Grapplers wind down season

Season highlighted by individual successes, youngsters gaining experience

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead-Swampscott Black & Blue co-op wrestling team has just two team wins to date, but there have been many outstanding individual performances that promise hope for the future and have brought some acclaim to seniors on the roster.

Season highlights to date

Senior captain Nicolai Tarason of Swampscott (25-7) has literally been the team’s leader. This year, he won the Anthony Lisitano Memorial, ended up fifth at the Pentucket Holiday Tourney and was third in the Daniel Gionet Memorial.

“(Tarason) has been excellent on his feet, and in every other position on the mat. He’s also the vocal and emotional leader of the team,” coach Mike Stamison said. “He is a great wrestler on top, and is overall very cerebral, intelligent and tough.”

Tarason’s attitude provides a good role model for the younger grapplers on the roster, including freshman Liam O’Brien of Swampscott, who won the Pentucket and Gionet tournaments, and was sixth in the Lisitano