Wrestling News
Five Wrestlers Place in Weymouth
Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:22

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Pictured in Photo - Seniors Mark Saulnier and Richie Gallagher

By the Sports Staff
Wicked Local Norwood

Despite being under the weather Mark Saulnier captured the 195-pound title, taking a 9-3 decision against Greg McGrath of Whitman-Hanson on Saturday at a tournament in Weymouth on Saturday.

Also placing for Norwood was JJ O’Donnell, fourth at 126, Richard Gallagher, fifth at 220, Mike McDonough, sixth at 152, and Javier Cardona, sixth at 285.

The Mustangs (0-8, 0-6) lost 52-9 on Wednesday to Newton North with JJ O’Donnell earning a 9-6 decision and Cardona picking up a pin.

 
 
Saulnier Heading to Regionals
Friday, 02 March 2012 17:25

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Junior Mark Saulnier current Division II State Champion competed last weekend and placed 4th at All-States.  He is now heading to Providence this weekend to compete at the regional level.  We all wish Mark the best of luck!
 
Saulnier Captures First State Crown Since 1989
Thursday, 16 February 2012 19:33

altBy Keith Pearson/Staff Writer
Wicked Local Norwood

A little focus went a long way for Norwood High junior Mark Saulnier this weekend. Coming off a third-place finish at the sectional tournament, Saulnier followed that up with an MIAA Division 2 state title at 195 pounds Saturday in Reading with an 8-4 decision over Julian Bandereck of Masconomet.

“I trained harder and went over to Xaverian and wrestled over there. I was way more concentrated going into states,” said Saulnier, who said that he worked out with the Hawks 195-pounder Shane Moran.

In winning all four matches, Saulnier became the first Mustang wrestler since 1989 to win a state title when Paul Fitzpatrick pinned Rick DiLullo of Agawam to take the Division 1 189-pound title as a junior.

Saulnier said he was aware of the drought because of the banner that hung in the wrestling room at the old high school.

“That was always one of the things I kept in mind, to be able to say I was the first state champ in 23 years,” he said. “It felt good to be able to say that, and then all the older guys from Norwood were there supporting me saying things like, ‘We haven’t had a state champ, if you can do this, you don’t understand what this does for the town, what this does for you.”

He now turns his attention to the All-State Tournament, which will be held Feb. 24-25 at Salem High School. Saulnier, who is 22-4 on the season, will face Tony Viera of Bristol-Plymouth, who was fifth at the Division 3 tournament. If he can place in the top six, Saulnier will see his wrestling season extend to the New England Championships on March 2-3 in Providence, R.I.

Norwood native Cameron Carpenter of Catholic Memorial, will also be at All-States after placing fourth at 195.

Saulnier had little trouble reaching the semifinals, pinning each of his two opponents on Friday, pinning North Andover’s John Pollard, the North runner-up, in 1:30 and then sticking Central champion Enes Braga of Keefe Tech at 2:43.

He said that he enjoyed his win over Braga the most of the four because he was able to score back points with a claw ride to a tilt, a move he picked up while working with Moran.

In the semifinals on Saturday, Saulnier earned a spot in the finals with a 3-1 win over Arlington’s Ben Childs. Trailing 1-0 in the second period, Saulnier scored two points for a takedown and then added a one point for an escape in the third after starting the period in the down position.

“There’s not a lot of domination at that level, but Mark wrestled tough,” said coach Dan McQuade. “He was a man on a mission and got it done.”

In the finals, Saulnier scored a takedown in each period to claim what had been an elusive victory for the Norwood wrestling program.

Coming of a sectional title last weekend, teammate Quincy Wilson went 2-2 at 220, falling just short of the top six spot needed to advance.
 
Wilson Masters Metro
Friday, 10 February 2012 20:02

altBy Keith Pearson/Staff Writer
Wicked Local Norwood

 

Norwood High senior Quincy Wilson captured the MIAA Division 2 Metro sectional title at 220 pounds Saturday in Quincy, winning two of his three matches in overtime.

Wilson is one of two Mustangs to advance to the Div. 2 state tournament, which starts today at  Reading High, along with Mark Saulnier, who took third at 195.

