RallyNorth.net

Knights storm to D2 state title

Wednesday, February, 17 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

MARLBORO — Revenge is always sweet, but it couldn’t have been any sweeter than it was for North Andover last night.

While avenging an early-season loss to No. 1 seed Natick in overwhelming fashion, 38-18, the Knights captured their second Division 2 State Dual-Meet wrestling title in five years.

“This is just awesome — nothing compares to this,” said senior co-captain Brody Kelley, who became an individual sectional champ last weekend. “At the beginning of the year, I never thought about this, but we got better and better and did it as a team.

“Losing to them before was definitely motivation. We wanted revenge just like we did against Central Catholic (in the Division 2 North sectional). It went exactly like we planned.”

Trailing 9-0 after two matches, North Andover came roaring back with seven straight victories and 10 out of the next 12 to finish the dual-meet season with a sparkling 28-3-1 record and leave no doubt about who is the better team.

“This is very satisfying,” said North Andover coach Dave Castricone. “It was satisfying in 2006 when we won because that was by one point (over Franklin), but this was even more satisfying because we weren’t favored at all.”

Fittingly, although 10 of the North Andover starters last night were underclassmen, the seniors played a key role in the romp.

Kelley (now 37-9) continued his late-season surge by recording a solid 8-2 decision at 130 to put North Andover ahead for good, 12-9, and co-captain Jake Munroe — wrestling for the first time in over a month because of a shoulder injury — followed with a 5-2 decision.

“My shoulder hurt a little, but I kept thinking of these (championship) medals,” said Munroe. “I did everything I could to get back. We’ve got a board in the wrestling room and there will be nothing better than getting this (state championship) up there.”

The third senior, Garrett Alter, dropped a controversial 2-1 decision at 160 but, after the championship victory was already wrapped up, first-year heavyweight Rob Querengasser put an exclamation point on the triumph with a 37-second pin.

“I’ve played football my whole life and nothing in any sport was as exciting as this,” said Querengasser. “I don’t think I’ll ever do something like this again.”

Querengasser and 171-pound freshman Ryan Neals both avenged individual setbacks from their earlier dual meet with Natick. Neals scored a late reversal to claim a wild 7-6 decision.

After North Andover dropped the first two matches, Dan Lora got the Knights started with a first-period pin at 119 and Jason Ricketts followed with a 3-1 decision to tie the score.

After Kelley and Munroe delivered, Emil Lora won a 5-0 decision over Natick star James Smith at 140, Frank McCarthy registered eight takedowns and came through with a 30-14 technical fall at 145 and Dan Connelly prevailed, 9-4, at 152 to give the Knights a commanding 26-9 lead.

With North Andover ahead 29-12 following the Neals’ decision, 189-pounder Jake Mehlman clinched the victory with a 12-5 decision at 189.

“To do that was awesome, but it was easy for me,” said Mehlman. “My teammates did all the hard work. All I had to do was stay off my back.”