RallyNorth.net

Wed, Feb 16, 2011 TBA @ Natick

Team	Final
North Andover	32
Natick	25

North Andover repeats as champ

Wednesday, February, 16 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

 

 

WORCESTER — A tough week came to a terrific ending for the North Andover wrestling team at WPI last night.

The Scarlet Knights, just days after learning of the arrest and resulting resignation of legendary head coach Dave Castricone, defended their Division 2 dual-meet state title with a stirring 32-25 victory over previously-unbeaten Natick.

When 215-pound senior Adam Bates clinched the crown with a pin in the final minute of his match, the large and vocal North Andover side erupted in jubilation, and perhaps relief, at the happy ending to a brilliant 31-1 season.

"This is even better than last year, 10 times better," exclaimed senior 145-pounder Frank McCarthy. "There's nothing like winning it twice and, after everything we went through, we deserve this."

McCarthy dominated Mariano Restivo-Lage for the second straight year, by an impressive 9-0 major decision, but it was classmate Bates who sent the fans to their feet with a pin as time was running out in a wild match with Nate Ziegler, who wrestled at heavyweight for Natick last year in the finals against the Knights.

"He was pretty strong, but I always go for the pin and I thought I'd get it," said Bates. "That was a great feeling when I pinned him."

Although Bates clinched the win, every win seemed instrumental for the Knights against a Natick team that came in as an undefeated No. 1 seed.

Certainly none was bigger than at 152 when, in a battle of standouts, junior Danny Connelly — with just a 7-5 lead — put Tim Arthur on his back with just two seconds remaining to give the Knights a commanding 23-12 lead.

"When I got that final move, I knew the match was over," said Connelly. "It was such a relief winning like we did. It was harder than last year, but we stuck together this week. We knew we had a job to do and we did it."

Although there was still work to be done, interim coach Carl Cincotta definitely felt more at ease after Connelly's match.

"That was the key match in my mind," said Cincotta. "When Danny got him down, I knew he wouldn't let him up.

"I'm just so happy for the kids. They were focused this week and there were no signs of distraction."

The meet started on a promising note at 103 when sophomore Danielle Coughlin got an escape in the second period and then held Mark Gutierrez down for the entire third period for a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

"I think Danielle winning at 103 was the most important match," said McCarthy. "That motivated us."

Natick responded with two straight wins, however, to grab an early 9-3 lead before freshmen Zane Melillo and Brad Drover responded with decisions at 125 and 130 to put the Knights back on top. Melillo was particularly aggressive from the start on his way to a 13-2 major decision.

After James Smith claimed a win at 135, Jason Ricketts put North Andover back on top — bad knee and all — with a 4-2 decision at 140.

"It (the knee) was hurting, but it was one of those things where you couldn't think about it," said Ricketts.

That set the stage for wins by McCarthy and Connelly in the next two weight classes. Then, leading 23-19, sophomore Ryan Neals set up the clincher with a 2-0 decision at 189. Similar to Coughlin, he took the lead in the second period and then held his opponent down for the entire third period.

"This is definitely more satisfying than last year," said Coughlin. "We pulled together as a team during the week and did it."