Atallah & Hopkins earn spots in MIAA Div. III State Wrestling Championships
They've known each other for a couple years now, and while they are at opposite ends of their High School wrestling careers, Senior Capt. Ali Atallah of Marblehead and Freshman Stephen Hopkins of Swampscott are together again...... this time headed to the MIAA Division III State Wrestling Championships, representing the "Black & Blue" Marblehead-Swampscott Co-Op Wrestling team.Each grappler earned their birth into the MIAA D3 State Championship this Friday & Saturday at Foxboro High School by placing in the top four of their respective weight classes at the D3 North Sectionals this past Saturday, 2/15, at Danvers High School.
Attalah (182 lbs.), finished 2nd- earned a first round bye due to being seeded 2nd in the bracket, then pinned his way into the finals with wins by fall over opponents from Minutemen Tech and Wakefield. Atallah then lost to Mark Boyle from Triton in the Finals. Boyle, is the only opponent in the D3N Section who Atallah has lost to all season and is currently ranked 5th in the Mass. All-State Rankings at 182 lbs. Attalah has amassed a 20-9 record to date this season.
Hopkins (106 lbs.), finished 4th- earned a first round bye due to being seeded 3rd in the bracket, won his first match against Melrose with a pin in the first period. Hopkins then lost to nemesis Joe Morse, a Junior from Lynnfield-N.Reading (currently ranked 8th in D3), sending the Frosh into the Consolation Bracket to wrestle back into contention for 3rd or 4th place. Hopkins then handily beat his next opponent from Wakefield by a 7-1 decision, sending the Featherweight into the Consi Finals where he was assured a ticket to the D3 Championships regardless of the outcome. Hopkins is the first "Black & Blue" Freshman to qualify for the D3 State Championships.
So now, the Senior/Freshman duo- who have a big brother/little brother relationship, are spending their school vacation week in any wrestling room on the North Shore that their coach can secure for them, working hard and staying on weight for the weigh-ins Friday morning at 10am in Foxboro. Any and all Marblehead & Swampscott residents are encouraged to support their local wrestlers and take the trek to Foxboro High School where the wrestling starts at 12 noon, Friday, 2/21. You can end the day with a great meal at Patriot Place !!
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