THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 7, 2025 Page 11 Saugus/Peabody wrestling captures NEC dual and NEC/CAL championships By Dom Nicastro T he Saugus/Peabody wrestling team has cemented its place in program history, securing the Northeastern Conference (NEC) dual meet championship and the NEC/Cape Ann League (NEC/CAL) tournament championship. Firsttime feats. Yes, it was a good past week for the team. The team’s 46-29 victory over Beverly in the final dual meet not only avenged years of close finishes but also completed an undefeated run in the conference. “We went into Beverly thinking we’re going to really have a tough, tough meet, and it was going to come down on the last match,” said Saugus/Peabody coach Wayne Moda. “But they got the flu bug on their team and forfeited a bunch of weights, and we came away with a 46-29 victory. That win secured our NEC dual championship, and we moved on to the NEC/CAL championship on Saturday, which we also won.” Beverly also entered the dual meet undefeated in conference play, setting up a true winner-take-all showdown for the NEC title. The Panthers had been the dominant force in the conference for years, but this time, Saugus-Peabody took full advantage of the opportunity. “They limped along, made it to the meet, but they got the flu bug, which is what it is,” Moda said. “But like I said, you have to show up. You have to show up to win. So we did, and we won.” Even beyond the forfeits, Saugus-Peabody wrestlers delivered key victories on the mat, with standout performances, including: · 126 pounds: Jackson De(Peabody) defeated leidi Anna Felicio: Dariush Afsharian (Beverly) by major decision, 13-3. · 138 pounds: Lukas Fondulis (Saugus) pinned Roger Lopes (Beverly) at 3:44. · 285 pounds (heavyweight): Antonio Anzalone (Peabody) pinned Joao Reis (Beverly) at 5:53. “Evan Johnson [of Peabody] lost a tight one against [Tyler] Pinto from Beverly,” Moda added. “He really should have won that match. He was ahead the whole time and then lost at the very end. If Beverly had their full lineup, it probably would have come down to the heavyweight match. Antonio came through at the end and pinned. We didn’t need the win, but he did pin at the end.” Riding high off their dual meet triumph, Saugus/Peabody turned its attention to the NEC/CAL championship tournament and once again delivered a statement performance. “We had a great first round,” Moda said. “We want to go into those tournaments and pin – extra points when you pin your opponent in a tournament. So the guys certainly did that. I think we earned probably 40 pin points in the CHAMPIONSHIPS | SEE PAGE 12 Peabody Captain Michael Maraio (far left) and Saugus captain Max LoRusso (to Maraio’s right) posed with Beverly wrestlers after Saugus/Peabody won a winner-take-all match for the Northeastern Conference. They are holding a tribute to Peabody’s Freddy Espinal, a wrestler who died last fall. (Courtesy photo) The Saugus/Peabody wrestling team shown after capturing the Northeastern Conference/Cape Ann League championship, shown from left to right: Standing: Coach Wayne Moda, Brooke Diaz, Saugus; Cesar Cruz, Saugus; Jake Murray, Saugus; Landon Rodriguez, Peabody; Lukas Fondulis, Saugus; Jaden Ceac, Peabody; Justin Bremberg, Saugus; Anthony Carnacione, Peabody; Anna Felicio, Saugus; Antonio Anzalone, Peabody; Jackson Deleidi, Peabody; Tucker Landry, Saugus; Evan Johnson, Peabody; Coach Tom St. Cyr, Saugus; and Addy Merrill, Peabody; kneeling: captains Max LoRusso of Saugus and Michael Maraio of Peabody. (Courtesy photo)
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