Hoehn allowed just three points to be scored against him.

Neals drew a break in his bracket with a first-round bye, then was a perfect 4 for 4 in pins including a fall against Oliver Ames' Matt Harding in 5:01 in the finals.

Of the other Knights' finalists, Danielle Coughlin suffered her first loss of the year in heartbreaking fashion at 106 pounds.

Taking on Carver's Aidan McGrath, Coughlin drew a one-point penalty in the second period but took the lead on a reversal. Unfortunately, McGrath executed a reversal in the final period for two points and the victory.

Brad Drover had a run of three pins at 145 and Zane Meliello had two pins and two major decisions at 132, but both fell by decision in the finals.

Dan Connelly authored a strong close to his tourney with a consolation finals victory at 160 pounds, knocking off the opponent that chopped him from the championship bracket, Mansfield's Derrion Walker.