Clippers capture John D. Gorman Memorial Tournament

January 14, 2012

Tom LaCroix was the lone Clipper to notch a victory in the finals of Saturday's John D. Gorman Memorial Invitational. Photo by ERNEST A. BROWN

CUMBERLAND – It was a strange kind of tournament for Cumberland, which easily clinched the John D. Gorman Memorial team title before the finals began on Saturday night, then saw its first four finalists lose before unbeaten Tom LaCroix salvaged some Clipper pride with a convincing win at 195 pounds.
Lincoln High heavyweight Nick Zicuis capped the tournament with a 3-2 victory in the 285-pound finals, scoring a late takedown to edge Durfee High’s Andre Torres.
(See related story, page B6.)
“Tommy LaCroix is pretty unique,” Cumberland coach Steve Gordon said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a wrestler of his height (6-foot-3) who is so athletic and completely in control. He’s all over everybody. And he’s on a mission this year after losing in the finals last year.”
LaCroix rolled to a methodical 6-1 victory over North Providence’s Sebastian Dziadkiewic in the championship match, leaving his opponent little room to move, or even breathe, with two takedowns, a reverse and a strong ride in each of the final two periods.
Cumberland’s Erik Travers dropped a 5-0 verdict to South Windsor’s Sam Odell in the 145 finals. Odell reversed in the second period for a 2-0 lead and added three back points in the third period while riding Travers out.
For his effort, Odell, a former Connecticut state champion, was named Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament.
Zicuis showed his poise in the 285 finals, taking a 1-0 lead over Torres with an escape in the second period. Torres escaped to tie the match in the second period. The score remained tied until the Lincoln heavyweight took Torres down with 10 seconds left in the match for a 3-1 lead. Zicuis let Torres up with four seconds to go to account for the final margin.
The Lincoln heavyweight won his semifinal over La Salle’s John Sturgis in similar fashion, scoring a late takedown to salt away the victory.
Lincoln’s Alex D’Aloisio ran into a tough foe in the 120 finals, dropping an 8-1 decision to North Attleboro’s Shane Leblanc, who became the winningest wrestler in school history with the triumph, his 120th career win.
Ponaganset’s Tyler Noury ran into a buzzsaw at 126, losing by a fall to Bristol Easton’s Rob Pedrazza.
Cumberland lost its first four finals. Sean Creamer fell by a 5-0 score to North Providence’s Mike Murphy at 132 and then Jon Maccini got pinned by Bristol Easton’s Craig Sassu in 3:14 of the 138 title match. After Travers lost at 145, Cumberland’s Aaron O’Toole was outclassed by Bristol Easton’s Matt Marquis, 11-3 at 160.
Smithfield’s Tom Howard netted a 9-3 win in the 170 final over Hope’s Ryan Forrester.
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JOHN D. GORMAN
MEMORIAL Tournament
Championship finals
106 – Eric Benevides (Durfee) def. Jesse Ribezzo (Johnston) 16-0
113 – Matia Alverez (Johnston) pinned Conor Caffrey 1:38
120 – Shane Leblanc (North Attleboro) def. Alex D’Aloisio (Lincoln) 8-1
126 – Rob Pedrazza (Bristol Easton) pinned Tyler Noury (Ponaganset) 4:49
132 – Mike Murphy (North Providence) def. Sean Creamer (Cumberland) 5-0
138 – Craig Sassu (Bristol Easton) def. Jon Maccini (Cumberland) 3:14
145 – Sam Odell (South Windsor) def. Erik Travers (Cumberland) 5-0
152 – Casey Mitchell (South Windsor) pinned Austin Renzi (North Attleboro) 3:54
160 – Matt Marquis (Bristol Easton) def. Aaron O’Toole (Cumberland) 11-3
170 – Tom Howard (Smithfield) def. Ryan Forrester (Hope) 9-3
182 – Nick Rovelli (East Longmeadow) def. Matt Braddock (South Windsor) 3-2
195 – Tom LaCroix (Cumberland) def. Sebastian Dziadkiewict (North Providence) 6-1
220 – Anthony Zambarano (North Providence) def. Brett Akerly (Bristol Easdton) 11-5
285 – Nick Zicuis (Lincoln) def. Andre Torres (Durfee) 3-2
Third-place finals
106 – Joe Conway (Weymouth) pinned Dylon Bross (Cumberland) 2:21
113 – Cody Beaduette (Cumberland) def. Jay Clarke (Ponaganset) 9-1
120 – Peyton Soucy (Bristol Easton) def. Adam Pereira (Durfee) 9-7
126 – Tim Tedesco (Johnston) def. Hunter Rich (South Windsor) 9-4
132 – Jake Strohman (East Longmeadow) def. John David (North Attleboro) 3-0
138 – Nick Champagne (Durfee) def. Josh Ribezzo (Johnston) 11-2
145 – Justin Caparco (Johnston) def. Emerson DeBrito (North Providence) 3-2
152 – Mark Conte (Johnston) won by default over Max Carlsten (Cumberland)
160 – John Labonte (South Windsor) def. Connor Humphries (East Longmeadow) 15-2
170 – Chris Hayes (Cumberland) pinned Mack Cash (North Providence) 3:41
182 – Matt Massotti (North Providence) def. George Sanberg (Hope) 2-1
195 – Mike Cassin (Bristol Easton) def. Bobby Deveau (North Attleboro) 22-6
220 – Cam Williamson (Cumberland) def. Mike Anderson (North Attleboro) 1:36
285 – John Sturgis (La Salle) def. A.J. Mangual (Bristol Easton)