One can never count out the Timberlane wrestling team, but the Owls face an uphill climb in today’s final rounds of the Lowell Holiday Tournament.
Despite the absence of returning finalists Josh Riley, who is home sick, and a couple of early disappointments, the five-time defending champion Owls are in second place with 102 points, but they’re 14 points behind Vermont power Mt. Anthony, which has nine wrestlers in this morning’s quarterfinals, which is three more than Timberlane.
“A lot will depend on what happens in the quarterfinals,” said Timberlane coach Barry Chooljian. “It always does.”
Reaching the quarterfinals for the Owls were Kyle Futzpatrick (106), Tim McLinden (113), Adam Corey (120), Ryan Peters (126), Josh Burnham (138) and Harry Denoncourt (182). Fitzpatrick, McLinden and Peters were all unseeded but toppled seeded wrestlers. Peters was particularly impressive in a 15-0 technical fall.
Corey will face Central Catholic freshman standout Brandon Desfosses this morning, McLinden will face Windham’s Jeff Armstrong and Denoncourt takes on Windham’s Chris Ferri.
Lawrence, in eighth place, has Rizky Riyanto at 113, and Andy Delacruz at 220 in the semifinals and Salem boasts Jon Rheaume (120) and Tyler Siverhus (132) alive in the winner’s bracket. Pat Lacroix (126) joins Desfosses in the quarterfinals for Central.
In one of the best matches of the day, Haverhill sophomore Samie Al-Ziab knocked off top seed Ben Tavitian 12-10 in overtime in a 220-pound barnburner before pinning his next two opponents to advance to the quarterfinals.
The finals are set to start at 5 p.m. tonight.
Knights in lead
North Andover, after the first day of the Marshfield Tournament, was in good shape last night, holding a two-point lead over runner-up North Attleboro in the 34-team field with seven Knights wrestling in this morning’s semifinals, including sophomores Peter Taylor (113) and Stephen Cincotta (170).
Lowell Holiday Tournament
First day team scores (58 teams): Mt. Anthony 116, Timberlane 102, Shawsheen 85 1/2, Natick 81 1/2, Dracut 77, Winchester 76, Springfield Central 74, Lawrence 71 1/2, Lowell 71, Chelmsford 67 1/2, Londonderry 63, Pinkerton 60 1/2,16. Salem 55 1/2, 27. Central 48
Local quarterfinalists:
106: Kyle Fitzpatrick (T); 113: Tim McLinden (T), Rizky Riyanto (L), Jeff Armstrong (Win); 120: Adam Corey (T), Brandon Desfosses (CC), Jon Rheaume (Sal); 126: Jean-Luc Lemieux (P), Ryan Peters (T), Pat Lacroix (CC); 132: Tyler Siverhus (Sal); 138: Josh Burnham (T); 152: Jon Young (L) ; 182: Harry Denoncourt (T), Hunter Morris (P), Chris Ferri (Win); 220: Andy Delacruz (L), Samie Al-Ziab (H)
Marshfield Tournament
Top team scores (34 teams): North Andover 132, North Attleboro 130
North Andover semifinalists:
106: Danielle Coughlin; 113: Peter Taylor; 132: Zane Melillo; 152: Fritz Hoehn; 160: Brad Drover; 170: Stephen Cincotta; 182: Ryan Neals
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