RallyNorth.net

Rangers rally to remain unbeaten

Thursday, January, 29 By Jeff Hamrick

NORTH ANDOVER — Anyone looking for some heat in a frightful week could have found some much needed heavyweight sizzle in the North Andover High School gymnasium.

On a night that featured four lead changes and a tie in the first eight bouts alone, Methuen remained undefeated on the season with a tough 37-30 victory over the defending Division 2 state champion Scarlet Knights in a matchup of perennial area powers.

The outcome wasn't secure until Ranger heavyweight Angel Ramos, a part time starter, earned a 3-1 decision over Dauma Fernandez, but coach Bill James received several pivotal performances earlier.

Maybe the biggest came at 152 when sophomore Trevor Abdallah needed only 41.8 seconds to pin Costa Vergados, was moved up from his normal 145. The win put the Rangers (20-0) ahead for good at 22-18.

"I was just thinking about winning for the team," Trevor Abdallah said. "I knew I needed to get a pin or a major (decision) to help my team out. This is obviously a big match for us coming in undefeated against a very good team. To get a win is very good for us."

Before Abdallah put the Rangers ahead, however, twin brother Travis ignited Methuen a 13-12 lead with a 9-6 decision over Adrian Polanco at 132. After a scoreless first period, the two combined for 14 points in the second, when Abdallah turned a 3-0 deficit into a 6-3 advantage in a matter of seconds. North Andover's Conor O'Sullivan, however, put the Scarlet Knights (16-5) back up by five with a pin over Cam Heffernan.

Dan O'Connell set up Trevor Abdallah's 145-pound bout with a 7-5 decision over Kyle Milovanovic.

"That 132 pound match was huge," said James, who earned his 252nd career victory. "I thought basically from 132 to 145, those would be the key (weights) for a win and for us to win two out of three was big for us. That was a big win by Travis and then Trevor did the job at 52."

North Andover clawed to within one with a pin by Fritz Hoehn at 170 and a decision by Stephen Cincotta at 6-0. Saul Cabrera, however, put the Rangers ahead by seven with Methuen's fourth pin of the evening.

"In my head I knew all I had to do was get some points," said Cabrera, who improved to 30-3.

The victory was Methuen's first over North Andover since a 34-33 win in 2011, which was the last time it went undefeated — an accomplishment the Rangers can match with victories over Chelmsford, Haverhill and Central Catholic to close out the regular season.

"Every MVC match is a battle," said James, whose squad had lost its past two matches over the Knights by a combined 96-38. "But we have a lot of challenges ahead of us. These kids are smart enough to know that nothing is going to be given."