After losing a 9-8 decision to Jake Ferri in last week’s Division 1 North final, St. John’s Prep sophomore Ryan Garlitz figured out a game plan to beat the Shawsheen senior Saturday at the Division 1 state championship meet at Methuen High.
The two met in the 113-pound finals, the match going into overtime tied, 2-2. They battled through almost a minute of overtime before Ferri shot for a takedown. Garlitz turned Ferri to his back for the pin with seconds left in overtime.
Ferri, last year’s New England champion at 106 pounds, hadn’t lost since his sophomore season.
The mind-set from St. John’s Prep coach Manny Costa throughout the week was “anything can happen,’’ and Garlitz said that approach paid off.
“I just wanted to keep it close, keep attacking, and hope maybe something can happen at the end there, and it did,’’ Garlitz said.
Costa said Garlitz wrestled exactly to their plan.
“We knew if he came in [on a shot], we could counter it and score off that,’’ Costa said. “That was our strategy going in, and it worked to perfection.’’
Garlitz won all four matches by pin, including wins over South champion Brandon Guen of Braintree and Lawrence’s Michael Hernandez.
Garlitz said to achieve a division title as a sophomore was something to be proud of, but that he has bigger goals for the All-State tournament Friday.
“It was awesome, and it’s definitely a confidence-booster,’’ Garlitz said. “Now I just have to keep winning.’’
At 120 pounds, Brockton junior Cole Wyman came in with a 43-0 record this season but was given the fourth seed. Wyman knocked off two higher seeds, took home a division title, and was named Outstanding Wrestler.
Wyman, last week’s Division 1 South champion, met top-seeded Chris DeRosa of Billerica in the semifinals. It was a match Wyman said was finals-worthy on its own.
Wyman pinned DeRosa at the beginning of the third period, and followed up with a win over second-seeded Andy Richard of Lincoln-Sudbury.
“I believed I was No. 1, and I wrestled with the same intensity,’’ Wyman said. “[Seeding] doesn’t change anything when you’re out there.’’
“You might have an extra tough match here or there, but so what. We’re here to wrestle.’’
In the team scoring, Springfield Central took home the title with 107 points, followed by a tie for second between Chelmsford and Lincoln-Sudbury with 100.
The top six performers at each weight class advance to All-States at Reading High School. The tournament begins Friday and concludes Saturday.
Division 2
All the numbers pointed to North Andover winning the Division 2 state title.
The Scarlet Knights sent 10 wrestlers to the meet at Algonquin Regional, with two winning championships (Joey Valentino, 120; Jack Perry, 126).
As a result, the Scarlet Knights accumulated 131.5 points, topping Natick (123) and Marshfield (114.5).
“We had a great day today,’’ Scarlet Knights coach Carl Cincotta said. “We had a total team effort. They just grinded it out for two days.’’
The Scarlet Knights took the lead in the 152-pound consolation match when C.J. Cincotta defeated Alan Smith, 6-4. Cincotta and Ethan Ford (106) each placed third for the Scarlet Knights.
Typically, a state title indicates a team has depth. That was not the case for North Andover this season, as it frequently forfeited matches at 195 and 220.
“We have a small team and because of that, we had some dual meet losses,’’ the coach said. “But the wrestlers we do have are very good.’’
Central Catholic, which finished fourth (97 points), was the other program with a pair of winners.
Up 4-1 in the final second of his bout, heavyweight Carlos Cabrera (285) pinned Joe Vencile of Algonquin.
Tyler Glynn (106), won his defensive battle, 2-0, over Masconomet’s Trevor Nugent.
Division 3
Melrose’s Antonio DiFronzo entered the Division 3 state meet at Wakefield High with a perfect 42-0 record at 195 pounds.
DiFronzo pinned his first three opponents, launching him into the finals against Pentucket’s Devin Young. The championship bout went all three rounds, with DiFronzo earning a 5-3 decision, winning the state championship, preserving his perfect record, and playing a key role in Melrose’s first state title.
DiFronzo was nothing but proud and confident as his team celebrated.
“We don’t stop, I’m not stopping, no one’s stopping me,’’ he said.
Melrose collected 149 points and two individual titles, won by DiFronzo and Hunter Adrian (106). Jim Bleiler was named MIAA Coach of the Year.
“It’s history for the city of Melrose,’’ said Bleiler. “I wouldn’t say there was one specific guy, it was a team effort all year.’’
Foxboro (127 points), which edged Wayland (124) for second place, was powered by dominating performances by the Kelley twins, seniors Matt (132) and Brian (138). Danvers was fourth (115.5).
“It’s unreal because I know how hard the boys work and the coaches are there seven days a week,’’ DiFronzo said. “We worked too hard to not get this. The coaches keep us going, pushing us further and further.’’
Wayland also had two champions, as Ramazan Attasauov (126) won with a pin in 59 seconds, and Brendan Kiernan (152) took a 9-3 decision.
Danvers took home three titles, most of any school, which were by Colby Holland (145), Jack Anderson (160), and Quintin Holland (170). Quintin Holland, who won with a pin, was named Outstanding Wrestler.
Dan Greaney (220) of Bedford-Minuteman and Tri-County’s Joe Townsend (285) became the first state champions in their respective schools’ histories. Greaney was the top-seeded wrestler in his class, while Townsend finished fourth at the Central sectionals and was a long shot.
Other state champions were Holliston’s Rufus Koblenzer (113), Quabbin’s Conor Thompson (120), and Sandwich’s Nate Fistori (182).
Correspondent Tom Joyce cont-ributed from Northborough and correspondent James Duffy from Wakefield.
