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North Andover rules CAL

The gap is closing just a bit, but North Andover continues to rule the Cape Ann League.

The Knights captured the CAL meet at Wilmington for the seventh straight time, and 10th time in the last 11 years by scoring 205 points. Masconomet was second (170) and Lynnfield/North Reading (138) came in third.

Senior Jimmy Connelly led the way for the Knights by taking first at 125 for his third CAL title of his career. In the finals, he defeated defending Division 3 state champ Steve Sughrue of Wilmington for the third time this year, 3-0. He was also named Cape Ann League Wrestler of the Year.

The Knights crowned three other champions | Derek Timpe at 152, Kyle Dolan at 189 and Andrew Bogosian at 215. In the finals, Timpe avenged a recent loss to Masconomet's Stephen Perkins with an overtime pin and Bogosian avenged a loss to Wilmington's Ken Joyce with a 3-2 decision. Dolan defeated Pentucket's Ben Stasiuk 2-0 in the finals.

Finishing second for the Knights was Jared Hood at 145 and Alex Smirnov at 160 while freshman Frank McCarthy was third at 119.

For North Reading, Ryan Visconti was second at 130 and Chris Klove was runner-up at 171. Klove lost in the finals to Pentucket's lone champion, Brian Pigott. The Sachems also had another runner-up in 119-pounder Andy Lane, who lost to Masco's Alex Jones in the finals.

Yesterday's OWs were Ken Karas of Masconomet for the lower weights and Hamilton-Wenham's Ryan Hanna for the upper weights. They were champions at 140 and 145 pounds respectively.