RallyNorth.net

High school All-American Ryan Malo will head to Williams College in the fall to join two former St. John's Prep teammates on the Ephs.

Last spring he received a full scholarship to Boston University, but it wasn't the right fit for the Georgetown resident, who left after first semester ended and took classes at Northern Essex Community College.

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.

Ryan Harding was a serious wrestler from the moment he entered St. John's Prep two years ago as a freshman.

His coach, Manny Costa, never questioned Harding's commitment. Neither did his teammates, who immediately noticed the kid's work ethic.

St. John's Prep has long been known as the dominant wrestling team on the North Shore and one of the premier programs in all of Massachusetts.

Williams College is reaping the benefits of the Eagles' success this season.

Opposing schools wouldn't mind it if St. John's Prep moved out of the Catholic Conference for a while. The Eagles are just too tough to beat.

Making good use of its depth, St. John's Prep handled Malden Catholic, 54-18, to win its 10th straight Catholic Conference title. The Eagles have won 43 in a row in the conference and they're 21-5 overall this season.

St. John's Prep junior Ryan Harding of North Andover knew he was getting into a good situation when he arrived at the Danvers school as a freshman.

After all, his older brother John had recently graduated from the Prep and, as a youngster coming up in the North Andover youth wrestling program, he knew all about head wrestling coach Manny Costa and the success he's enjoyed at St. John's.

Heavyweight Brian Nicoll put an exclamation point on an impressive statement made by the Timberlane wrestling team yesterday at the 54-team Lowell Holiday Tournament.

The Owls, who finished second last year by a point and a half, came back with a vengence to claim their third team crown in four years with 241 points, comfortably ahead of runners-up Concord, N.H., and Winchester, who tied with 210. Pinkerton (120) was sixth, Central Catholic (111) came in eighth and Salem, N.H. (102<1/2>) tied for 10th.

Last year's record: 28-7 (2nd in Division 1 state tournament)

Coach: Manny Costa (18th year)

Key returnees: Ryan Harding, Jr., 135; Ryan Morello Jr., 103; James Gibbons Sr., 152; Kevin Poplaski, Sr., 285.