The Lynnfield/North Reading wrestling team wrapped up the 2023-2024 season with its annual awards banquet at Hopothecary Ales Brewery and Kitchen in North Reading last week.

Now in its 19th year as a co-op, the season was a remarkable one with both individual and team improvements in all statistical categories including dual-meet wins and tournament placements compared to the 2022-2023 season.  

After suffering through two seasons of insufficient numbers since the start of the pandemic – resulting in a regular pattern of forfeited matches – this year, the Black and Gold consistently filled 13 of the 14 weight classes with 19 team members.  That, combined with a returning nucleus of experienced wrestlers, the addition of new wrestlers with previous experience, and a recruiting effort from the returning wrestlers propelled the team to finish with a 13-11-1 dual meet record.

Head coach Craig Stone said that “With 17 wrestlers returning next season, the upward trend should be even more evident in the 2025 season.”

LNR’s talent was consistently on display at tournaments with five place finishers at Lisitano/Wakefield, two at Pentucket, nine at Cohasset, six at the Cape Ann League/Northeastern Championship, eight at the Division 3 North Sectional Championship, four at the Division 3 State Championship and one at the All-State Championship.

“All year long, we continued to showcase our talent at tournaments as well placing higher as a team and placing more individual wrestlers than the previous year,” Stone said.

JV certificates were awarded to freshman Xander Janicki and junior Ryan Labb. 

Varsity letters were awarded to freshmen Nathan Barstow (4th Wakefield, 5th Pentucket, 3rd Cohasset, 3rd CAL/NEC, 2nd Div III North, 6th Div III State, CAL All Star), Sam Bird (6th Wakefield, 6th Cohasset), Drew Cuddy, Ephram Donahue, Jakob Hulett (4th Cohasset, 3rd CAL/NEC, 2nd Div III North, 7th Div III State, CAL All Star), Jason Kouyoumdjian (4th CAL/NEC, CAL All Star) and Zach Inafuku). Sophomores receiving varsity letters/certificates included Jack Cuddy (6th Cohasset), David Glynn (3rd Cohasset, 2nd CAL/NEC, 4th Div III North, CAL All Star, co-captain), Dylan Mathews (3rd Cohasset, 5th Div III North), Zack Morse (3rd Cohasset, 6th Div III North).  

Juniors receiving varsity certificates/letters included Cam Arya (6th Wakefield, 5th Cohasset, 4th Div III North), James Fodera (1st Wakefield, 8th Lowell, 1st Pentucket, 1st Cohasset, 2nd CAL/NEC, 2nd Div III North, 2nd Div III State, 6th All State, CAL All Star, co-captain), Isaac Medford and Oliver Ventolieri. 

Seniors Matt Howell and Gavin Iby (1st Wakefield, 1st Cohasset, 1st CAL/NEC, 1st Div III North, 3rd Div III State) also received varsity certificates.

Iron Man Awards were presented to Arya, Barstow, Bird (his second), Jack Cuddy, Fodera, Glynn (second), Hulett, Kouyoumdjian, Medford (third) and Zack Morse.  

Additional team awards were presented to Arya (Most Pins, Most Improved and 90 Point Club), Barstow (100 Point Club), Bird (Most Improved and 70 Point Club), Jack Cuddy (Most Desire), Fodera (Most Wins, Most Points, Most Takedowns, 100 Point Club and Outstanding Achievement), Glynn (Coaches Award), Howell (Senior Award), Hulett (90 Point Club), Iby (Fastest Pin, Outstanding Achievement and Senior Award), Inafuku (John O’Donnell Team Spirit Award), Kouyoumdjian (Unsung Hero and 70 Point Club), Mathews (70 Point Club), and Medford (Most Desire).

Arya, Glynn and Fodera were named captains for the 2024-25 season.