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Differing champs for Salem

SALEM — There was the highly predictable and the totally unexpcted Saturday at the Blue Devil Classic at Salem High School.

Which, really, is the beauty of a season-opening tournament.

In this case, both situations were manifest with host Salem, which finished a strong third with 137 points. Perennial champ Concord was first (198) with Central Catholic second (168.5).

For Salem, junior Tristen Cabinta won as expected, even if he was wrestling up a weight class or two. The defending champ at 152, he cruised to the title at 182, pinning Pinkerton's Kyle Setzer in 44 seconds in the finals.

"I'll be wrestling at 160 or 170 during the year but I don't mind wrestling up," said Cabinta, who was 44-5 last year and a New England placer. "The kids are stronger but I can use more technique on them."

If Cabinta was a shoe-in to win his weight class, the opposite was true of Salem heavyweight Josh Ozoria, a sophomore who few people knew about prior to Saturday.

Ozoria, who missed almost all of last year with a wrist injury and concussion, was pinned in his debut dual meet during the week but he stunned the field Saturday, opening with two pins, recording a 7-0 decision in the semifinals and then beating No. 1 seed Will Woods of Concord in overtime.

"I wasn't expecting it," admitted Ozorio. "I was justhoping to be in the top three."

But Salem assistant Keith Dearden, for one, was not totally surprised.

"When he wrestled in middle school, he showed potential," said Dearden. "Today he wreatled like we anted him to. He'll be even better when he gets in better shape."

With its strongest showing in recent memory, Salem also got a second from Matt Adams at 120 and thirds from freshman George Boudreu at 120 and 220-pounder Beau Dillon, each of whom had pins in their consolation final match.

"I think big thibngs are coming for our team this year," said Cabinta.

Central Catholic, meanwhile crowned three champions and all were pretty much expected.

Sophomore Mike Glynn was particularly impressive by winning at 106, posting four straight pins including two in the first minute, older brother Tyler Glynn prevailed at 126, defeating Windham's rugged Vinnie Marino 2-1 in the finals and senior Joe Sanchez coasted to the 145-pound title with three pins and a 9-2 decision in the finals.

Also for the Raiders, Connor Murphy was second at 152, dropping a back-and-forth 11-9 decision to Concord's Isaac Habimana in the finals, and Jose Binet was runner-up at 170..

Pinkerton, which finished fourth as a team,crpwned two champs in Sterling McLaughlin at 195 and Robbie Fahey at 220. McLaughlin, who fell to Cabinta in a dual meet last week, had three straight pins, including over teammate Raul Martinez in the finals.

Fahey defended his title from last year, but it wasn't easy, winning a physical match, 6-4 in overtime.

For fifth-place Windham, Riley Millette captured the 120-pound crown, pinning Adams in the finals after surviving Boudreau, 8-5, in the semifinals. Also for the Jaguars, Payton Sills was runner-up at 113, Marimno was second at 126 and both Nick Sweyer (132) and Connor Sills (106) took thirds).