THE MELROSE High wrestling team returns this week straight off a first place finish at the Ashland Early Bird Tournament. (photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)
Melrose debuts with 1st place at Ashland tourney
By JENNIFER GENTILE
ASHLAND—Straight off their state championship title last winter, the Melrose High varsity wrestling team have wasted no time in their pre-season and have proven that they remain a team to beat in the state after an impressive first place showing at the annual Ashland Tournament at Ashland High School last weekend.
Melrose beat 11 teams overall and tied Ashland in the top spot, right ahead of Coventry High of Rhode Island.
Returning Melrose coach Larry Tremblay confirms it’s a great start. “We didn’t take Ashland last year, so this is a good way to kick off the season.”
First place winners included senior captain Oto Albanese, sophomore Mike Thomas and freshman Luke Brodeur. Overall, those placing included captain Steven Fogarty (2nd) Alec McLaughlin, Nico Chiulli and John Morares (all third). Marco Albanese, Pedro Ribeiro and new player Gio Delgado all placed sixth in their weight classes.
Melrose is represented this year by captains Steven Fogarty, Alec McLaughlin, Oto Albanese and Braden Marceau-Olayinka. Overall, they return about 10 starters who include additional wrestlers such as Michael Thomas, Dom Delgado, Quinn Fogarty, Gabe Laverde, Alex Tremblay and Luke Spencer. Overall a large, 26-player roster will see action this winter.
Melrose also brings to the season ten freshmen, which puts them in a great place in terms of covered weight classes. It means some exclusive time devoted to fundamental training for the young players. A few of those wrestlers have earned their first varsity win, which includes Luke Brodeur, Gio Delgado, Max Rosnov and John Morares.
Early impressions show a team that will rely on a collective group effort for wins, rather than one or two standout wrestlers, and that works just fine for Coach Tremblay. For that’s the formula Melrose used last season when they took the Div. 3 Title just last year.
“We will certainly be in the mix this season,” says Tremblay, who predicts teams like Tewksbury, Ashland and, of course, Wakefield, will be among those to beat.
Melrose opens their season at home on Wednesday against Wilmington and will compete in the Sons of Italy tournament at the Shriner’s Auditorium this weekend.