RallyNorth.net

Methuen advances to tourney, reluctantly

Sunday, February, 10 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

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 Rangers notified the MIAA last week that it did not feel it could compete in the dual-meet tournament if it qualified because of fatigue and injuries. At first, James was told that it would not be a problem and that Methuen's team score would not be recorded. But the next day, James was contacted with a different decision.

"I was told that we had to go, that it was mandatory," said James. "I just don't think it's right. They don't know about our team. We're banged up and I don't want to jeopardize the kids we have going to the state meet by having to spend a long day in another dual meet, maybe two (meets)."

Lowell, which finished first at the Division 1 individual sectional yesterday, will host the four-team meet Tuesday or possibly Wednesday and square off against St. John's Prep (which finished fourth at Methuen) in the first round. Chelmsford and Methuen, which finished second and third respectively, will meet in the other semifinal at 6 p.m. with the final scheduled for 8 p.m.

Methuen will now compete, but it won't be the regulars that will be on the mat according to James.

"None of the kids who will be going to state will be wrestling | I can't risk it," said James. "And some of our other kids are banged up as well, so I doubt they'll be wrestling. We'll show up, but I don't know who will wrestle. "I just don't think they should run this tournament in the postseason. It's not right."

Several coaches who have long advocated a dual-meet tournament believe this is setting a dangerous precedent, but Methuen is not the first team to not participate. Whittier qualified for the tournament last year, but declined to take part because it did not believe it would be competitive.