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Reggies cap perfect season with another state crown

Wednesday, February, 27 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

Thanks to an impressive 1-2 punch, Greater Lawrence retained its Division 2 dual-meet state title last night, extending its winning streak to 50 straight meets.

The Reggies used their well-known murders' row in the lower weights to stagger North Attleboro with a powerful jab, zooming to a 23-0 lead after just four weight classes. Then they counterpunched with a crew of unsung heroes to hold off North Attleboro, 36-32, in a showdown of unbeatens.

"This is even better than last year," said Greater Lawrence coach Tony Sarkis. "How can you define a two-time state champion? This is better because of our seniors and because it's so hard to repeat. We expect a lot of ourselves now | that's the state of the program | but still this is incredible."

As expected, the Reggies got off to an early lead but, thanks to pins by Matt Buco (103), Miguel Guzman (112) and Franchesco Ortiz (119) and a technical fall by Brian Nadeau (125), the gap was bigger than North Attleboro coach Wayne Griffin wanted.

"To win, it was our goal to steal some points in the lower weights," said Griffin. "We didn't think we'd win any, but we hoped to avoid pins and tech. falls. It didn't happen. "All I can say is 'wow' to the Greater Lawrence lightweights. What an unbelievable group of young men."

With their wins, Buco improved to 45-3 on the year, Guzman and Ortiz are now 44-1 and Nadeau is 32-6.

The Reggies (25-0) then padded their lead to 30-0 as Ray Diaz | who only made the varsity lineup three weeks ago | converted a big second period to a crucial 7-6 decision at 130 and Saul Orellana followed with a 17-7 major decision at 135.

North Attleboro finally broke the ice with pins in the next two weight classes, making it 30-12. But junior Brian Rivera, bumped up to 152 when Sarkis decided to move star Chris DelaRosa to 160 to take on North Attleboro All-State placer Chris Chretieu, used a quick pin in the second period to extend the lead to 36-12 and all but guarantee victory.

"I'm just happy I could do it," said Rivera. "I went out there thinking pin, but he (Jessie Kummer) was pretty strong."

Said Sarkis: "That was just a huge win by Brian Rivera. I wasn't expecting a pin because that's a state placer he beat."

But North Attleboro wasn't ready to give up. Chretieu defeated DelaRosa (43-2) 4-3 in a marvelous match and the Red Rocketeers followed with a disqualification win at 171 and a technical fall at 189 to close to 36-26 with two weight classes remaining.

A pair of pins at 215 and 285 would have given North Attleboro the win, but Jason Orsini held off Joshua Wainwright at 215, staying off his back while losing a 10-5 decision, to clinch the victory. Orsini did the exact same thing last year when the Reggies nipped Franklin, 33-32, in the Division 2 state final.