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Schools

Colwell Leads Madison High School Wrestlers

Three Madison Dodgers place at Marauder Invitational.

The Madison High School wrestling squad started off the new season with three members placing at the Mount Olive Invitational Tournament on Saturday.

Leading the team was senior 145-pounder, Ryan Colwell. Colwell, a region champ last season, started off his campaign in the dominant fashion that Dodgers fans have become used to seeing from the team leader.

His path to the finals began with a second-period pin of Atoine Delannoy of Kinnelon and in his second match, a semifinal matchup against Adam Armstrong of Newton, Colwell appeared dominant, coming away with a 5-0 decision.

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In his finals matchup, Colwell faced Ryan Harrington from Mendham. After a scoreless first period, Colwell opted to take the bottom position to begin the second. Colwell was able to escape and the second period ended with the Madison native leading 1-0.

Harrington took the bottom position in the third period and after almost escaping a number of times, Colwell let the 145-pounder up in an effort to avoid giving up a switch (which would have yielded Harrington two points). Instead, the escape tied the score at 1-1.

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Almost immediately, Colwell successfully shot in with a double leg take-down and took a 3-1 lead. Again, to avoid a two-point switch, Colwell released the Mendham wrestler and with 20 seconds remaining, Colwell avoided Harrington's numerous attempts at a take-down and the match ended in a 3-2 win for the 145-pound Madison wrestler.

"Ryan Colwell is a region winner (last season) and he won another tough match against a solid sophomore today," said Head Coach Steve Healey. "He knows how to win tough matches against good competition."

The other two Dodgers who placed were sophomore 112-pounder Patsy Davis and junior heavyweight (285) Michael Boardman. Both Davis and Boardman recorded pins in their consolation round match-ups and took home bronze medals.

"Patsy Davis may have had the toughest weight class in the tournament," Healey said. "He lost to a kid who has a been a force in the regions and states, but performed very well."

"Michael Boardman wrestled well and took third. He's coming around and we expect big things and big improvement from him this season. He should be a major part of our team," Healey said.

Finishing fourth was senior Anthony Costa (160). Healey said of the senior, "he finished fourth, but I know he feels he should have wrestled better. In the coming weeks, he will get better."

152-pound senior, Christian Mazzocchi was pulled from the tournament due to illness after his first round win.

Healey said of his team, "we had a couple of kids lose early who could have won and some should have. It's a good indicator of what we need to work on going into our duel meets."

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