RallyNorth.net

Sosa, Lancers pin Reggies

ANDOVER — It was a great day for Lawrence junior Adrian Sosa, but not a perfect one.
Sosa, a talented 138-pounder, fought off his back in the first period to record a second-period pin to help fuel the Lancers to a 42-21 victory over host Greater Lawrence.
The win lifted Lawrence to 19-3 on the year and provided its third straight city title. The Lancers had previously beaten Central Catholic, 46-24.
The only problem for Sosa was that his older brother, Nick, is a Reggie and he dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Yariel Velez at 195 pounds, and he couldn’t help rooting against his team in that match.
“I want my team to win the meet, but I have to pull for my brother,” said Sosa, who gave his sibling a little pep talk before his match. “I’m a family-first kind of kid.”
Two other Sosa brothers, Victor and Isaac, also wrestled at Greater Lawrence, on the back-to-back Division 2 dual-meet state championship squads and, the youngest one admits, “My first choice was to be a Reggie — I grew up here — but I was turned down, so I have to do my best for the Navy Blue and White (Lawrence).”
Thus far, he’s done just that, recording an impressive 19-1 dual-meet record and, for awhile, it looked like yesterday’s pin might be pivotal because the Reggies (12-7) put up an emotional battle on their home mat.
Following a pin by 132-pound teammate Edgardo Rios, Sosa had given Lawrence an 18-9 lead, but the Amador twins brought the Reggies back with perhaps their best matches of the season. Wilkin Amador recorded an 11-5 decision at 145 and Melvin Amador followed with a 13-6 decision at 152, barely missing a pin at the buzzer.
Michael Amador lifted Lawrence back in front 22-15 with a major decision at 160, but Carlos Aquino brought the Reggies to within one, 22-21, with a second-period fall at 170.
Lawrence won the next four weight classes to wrap up the victory, but it was hardly easy. Although Marionel Garcia dominated with a technical fall at 182 and heavyweight Janer Reyes ended the match with a pin, Sosa was beating Velez late in the match and Lancers’ 220-pounder Mike Mena nearly got pinned twice in the first two periods, falling behind 12-2, before pinning Henry Tejada at the 4:24 mark.
“I expected a battle and they (Greater Lawrence) are a tough team — it’s always an exciting match,” said Lawrence coach Rob Niceforo. “But our kids wrestled well and showed a lot of class.
“I was real happy with Michael Amador, and (Mike) Mena just never gives up.”
Also winning for Lawrence were Hector Reynoso and Rizky Riyanto, with decisions at 106 and 113 respectively, while for Greater Lawrence, Adan Marquez had a decision at 120 and Lenny Jorge got a late pin at 126.
The only negative to what was a terrific dual meet, with terrific spirit on both teams, came when it was over and most of the Reggies walked away and refused to shake the hands of their Lawrence counterparts.