RallyNorth.net

SALEM — The two-man team from Haverhill did what the area’s other full squads could not — bring home championships at yesterday’s All-State wrestling meet. Bringing a proud ending to a season marred by low roster numbers and dual meets lost by default, Isaiah Williams continued his undefeated march to a second straight New England crown, persevering for a 7-2 victory over Algonquin’s Mike Wrin at 171 pounds. Hillie heavyweight Terrance Jean-Jacques ended the Cinderella run of Bridgewater-Raynham’s Cody Jaramillo, 5-0, to also stay unbeaten. “The same thing happened last week,” Williams, now 45-0 this season, said of Wrin’s non-confrontational style that allowed the opponent to last all six minutes but have no real shot at victory. “I don’t really have a problem with it. He couldn’t do anything from neutral on me.” When a fellow wrestler passed by and asked what happened, Williams told him, “He just laid there.” For a difference reason, Jean-Jacques also was frustrated by Jaramillo — a sixth place finisher in Division 3 last week who defeated the Division 2 and Division 3 champs to make the All-State finals. “He was smaller and it was harder to get my moves off,” the now 37-0 Jean-Jacques explained. “I tried to work the upper body but it was hard. He knows how to fight.” Continuing to impress at the state level was Lawrence 119-pounder Hugo Dominguez, surprising Division 2 state champ Kyle Visconti of North Reading and Malden Catholic in the semifinals, 8-5, before dropping a 9-3 verdict in the finals to New Bedford’s Corey Melo. “In my bracket, I had Visconti who had pinned me before and Melo who had pinned me,” Dominguez said. “But I think I can beat anybody. It’s not cocky, I just go in confident.” Using a frenetic style (“I don’t know any other way to wrestle”), the senior kept Visconti off-guard but Melo’s superb technical skills allowed effective countermoves. “I wasn’t expecting to beat Visconti and I can’t remember how I did it. I wrestled hard for six minutes and won by three,” Dominguez concluded. “Good outcome this weekend and I hope to place at New Englands (next week in New Haven).” Dominguez hopes to wrestle at AIC, where he has already been accepted, Rhode Island College or Bridgewater State. Also finishing second but under different circumstances was Ryan O’Boyle of Central Catholic at 112 pounds. After sneaking out to a 4-3 lead over Sam Shames of Newton North after two periods, Shames’ takedown flipped the lead early in the third period. With 15 seconds left, O’Boyle challenged Shames’ control and slowly muscled his opponent to his back but the referee blew his whistle for a stalemate with five seconds remaining, drawing boos from the 1,000 fans in attendance. Shames rode out the restart to take the title. Raider teammates Tom Lacroix, who finished third at 160 pounds, Zach Lattrell (third at 215) and Pat Lacroix (sixth at 103) will also be headed to New Englands. North Reading’s Devin Visconti of Malden Catholic also made it to the finals, dropping a 2-1 decision at 135 to Burlington’s Matt Sherman, who beat Visconti at the Division 2 state meet the week before. Area wrestlers competing for another week include Greater Lawrence’s Matt Buco (third at 119), St. John’s Prep’s C.J. Crabtree of North Andover (fourth at 135), Methuen’s Paul Sughrue (fourth at 112) and C.J. Doherty (fifth at 135), Lawrence’s Jorge Aquino (fifth at 103) and Kevin Valerio (sixth at 152), and North Andover’s Adam Bates (sixth at 215). Hall of Fame Murrays In awards presented prior to the finals, Central Catholic graduates Bob and Bill Murray of Salem were inducted into the state Wrestling Coaches Assoc. Hall of Fame as three-time state champions. Wayne and Linda Jalbert of Haverhill were honored by the coaches organization for their 19 years of involvement with the Hillies Boosters Club.

Team pride without a team Haverhill’s Isaiah Williams and Terrance Jean-Jacques experienced vast personal success that couldn’t translate to team victories due to low numbers. But they didn’t allow the circumstances to turn the season into a set of individual meets. “It gets us down when there’s not enough people to win a dual meet,” said Jean-Jacques, a transfer from Governor’s Academy. “But we still look at it as we’re a two-man team fighting for Haverhill. We’re still winning for our team.” Haverhill coaches and wrestlers wore logos featuring the number 6. “It’s from a poem written by 2004 team captain Rich Stone,” said Haverhill head coach Brett Legault. “You wrestle six days a week for six minutes a match to win six points for a pin.”   Massachusetts All-States at Salem High School Winners and New England qualifiers (top 6) 103: 1. Mike Mui (Hingham), 5. Jorge Aquino (Law.), 6. Pat Lacroix (CC); 112: 1. Sam Shames (Newton North), 2. Ryan O’Boyle (CC), 4. Paul Sughrue (Meth.); 119: 1. Corey Melo (New Bedford), 2. Hugo Dominguez (Law.), 3. Matt Buco (Gr. Law.), 4. Kyle Visconti (Malden Cath./North Reading); 125: 1. Jake Sherman (Burlington); 130: 1. Nick Flannery (Framingham); 135: 1. Matt Sherman (Burlington), 2. Devin Visconti (Malden Cath.), 4. T.J. Crabtree (SJP/North Andover), 5. C.J. Doherty (Meth.); 140: 1. Jordan Michaelson (Needham); 145: 1. Dan Telhada (Franklin); 152: 1. Matt Donohoe (Tyngsboro), 6. Kevin Valerio (Law.); 160: 1. Derek Golner (Tyngsboro), 3. Tom Lacroix (CC); 171: 1. Isaiah Williams (Hav.); 189: 1. Alex Najjar (Shawsheen); 215: 1. Andrew Companeschi (Shawsheen), 3. Zach Lattrell (CC), 6. Adam Bates (NA); 285: 1. Terrance Jean-Jacques (Hav.) Miscellaneous Awards Outstanding Wrestler — lightweights, Nick Flannery, Framingham; heavyweights, Isaiah Williams, Haverhill

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.