Wrestling Season Ends After Pair Qualifies, Competes in All-State Meet

Anna Cruikshank and Liam O'Brien pose with coaches. || Photo Courtesy: Marblehead/Swampscott Wrestling

Two athletes on the Marblehead/Swampscott wrestling team recently wrapped up a season of unprecedented accomplishments in the history of the program.

Sophomore Anna Cruikshank, in her first year wrestling with the program, became the first Marblehead/Swampscott girls wrestler to qualify in the all-state tournament.

Senior Liam O’Brien finished his career as the most winning wrestler in Marblehead/Swampscott history with 188 career victories. O’Brien won two Division 2 North sectional championships in his storied career.

Cruikshank and O’Brien stepped onto the mat to compete one last time this season on Monday in Springfield at the Massachusetts all-state tournament. The pair qualified for the all-state meet after strong performances in the Division 2 state championships in February, where O’Brien finished in third and Cruikshank in fourth in their respective weight classes.

“We are very excited that she will be back next season,” said Head Coach Mike Stamison of Cruikshank. “It takes a pretty special person to wrestle, and being the only girl on the team while also being brand new takes a bravery that’s hard to put into words.”

O’Brien finished his senior season with 46 wins and just seven losses.

“Liam the kid and person is better than the accolades,” said Stamison. “He is very well liked throughout the region, and is a great leader, especially in this season leading a very, very young squad.”

Stamison called the end of the season a “devastating feeling, and thanked senior athletes for all of the effort they put into the program.

Athletes, coaches and families of the program will meet one last time this season for a banquet on March 25, where season awards will be given out.

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