RallyNorth.net

Sat, Feb 13, 2016 01:00 PM @ Beverly

Team	Final
Central Catholic	216
at Beverly	156
North Andover	141

Central breezes with four champs

Saturday, February, 13 By Jeff Hamrick

BEVERLY — You know how high expectations must be for a team when a 60-point rout in the sectionals leaves a coach unsure of his squad's success.

But that was the result of Central Catholic's lopsided run through the Division 2 North field yesterday at Beveryly High School as four Raiders claimed crowns en route to a 216.5 point finish.

"We were hoping to get a couple more (champions)," said Dennis King, who entered the meet with six top-seeded wrestlers. "But we ended up getting eight guys to states with three alternates. So 11 guys out of 14 (weights) is something you can't complain about."

Beverly finished second with 156 points while North Andover (141.5) was third and Greater Lawrence (114) was fifth.

The best match of the finals was at heavyweight where top-seeded Carlos Cabrera used an overtime escape for a 2-1 decision over Conrad Ortega, who was attempting to become Whittier's first sectional titlist.

"It was a tough match," Cabrera said. "He was a lot better than I expected, but I didn't expect a cake walk either."

Cabrera ran his record to 37-5 while improving on his third-place finish last year.

"I came into the season with a lot of expectations," he said. "I knew I'd be ranked, so I feel comfortable with what I've accomplished because it helped us here in the sectionals and it will help us next week at states."

Messina Masterful

In the only other title match between area wrestlers, North Andover's Matt Messina claimed a 7-1 decision over Greater Lawrence sophomore Malib Pastrana.

A final-match loser last year, Messina (31-5) breezed into the finals with a pair of pins before holding Pastrana off the scoreboard until the final seconds.

"There was nothing that happened (today) that was a surprise," said Messina, a senior who was the only Scarlet Knight to win among the three title-match contenders. "I've worked realy hard to get to this point every since freshman year. I knew this was my year and time to step up as a leader of this team."

Central champs

Other Raiders to win yesterday were sophomore Joe Sanchez, who won at 132 one year after taking the 106 crown, Brandon Desfossas (152) and Donovan Nolan (160).

Sanchez (40-7) eked out a 4-3 decision over Max Whyman of Lynnfield/North Reading after posting two pins and a major decision earlier.

A winner at 145 last year, Desfossas remained perfect on the season with an easy 12-2 win over Zach Monzione of Lynnfield/North Reading after a pair of pins and a tech fall earlier.

"I just came in really taking it one match at a time," Desfossas (35-0) said. "Next week's go time, so I have to have the same attitude of one match at a time. Make sure I get to the finals and make sure I get the win. At this point you can't screw up anywhere because no one you're going to wrestle is bad."

Nolan repeated at 160 with a convincing 11-3 win over Danie Gregorio of Masconomet.

"I came in like every tournament, not worrying about seedings," Nolan said. "That way you don't get caught in the first rounds if you don't take anyone for granted. I have some unfinished business (after finishing fourth at Division 2 state) last year."

Looking ahead

Central will enter next week's Division 2 state tournament in Marshfield knowing it will have an uphill climb for a state title.

"I was hoping to get a couple more (champions) because I know North Attleboro had 10 in their finals down (in the south) and they're our main competition right now," King said. "Numbers are tough to beat, so we have to work hard this week. But we have some tough guys going."