Norton Wrestling Completes Dual Meet Campaign in Hudson

The wrestling team completed the dual-meet portion of its schedule by placing fourth out of a field of 14 teams during the MIAA Division 3 Central Sectional Team Tournament at Hudson High on Saturday.

In their first match of the day, the Lancers defeated a talented Watertown team, 43-31. In the tournament semifinals Norton had to face the defending Division 3 state champions in Wayland and dropped a 43-19 decision to the Warriors.

In the consolation round, the Lancers had to battle an emerging program in Tri-County. The Cougars faced an early deficit against the Lancers before coming back to earn a 40-31 victory to place third overall, while the locals finished fourth.

Norton completed the dual-meet campaign with a 16-8 overall record. The Lancers also placed second in the Tri-Valley League this winter with a 3-1 mark.

2011 league champion Holliston (4-0 in the TVL) knocked off Wayland by just two points (31-29) in the finals of the Division 3 Central Team Tournament on Saturday.

Having won the sectional, the Panthers will compete in the Division 3 State Team Tournament, hosting Taconic Regional in the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Junior captain Scott Coleman and senior captain Derek Hoyt both won all three of their matches on Saturday as did junior Cam Hale and classmate John Royle. Junior captain Brett Gallagher and sophomore Steve Hudson both won two matches by pin.

At 119 pounds, Gallagher went 2-0 with two pins, while junior Chris White was 1-0. Hale won a match at 125 pounds and two contests with one pin at 130. Junior Stefen Winfield captured one of his matches at 135 pounds. Coleman won a pair of matches at 140 pounds, while Hoyt won one. Both Coleman and Hoyt also won matches by pin at 145. Royle won one match at 145 pounds and also captured a match by pin at 152.

Junior James Cuneo went 1-1 with one pin at 160. Sophomore Jack Cuneo captured one match at 160 and went 1-1 at 171. Hudson went 2-1 with two pins at 215 pounds.

On an individual basis, the Lancers will face the same 14 teams and wrestlers they did last Saturday when they compete in the MIAA Division 3 Central Sectional Individual Tournament next Saturday at Wayland High.

The top four finishers in each weight class on Saturday will advance to the Division 3 State Individual Tournament on Friday, Feb. 18 and Saturday, Feb. 19 at Holliston High School. The goal for the Lancers at sectionals this coming Saturday is to qualify more wrestlers for the Division 3 State Meet than they ever have in the past.

A year ago, Norton shipped off six wrestlers to the state division meet, the most it has ever sent. Gallagher, who has a 26-2 record this winter, will look to do damage in the 119-pound tournament on Saturday after capturing the 2010 state division crown at 119 last winter.

After winning 31 of his first 32 matches this winter, Coleman will look to do well in the 135-pound event after capturing the sectional tournament and placing second at the division state meet a year ago at 130 pounds.

Coleman needs one victory on Saturday to reach 100 victories in his career and would become the first junior in the history of the program to accomplish that feat. Gallagher is also quickly approaching the 100-win plateau for the Lancers.

Hoyt, who is 28-7 this year, is striving to perform well in the 152-pound tournament this year after finishing third in the sectional last winter at 140 pounds.

Several other Lancers will be looking to make their mark on Saturday, including Royle (29-4 record), Hale (27-7), Hudson (26-9), Jack Cuneo (23-10) and Winfield (19-10).