Marblehead-Swampscott’s wrestling team didn’t have the entire holiday season to relax. The group went to work – bright and early at 7 a.m. – in the Pentucket Holiday Tournament earlier this week, sporting a 10th-place finish out of 21 teams.
Better yet, the Black and Blue were just three points away from eighth place and half-a-point away from ninth.
“For only bringing eight wrestlers, we sure had a solid day,” said coach Michael Stamison. “Solid competition for the eight we brought.”
Sophomore James Carey (113 pounds) went 2-2, narrowly missing the podium, while freshman Ilan Hod (126) delivered his first varsity win.
Junior captain Liam O’Brien (132) had “a great day,” according to Stamison, pinning his opponents through two rounds before defeating a friend from Roxbury Latin in the semifinals (9-3). From there, he faced off against a Salem High wrestler, Connor Buckley, prevailing 13-7.
“Very tight match, and you know we’ll see Buckley at least a few more times this season and postseason,” Stamison said.
Senior captain Clive Connolly (150) faced a tough draw heading into the tournament, getting the No. 1 seed and falling to the eventual champion from Greater Lawrence Tech.
“We look for Clive to bounce back next Saturday,” Stamison said.
Senior captain Mason Hinshaw (157) didn’t have a point scored on him all day, pinning all four of his opponents from Tri-County, Wilmington, Josiah Quincy, and Lynnfield/North Reading.
“He continues to show that he belongs in the conversation with the top 157s in the state with a dominant march to the championship,” Stamison said.
Senior Alejandro Haven (165) went 2-2 with pins of opponents from Salem and Pentucket, as well as losses against Exeter and Tri-County to miss out on the podium. Junior captain Colin Hart (190) turned in another solid performance, taking fifth place in a good bracket after entering unseeded. Wins via pinfall came over opponents from Danvers, Greater Lawrence Tech, and Lawrence.
“And he had a good win over Essex Tech/Masconomet, 9-2, to earn fifth place,” Stamison said.
Senior captain Justin Gonzalez (285) delivered a solid performance, coming in as the No. 3 seed and placing third. His day included pins over opponents from Pelham and Salem (NH), a tight loss, 2-1, to the runnerup from Lawrence, and a bounce-back, 7-0 win over Exeter to earn bronze.
“We also had some JV competition over at Triton (High School) with Xavier Tejeda and Andrew Delisle grabbing wins, and Maya Alix and Isaiah Gibson gaining valuable mat experience,” Stamison said. “This week, we practice in anticipation of our first quad of the season on Saturday. We will travel to North Attleborough High School to take on them, Plymouth South, and Bridgewater-Raynham. Beverly will also be present, and we will be able to grab exhibition matches against them.”
The quad is slated for 9 a.m. in North Attleborough.
