County Wrestlers Eliminated on First Day of New Englands

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- At the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships on Friday, it was Kolby Smith's turn to win.

 

The Sabis International Charter School junior continued his monthlong dual with Monument Mountain senior Mark Leon-Duque in the consolation bracket Friday evening, and this time Smith used a third-period takedown to earn a 3-2 win.

 

The two have gotten to know each other pretty well in this post-season.

 

At the Western Mass championships on Feb. 14, Leon-Duque earned a 3-2 win in the tournament finals.

 

A week later, Smith bested Leon-Duque by a 3-1 margin at the Division 3 State Championships.

 

Last week, Leon-Duque got the better of Smith in the consolation round of the All-State Wrestling Championships with a 2-1 win.

 

On Friday, Smith got the last word, ending Leon-Duque's appearance at the regional championships with an 0-2 record.

 

In his first match of the championship draw, Leon-Duque lost to Berlin, Conn.'s, Jeremy Eliades, the No. 3 seed from the Nutmeg State, 15-0.

 

Mount Everett senior Bradley Lupiani fared a little better at 132 pounds.

 

He won his opener, pinning Hope, R.I.'s, Ellery Costa in 2 minutes, 50 seconds.

 

But Connecticut State Champion Cross Cannone of Trumbull ended Lupiani's time in the main draw with a 6-3 decision.

 

In the consys, Lupiani lost to Montville, Conn.'s, Thomas Wynosky, 5-3.

 

After one day at the New Englands, Mount Anthony of Bennington, Vt., is in first place with 37 points, leading Newtown, Conn., with 25.

 

The Patriots brought a tourament-best 12 wrestlers, and all six will be wrestling again on Saturday when the tournament concludes.

 

Six of Mount Anthony wrestlers remain alive in the championship bracket -- equaling the number of total wrestlers that Newtown brought to the meet.

 

The two schools will go head-to-head in Saturday morning's quarter-finals when Mount Anthony's Calvin Call meets Newtown's Luca Crudo at 113 pounds.

 

The top Massachusetts entrant is Springfield Central, which has 19 points and is tied for fourth after day one. Central brought four wrestlers to the meet, and three are still alive in the championship brackets of their weight classes.