the MIWCA D-3 State Dual Meet Championships held at Wakefield HS on Saturday and they lived up to their top-billing by winning their second state title in three years! Yet it
was far from easy.
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| Sophomore Aidan Kahn |
First up was Holliston, the defending Tri-Valley League champions and state runners-up in 2011 and 2012. Lancer sophomore Aidan Kahn (who went 3-0 on the day) avenged a previous loss to Konnor Kozubal with a takedown in overtime to win 7-5. Norton never looked back with pins from sophomores Deven Schuko (also 3-0 on the day) and Adrian Sokolowski, juniors Russell Hansen and Elliott Johnson, senior captains JT Taylor, Myles McAlpine and Mike Travers (3-0 on the day, too). Senior Grant Monast added an 8-0 win by decision and the Lancers cruised to a 48-26 win over the Panthers.
Norton took on Triton, the 2011 state champions, in the semi-finals and faced some
very tough competition. Schuko wrestled his best match ever and went ahead 11-3
before securing a pin to get the ball rolling for the Lancers, but the Mustangs responded
with three straight victories including a 3-2 decision over Taylor, Norton's winningest
wrestler this season, to take the early lead. Norton regained momentum and the lead
with a hard-fought 8-6 decision by senior Branden Pike which was followed by five
Norton pins in the next seven matches from sophomores Anthony Cardone and Alek Donovan, junior Adam Marcon, as well as McAlpine and Kahn and the Lancers closed
the door 51-19.
very tough competition. Schuko wrestled his best match ever and went ahead 11-3
before securing a pin to get the ball rolling for the Lancers, but the Mustangs responded
with three straight victories including a 3-2 decision over Taylor, Norton's winningest
wrestler this season, to take the early lead. Norton regained momentum and the lead
with a hard-fought 8-6 decision by senior Branden Pike which was followed by five
Norton pins in the next seven matches from sophomores Anthony Cardone and Alek Donovan, junior Adam Marcon, as well as McAlpine and Kahn and the Lancers closed
the door 51-19.
Wayland was Norton's opponent in the finals, a team that the Lancers had to come
from behind to defeat in both a dual meet and in the sectionals last year. The Warriors
remained undefeated when the won an exciting meet in the semi-finals against
previously unbeaten Lynnfield-North Reading. Despite a major decision win from
Schuko and a pin from Taylor, the Lancers appeared sluggish in the early going and Wayland won five of the first seven matches to go up 20-10. Johnson stopped the
bleeding when he took an 8-2 decision which was followed by key pins from Travers
and Donovan along with a forfeit to junior Robert Smith and the Lancers had the lead. However, with three matches to go, the Warriors were still in the running until Kahn
pinned his man in the next-to-last bout and the Norton bench erupted in joy and
celebration!
from behind to defeat in both a dual meet and in the sectionals last year. The Warriors
remained undefeated when the won an exciting meet in the semi-finals against
previously unbeaten Lynnfield-North Reading. Despite a major decision win from
Schuko and a pin from Taylor, the Lancers appeared sluggish in the early going and Wayland won five of the first seven matches to go up 20-10. Johnson stopped the
bleeding when he took an 8-2 decision which was followed by key pins from Travers
and Donovan along with a forfeit to junior Robert Smith and the Lancers had the lead. However, with three matches to go, the Warriors were still in the running until Kahn
pinned his man in the next-to-last bout and the Norton bench erupted in joy and
celebration!
On Wednesday the Lancers take on Hopkinton at home at 7:00 PM for the Tri-Valley
League championship. The Hillers are also undefeated in the league and tied with
the Lancers for first place. In addition to an exciting meet, Norton's senior wrestlers
will be honored prior to this last home meet of the season. Go, Lancers!
the Lancers for first place. In addition to an exciting meet, Norton's senior wrestlers
will be honored prior to this last home meet of the season. Go, Lancers!
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