SAUGUS — Saugus-Peabody and Marblehead-Swampscott squared off on the mats at Saugus Middle High School Wednesday evening. Pins and takedowns later, the final result was a 38-38 draw.
Saugus-Peabody was ahead 32-20 with fourth matches remaining, but the Black and Blue of Marblehead-Swampscott went on a pinning streak, starting with Colin Hart.
Hart pinned his opponent 34 seconds in the second round to get his team to within six (32-26).
“Colin Hart, at 175 (pounds), has been grinding the entire season. He won a good league match last week against Gloucester, where he rallied back and hit a takedown in overtime to win it,” said Black and Blue coach Michael Stamison. “That’s propelled him to where he’s at now.”
Then it was Ben O’Brien and Angelo Knight securing back-to-back pins to take a six-point lead going into the final match.
“Senior Ben O’Brien from Swampscott has been solid for us all year. That was a good pin from him. Then, senior captain Angelo Knight, at 215, taking care of business with a pin,” Stamison said. “I can’t say enough. That gave us a chance at the end.”
With all the momentum riding with Marblehead-Swampscott, Saugus-Peabody’s Antonio Anzalone stepped to the mat, knowing he needed a pin with his team trailing.
He delivered in clutch fashion.
“It’s good for him to go out there with a lot of pressure and pin the guy,” said Saugus-Peabody coach Wayne Moda.
The match ended, 38-38.
“It doesn’t get any closer than that. There’s no tiebreaker in Massachusetts,” Stamison said.
For Moda, he believes his team had a chance to win it.
“We didn’t wrestle well. We had four of their guys on their backs and we couldn’t get the pin, which cost us the match,” Moda said.
Both coaches praised their opposition.
“Hats off to Saugus-Peabody, Coach Moda, and his staff. They’re doing a great job,” Stamison said.
Moda returned the favor.
“Credit to them for fighting back and not giving up the pin,” Moda said. “It’s a lesson our kids will hopefully learn from.”
Saugus-Peabody celebrated its two seniors in Elias Diaz and Sam LoRusso.
“Elias has only really wrestled two years. He was hurt last year, but it’s good to see him being out there competing,” Moda said. “He’s a really good kid and he tries really hard. He’s got a good record this year. I think he’s 21-10.”
“I’ve had Sam since he was in youth wrestling. He’s a hard-nosed kid who works really hard,” Moda said. “He’s a kid who doesn’t give up and will do whatever you ask him to do. He’s really tough.”
PIN WINNERS
Marblehead-Swampscott
Brady Haskell
Jaymes Carey
Colin Hart
Ben O’Brien
Angelo Knight
Saugus-Peabody
Landon Rodriguez
Elias Diaz
Antonio Anzalone
