NEWTON – Runner-up by the tiniest of margins – first at the Lowell Holidays and again last weekend at the Division 1 North sectionals — the Haverhill High wrestling team had grown weary of second place.
Saturday afternoon, the Hillies had their breakthrough moment, claiming the Division 1 state championship in the most dramatic fashion, outscoring runner-up Saint John’s Prep, 141-139.
Things were tight between the two power clubs over the past two days, neither giving an inch. Heading into the championship finals, the Eagles were up a point, but the Hillies had four in the finals and the Prep, three.
Haverhill got state title wins from CJ Wood at 120 and Brent Nicolosi at 165.
The Prep went 1 for 2 to put Haverhill on the lead, but the Hillies still needed some help.
They got it from defending national heavyweight champ Thomas Brown of Chelmsford.
Brown faced a fierce challenge in the final match of the tournament, Saint John’s Prep 285-pounder Alex Bajoras, the Division 1 North champ.
There was no Brown walkover. Bajoras gave his team hope, right to the end, but he could not escape Brown in the third period with the Lion locking down the title for himself and the Hillies by a 1-0 decision.
In all, six area wrestlers claimed Division 1 titles.
Cole Glynn of Central Catholic got things started with a title at 106. He was joined by teammate Nate Blanchette (175) on the top step of the podium.
Methuen’s Dom Gangi won the 113-pound final over Hillie Michael Morris.
Andover’s Yandel Morales found a familiar foe in Lowell’s Emmett Logan in the 126-pound championship match. The Warrior came up big to claim his title.
MASS. DIVISION 1 STATE WRESTLING
AREA PLACERS
106: 1. Cole Glynn (CC); 5. Aiden Morris (H)
113: 1. Dom Gangi (M); 2. Michael Morris (H); 4. Izaiah Santiago (CC)
120: 1. CJ Wood (H); 2. Jason Ballou (A)
126: 1. Yandel Morales (A)
132: 4. Nicholas Archambault (A); 8. Denzel Morales (L)
138: 3. Shea Morris (H); 5. Anthony DeMaio (M)
150: 3. Caden Smith (CC)
157: 2. Vinny DeMaio (M)
165: 1. Brent Nicolosi (H); 2. Joey Bolduc (M); 5. Caden Chase (CC)
175: 1. Nate Blanchette (CC); 8. Jayden Flanagan (H)
215: 2. Matt Harrold (H); 8. Gabe Spanks (NA)
285: 8. Brian Waller-Reitano (CC)