The Triton wrestling team couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season.
Over the weekend, the Vikings welcomed matches against four other opponents, and received contributions from veterans and other key returners alike to pick up four wins. The Vikings would take down North Middlesex (56-21), Bedford/Acton-Boxboro (54-15), Lynn Tech (24-15) and Wellesley (42-33) to enjoy a perfect start to the year.
“This was a good weekend to start off,” said coach Shawn McElligott. “Wellesley is a good wrestling team that is well coached, North Middesex and Bedford both have new coaches and you can see the enthusiam in each program, and Lynn Tech came in with its best numbers.
“So I was very pleased with the outcome from our team.”
Following an exceptional run to the New England Championships last year — in her first year with the sport — returning Daily News All-Star Riley Anne-Tarmey started off her sophomore campaign going 3-0 with three pins. Brian Quam and Sam Imlach — two more returning Daily News All-Stars — went a combined 7-0 with six pins, and captains Alex Sabino (2-2) and Nolan Merrill (3-1, 3 pins) not only won matches, but showed grit in not getting pinned in their losses to save points.
Finally, Triton was thrilled to have Anthony Navaroli back in the rotation. The 215-pounder missed all of last season with a broken arm, but returned to earn himself a pair of wins over the weekend. He pinned his opponent from North Middlesex in just 12 seconds, then his second-period pin against Wellesley swung the match in favor of the Vikings.
Kamuda, Skinner back in form
Tanner Kamuda and Mason Skinner didn’t need all that long to get back into wrestling shape.
Over the weekend, the two Daily News All-Stars from Pentucket traveled down to the Wakefield Tournament, and both came away with silver medals. Kamuda finished second at 138, while Skinner — fresh off a run to the New England Championships last year — made the finals at 175 before coming away with his medal.
The Panthers then saw two other wrestlers make the podium, with Karsyn Otero taking fifth at 144, and Martin DeJesus earning sixth at 132.
Crowe, Pentucket stifle Swampscott
The heralded Pentucket girls basketball defense is already in midseason form.
The Panthers opened the season with their annual endowment game over the weekend, and absolutely stifled visiting Swampscott in a 55-16 victory. It was a 29-8 game at halftime, and the Panthers held Big Blue scoreless the entire third quarter.
For Pentucket, returning Daily News All-Star Amelia Crowe matched her opponent’s total with 16 points. Chloe Dancewicz added 10 points, Allie Gagnon was right behind with 8 and Lexie Thompson chipped in 7.
DeLong dialed in
The elite junior guard duo was back at it for the Amesbury boys basketball team.
During Monday’s season-opening victory over Whittier, 62-58, it was Parker DeLong leading the way with 21 points on a pair of 3s. Justin Dube hit a 3 and followed with 11 points, Connor Mazzaglia chipped in 8 points, Chase Linsey had 7 and Ollie Peters was right behind with 6.
And all five of those athletes are fresh off another successful football season this fall.
Talbot, Amesbury start off 1-0
It looks like the Amesbury girls basketball program will continue to grow this year.
Following only one win during the 2022-23 season, the Redhawks showed vast improvement last winter by going 5-15. Well, it didn’t take long for the program to pick up its first victory this year, as over the weekend Amesbury crushed Notre Dame Academy, 59-19.
Sophomore Ellison Talbot led the way with 12 points, while senior captain Ellie Marden hit two 3s and finished with 9.
Amesbury hockey wins blowout
Basically everyone got involved for the Amesbury hockey team during its season-opening win over Marlboro this weekend, 9-4.
Bodie Marcotte, a multi-time Daily News All-Star and the reigning CAL Baker MVP, finished with five goals, while Collin Brown had two and both Thomas McElaney and Grady Stickney had one. The trio of Stickney, Logan Pickering and Lincoln Kime assisted on three tallies, and Maddox LeBlanc, Wes Ackerman, Evan Murphy and Owen Bartniski each had one helper.
Pelletier powers Pentucket hockey
The Pentucket hockey team also got off to a strong start to the year with a 7-4 victory over Rockport. Leading the way for the Panthers was Chase Pelletier with a hat-trick, Charles Quinlan found the back of the net twice, and both Aaron Wirwicz and John Racki had goals.
Marengi, Triton hockey split
The good news, and perhaps a fact that was already known: The Triton hockey team has a goalie that can steal games with Gavin Marengi.
The returning Daily News All-Star saw 50-plus shots over the weekend, and looked great despite a lopsided score. Playing a Nauset team that was in the Division 3 state championship game last year — and appears to have the pieces to get back — Triton was on the wrong end of a 7-0 shutout.
But a few days prior, the Vikings opened their season with a 4-1 victory over Lynnfield.
Greg Muse and Cullen Kohan scored their first career varsity goals in the win, and both Luke Sullivan and Michael Taylor found the back of the net. Muse and Taylor added assists, as did veterans Josh Hersey and Connor Rumph.