A season that nearly never happened for Haverhill High’s Matt Harrold ended atop the podium at the New England Championships.
Harrold, the Hillies’ senior, was one of two area champs this weekend. The other was Salem High’s Ella Paris, whose victory at 100 pounds carried the Blue Devils to a second-place team finish.
The Massachusetts All-State champion at 215 pounds, Harrold dominated again, making it 4-for-4 on the New England podium for his career, his first time at the top after a pair of runner-up efforts and a sixth-place as a sophomore.
Knocking off Somerset-Berkley’s Owen Pavao in the final by a 7-3 decision, with three pins in his previous bouts, Harrold finishes at 31-1 on the year.
Salem’s Paris was the No. 5 seed but wrestled like she was untouchable, posting four victories, all via pinfall.
Trailing top-seeded Hannah Perro, 7-3, in the semis, Paris shocked the world with a pin to vault her into the title match. She finished the championship run off in style with a third-period pin.
Central Catholic’s boys, the Massachusetts Division 1 and All-State team champs, put together another dynamite run, settling for third.
The Raiders sent three to the finals, freshmen Lucas Copper and Sam Winship and junior Brian Waller-Reitano, all of whom grabbed second-place medals. Junior teammate Rhys Dewar added a fourth place for Central.
Andover’s Jason Ballou and Timberlane’s Matt Boucher were the lone other area boys placers.
For the girls, Lawrence’s Hillary MacDonald took second place for the second straight year. Salem’s Keira Lynch and Greater Lawrence Tech’s Jordyn Reynolds also took home medals.