Wilson received a bye to the quarterfinals and earned a 6-0 decision against Zach Zeytoonjian of Wellesley. The senior then took down top seeded Alex Colon of Woburn, 4-2, in overtime.

In the final Wilson knocked off Emmit Tkach of Catholic Memorial, 4-2, also in overtime.

Saulnier’s bid for a sectional title was derailed in the semifinals by a fellow Norwood resident, Cameron Carpenter of Catholic Memorial. Carpenter, the top seed in the draw, pinned the junior midway through the second period.

Saulnier bounced back to win two consolation bouts, pinning Boston Latin’s Liam Donovan in 59 seconds and taking care of Jared Melanson of Wellesley for a second time in the tournament, earning a 6-1 decision after defeating him 6-2 in the quarterfinals to finish the day 3-1.

Placing but not advancing were Shaquille Joseph, who took fifth at 285 by going 1-2, and J.J. O’Donnell, who went 2-3 to grab sixth at 120.

Carpenter went on to win the sectional title with a 3-1 decision over Ben Childs of Arlington and will open the state tournament against Tristan Hardy of Winchester, who was fourth in the North.

Wilson will open the draw against Marshfield’s Joe Amaral while Saulnier is paired against John Pollard of North Andover on the opposite side of the draw from Carpenter.
 
Mustangs Apply Finishing Maneuver
Thursday, 02 February 2012 19:51

 

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By Keith Pearson/Staff Writer

Wicked Local Norwood

It may have taken longer than they had hoped, but the members of the Norwood High wrestling team broke into the win column Wednesday, pinning a 60-22 decision on Dedham to close out the dual meet season.

The Mustangs finished the season at 1-9-1 and gear up for the MIAA Division 2 Metro sectional tournament Saturday at Quincy High. For coach Dan McQuade, winning Wednesday was a solid reward for the work put since late November.

“I can say everyone has made improvements throughout the year,” he said.

The win was particularly gratifying considering it came after a weekend in which the Mustangs were paired up against three solid opponents at the annual Bay State Conference quad in host Wellesley and perennial powers Framingham and Weymouth.

Norwood won eight of the 12 contested bouts – all by fall – and also earned two victories by forfeit.

Adam Sicklick, Josh Walsh and J.J. O’Donnell got the Mustangs started in the right direction with victories.

Sicklick, the best bet from the lower weight to contend for a spot in the top four Saturday, had little trouble before finally pinning Jared Hunt at 4:55 at 106 pounds. Walsh had a big lead before sticking Jael Rivera at 2:39 at 113. O’Donnell was trailing his match at 120 against Cristian Martinez 3-2 after one period but took advantage of top position to start the second period and picked up the pin at 2:47 for an 18-0 lead.

Declan Heaslip got the Marauders on the board with a pin at 126, but Dedham was unable to fill 132 and 138, giving forfeit wins to Luke Williams and Tyler Hutchens, who also figures to contend for a spot in the state tournament.

Brendan Zablocki pinned his opponent in the second period at 145 and Alex Pandolfo did the same at 41 seconds at 160 to clinch the meet.

Dedham’s Nick Romig defeated Mike McDonough 15-3 at 152. Stevie Heaslip, the Marauders’ top contender, earned a pin in 58 seconds at 170 and Andrew Maher won at 182.

The Mustangs dominated the higher weights, state tourney contenders Mark Saulnier (195) and Quincy Wilson (220) earning pins at 42 seconds and 5:00, respectively. Javier Cardona (285), another contender to place, needed 1:38 to close out the night.

“I hope everybody does their best and we can get as many to move on (to the state tournament in Reading the following weekend) ” said McQuade. “There is going to be some good muscle out there this weekend.”

Norwood is in a section that includes Natick, Needham, Arlington and host Reading among the 12 teams. Wrestlers need to finish in the top four at sectionals to earn a spot at the state individual tournament, while the top four team scores get an invitation to the state team tournament.

McQuade hopes future teams benefit from the recent start of a middle school program that has the youngsters coming up to the high school to observe and participate alongside the high school athletes.
 
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