RallyNorth.net

Timberlane's young wrestling team matured quickly during the season and | paced by heavyweight champion Brian Nicoll and 103-pound runner-up Cam Sullivan, both juniors | it grew up completely yesterday at the New England Tournament.

By placing third at the individual sectional at home yesterday, the Methuen wrestling team qualified for the Division 1 North dual-meet sectional in Lowell this week, but it will be appearing under protest and at less than full strength.

The seeds had Andrik Cruz primed for a third straight sectional final disappointment.

Cruz would have none of that. The Methuen High senior, wrestling at 145 pounds, made his third North championship try a winning one, heading up an area contingent of two champs and 15 places moving on to the Division 1 North championships in Bridgewater next weekend.

Methuen senior John Sughrue didn't get the match he would have preferred, but he had plenty of consolation yesterday at the Methuen Invitational.

Because he moved up a weight class to 130 pounds this year, there was no showdown with Salem star Trevor Dearden, but both Sughrue and Dearden came away big winners.

Methuen, trailing most of the meet, won the last five weight classes to defeat Shawsheen, 36-27. First-period pins by Bob Kelm (130) and unbeaten John Sughrue (135) gave the Rangers (19-2) the momentum they needed. Also, 112-pounder Eric Buonagurio had a key 10-6 decision over Ryan Ahearn, who placed at the Lowell Holiday Tournament. Methuen will try to defend its title at the Methuen Invitational Saturday.

Lowell coach Tim O'Keefe believes that his defending Division 1 state champion Red Raiders still have a lot of work to do to approach last year's squad.

"We're still a work in progress," claims O'Keefe.

Whoever said that you're only as good as your competition must have had Methuen junior Kevin Sughrue and Salem senior Corbin Decker in mind.

Fine wrestlers in their own right, and involved in wrestling since elementary school, they've both benefitted mightily from training and competing against the best, whether it's because of their family connection (Sughrue) or who they know (Decker).

Looks can indeed be deceiving, as Methuen sophomore heavyweight Shaun McCarthy helped demonstrate last night in the Rangers' convincing 39-27 victory over Central Catholic. With Methuen ahead 3-0 after the first match, a 7-3 decision for unbeaten Steve Saba at 215, McCarthy | all 5-foot-8, 215 pounds of him | stepped onto the mat to face a much larger (by at least 55 pounds) Dan Caniff at heavyweight. It did not look like a good matchup for the Rangers.

Greater Lawrence didn't have any choice so it showed its depth yesterday while capturing the Wakefield Tournament.

Despite missing four starters, including standouts Miguel Guzman and Victor Sosa, the Reggies powered their way to 191 points in the 16-team field, far ahead of runner-up Reading 150 1/2, which barely nipped Methuen 149.

2006-07 record: 21-2, lost in Division 1 North final

Returning starters (9): Eric Buonagurio, Sr., 112; John Sughrue, Sr., 130; Matt Murray, Sr., 189; Bobby Kelm, Sr., 125; Mario Wiggins, Sr., 135; Andrik Cruz, Sr., 145; Steve Saba, Sr., 215; Kevin Sughrue, Jr., 140; Nate Krikorian, Jr., 145