C.J. Wood did not lack inspiration at the Division 1 North Wrestling Sectional on Saturday.
The Haverhill High junior’s memory – short-term and long – was quite vivid.
Wednesday night, he dropped a decision to Andover High’s Jason Ballou, just as he did at sectionals a year ago.
“(Saturday), I felt really good because of losing to him at sectionals last year, and especially after losing Wednesday, I had that drive,” said Wood.
As expected, they met again – for the sixth time in their high school careers, and the Hillies’ Wood scored a 7-4 win to claim the D-1 North 120-pound title.
The win was more than satisfying, and keeping his season alive, after bowing out this week in 2023, was just as much of a relief.
“It meant a lot, because my season ended the way it did last year,” said Wood. “I put in a lot of work in the offseason. Going from fifth-place last year to winning sectionals this year, shows it has paid off.”
Wood was an exceptional teammate, sticking with the Hillies who did advance right through New Englands a year ago. He admits, at times it was torture, like when a wrestler dropped out of the D-1 state meet, he was the North’s first alternate.
Unfortunately, a wrestler from another sectional got the first nod in, it was an opponent Wood had already beaten – twice.
Still, he persevered.
“Even after I wasn’t going to states, I still practiced every day and went to states and all-states to support my team,” Wood said. “It was really tough, seeing kids I had beaten out there and not being allowed to wrestle. It feels a lot better this year.”
Holding a 4-2 career edge on Ballou won’t cause any letup from Wood at Newton South with this week’s Division 1 State Meet.
He and Ballou or third-place finisher Braedon Goes (St. John’s Prep) – whom Ballou stopped in overtimes during Saturday’s semifinal – could all figure into the state title mix at 120.
Rangers Gangi raises game
Methuen High’s Dom Gangi was not exactly sizzling, headed to sectionals.
Two quick first-period pins and a gritty 3-0 decision win over Haverhill’s Mike Morris in the 113-pound championship match would suggest the Rangers has put the bad news behind him.
“Winning sectionals was awesome, especially at home for the last time. I felt coach (Bill) James with me the whole … heard him in my ear and went for it,” said Gangi. “This was the first step toward my big goal. Looking forward to next week.”
Of course Morris and Gangi are no strangers. They will likely meet again.
“The rivalry (with Morris) is everything you want in the sport of wrestling, a back and forth battle between two great competitors,” said Gangi. “In the past, Mikey and I have had some real battles. He’s a tough competitor. The loss in Haverhill was my first to him, so that drove me to win it even more at sectionals.”
Sectional Chatter
Haverhill High, in Division 1, and Whittier Tech, in Division 2, came within whiskers of sectional championships on Saturday.
The Hillies finished with 211 points, just behind champion Saint John’s Prep, which had 213 points on the day.
Haverhill had three individual champs on the day at Methuen, Wood at 120, Brent Nicolosi at 165 and Matt Harrold at 215.
Central Catholic also had three champs: two-time New England champ Nate Blanchette at 175, Jackson Meehan at 190 and Caden Smith at 150.
Smith looked to be in trouble in the semis, down 1-0 late but rallied for the tight 2-1 win with a last-second escape. He dominated his final with a major decisions.
Other sectional champs from the area at D-1 North were Andover’s Yandel Morales at 126 and Methuen’s Gangi at 113.
Whittier Tech traveled to Burlington for the Division 2 North meet.
The Cats rode a pair of titles from Anthony Midolo at 157 and Aiden Fogarty at 113 to nearly take out champion Melrose.
The difference there was a mere three points: 190.5-187.