Ell seals deal for rising Pinkerton wrestlers

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Related Photos

CARL RUSSO/Staff photo Pinkerton's Kevin Ell presses down on Londonderry's Mahdi Achab in their 195-pound match last night. Ell won 13-0 to clinch the Astros' 43-36 victory. CARL RUSSO/Staff photo
CARL RUSSO/Staff photoLondonderry 113-pounder Mitch Rose takes Pinkerton's Eric Daigle to the mat prior to pinning him in the first period last night in Londonderry.
CARL RUSSO/Staff photo Pinkerton's Kevin Ell tries to cradle Londonderry's Mahdi Achab in their 195-pound match last night. Ell scored a 13-0 major decision to help the Astros defeat the Lancers 43-36. CARL RUSSO/Staff photo

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January 31, 2013

Ell seals deal for rising Pinkerton wrestlers

Astros mustto rally to top surprising Londonderry

By Dave Dyer ddyer@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Thu Jan 31, 2013, 12:27 AM EST

LONDONDERRY — Pinkerton junior 195-pounder Kevin Ell came to the rescue last night.

With the Astros trailing surprising Londonderry 36-27 with only three matches remaining, Ell dominated Lancers’ freshman Mahdi Achab, settling for a 13-0 major decision, to clinch what would become a 43-36 victory. Londonderry was forced to forfeit both of the upper two weights.

It wasn’t the first time this year that Ell has come up big for Pinkerton. After recording a so-so 17-13 record last year, he has become one of the better heavier weight wrestlers in New Hampshire, improving his record to 28-8. That in turn has helped the Astros compile a 16-1 record as the best team in New Hampshire not called Timberlane.

Pinkerton is well on its way to breaking last year’s school record 17 wins.

“Top to bottom, we’re more balanced than last year and we’re way stronger at 170 (pounds) and above,” said Pinkerton coach David Rhoads. “Kevin has been a big part of that. He’s really having a great year. I think he built up a lot of confidence last year.

“We may be No. 2 (in New Hampshire) but we think we’re a strong No. 2.”

Ell, who plays football for the Astros, didn’t start wrestling until he was a freshman, looking for a change of pace from basketball. He’s just the kind of athlete Rhoads wants in the program.

But joining the wrestling program has done as much for Ell.

“When I switched from basketball, I really liked it and it’s done a lot for me,” said Ell, who placed sixth at the rugged Lowell Holiday Tournament last month. “I was chubby in middle school and I lost 20 pounds because of wrestling ... and it got me in good shape.”

The match of the night was another pivotal decision won by the Astros. Freshman Dylan Barreiro got a late second-period escape and then held on for a 1-0 victory at 170 pounds over Richard Bilodeau.

Adding pins for Pinkerton were Jean-Luc Lemieux (126), Dakota Kroll (132) and Brendan Sullivan (138).

Pinkerton needed all the points it could muster against a banged-up Londonderry squad (6-6), which was missing standout Kyle Byrd and two other starters. Of the Lancers’ six wins, all were pins and five came in the first period.

Impressive 106-pound freshman Amir Daouk began the meet with a pin at 1:01. Mitch Rose and Ryan Cabezas followed with pins. After Pinkerton responded with three straight falls of its own to tie the meet at 18 apiece, Will Bean (145) and Jon Young (152) put Londonderry back in front by a dozen.

Londonderry’s final victory was its most impressive as John DiSessa pulled off the fastest pin of the night, in 22 seconds, for the 100th win of his career.

Pinkerton 43, Londonderry 36

106: Amir Daouk (L) pin Keygan Nacos 1:01; 113: Mitch Rose (L) pin Eric Daigle 1:16; 120: Ryan Cabezas (L) pin Nick Arsenault 1:38; 126: Jean-Luc Lemieux (P) pin Jake Barr 5:00; 132: Dakota Kroll (P) pin Jimmy Nee 3:24; 138: Brendan Sullivan (P) pin Tyler Brown 4:32; 145: Will Bean (L) pin John Durant 1:48;

152: Jon Young (L) pin Tyler Wilson 3:56; 160: Tony Messina (P) by forfeit; 170: Dylan Barreiro (P) dec. Richard Bilodeau 1-0; 182: John DiSessa (L) pin Bryan Sullivan :22; 195: Kevin Ell (P) major dec. Mahdi Achab 13-0; 220: Kyle Olson (P) by forfeit; HVY: Cam Crowell (P) by forfeit

Records: Pinkerton 16-1, Londonderry 6-6