Rockets Review: Boys Team Wrestling Way to Wellesley Showdown

The following was submitted by the Needham Wrestling Team:

Needham Wrestling won its fourth straight Bay State League Meet against Brookline, 43-25, last Wednesday, before going 1-1 and making the Quarterfinals of the North Andover Dual Meet Invitational on Saturday. 

Against Brookline, The Rockets got pins from Senior Captain Islam Baiev, Seniors Tak Hirayama and Aten Miles, and Sophomore Will Burke. Freshman Lucas Goldman, Senior Captain Mikhail Khibkin, Junior Zach Goldman and Senior Andrew Kingston notched decision victories against their Warrior opponents. Kingston, who had just returned from an early season injury, came back from an early deficit, beating a Brookline Captain, 8-6 in overtime. 

At North Andover, The Rockets had a strong 48-21 victory over Salem in which, Senior Captain Mark Carroll, Z. Goldman, Khibkin, Baiev, Kingston and Hirayama won by fall. Moving to the Quarters against North Andover where they fell to the State's #1 ranked team,  45-21. Needham got impressive victories in the effort from Carroll, Khibkin and Hirayama who all pinned early in their bouts, and then, from Senior Captain John Cronin who had a dominating 4-0 decision.

The week brought the Rockets to 12-6 overall and 7-3 in the Bay State League, setting up what should be a great showdown with Wellesley (also 7-3 in the league) on Wednesday Night.