By DAN PAWLOWSKI
NORTH READING — The Wakefield High golf team improved to 12-0 on the season with four more victories over the last two weeks.
The Warriors beat Wilmington (38-34), Reading (37-35), Essex Tech (56-34) and Arlington (36.5-35.5) to keep their perfect season alive.
Wakefield also officially clinched the Middlesex League’s Freedom Division championship for the second consecutive year with their win over the Spy Ponders.
The Warriors have two matches left this week in addition to the Middlesex League Shootout which will take place tomorrow, 9 a.m. at Bear Hill Golf Club.
Wakefield hosted Wilmington on Sept. 17 at the Thomson Country Club in North Reading. The Wildcats pushed Wakefield to the brink but the home team prevailed on the back nine. Patrick Maloney shot a 37 (+1) and Ryan Dodge shot a 38 (+2) to lead the way. Dodge won his matchup 6.5-2.5 while Maloney was victorious 6-3. James Maloney also won, 5.5-3.5. Mike Yianacopolus (39) and Alex Tracy both earned 4.5-4.5 ties, helping the Warriors hold off their opponents.
The next day, Wakefield traveled to Meadow Brook Golf Club in Reading to take on the Rockets. An even closer match ended in a thrilling, 37-35 win for Wakefield. Yianacopolus led the way in this one, shooting a 38 (+2) to win his matchup, 7-2. Patrick Maloney had a 37 (+1) to tie a tough opponent at the No. 1 spot. Wakefield’s top five all played well. In addition to Yianacopolus and Maloney, Wakefield got wins from Brayden Myette (38, 5.5-3.5), Dodge (38, 5.5-3.5) and James Maloney (40, 5.5-3.5).
The Warriors returned to Thomson on Sept. 28 and took down Essex Tech in a non-league matchup, 56-34. Earning victories for Wakefield was Patrick Maloney (36, 6.5-2.5), Yianacopolus (36, 6.5-2.5), Dodge (39, 7-2), Jake Morris (41, 6-3), Ryan McCarthy (41, 5.5-3.5) and Brayden Myette (42, 5-4).
The Warriors made it 12-0 with their closest win of the season, 36.5-35.5 over an always-strong Arlington team on Sept. 29 at Thomson. Dodge made 9 pars to shoot a 36 and win 8.5-0.5 which tilted the match enough for Wakefield to hold on. The freshmen, Davin Myette (36, 6-3) and James Maloney (38, 5.5-3.5) came up huge for the Warriors in this one.
In addition to all of their team success, Wakefield made headlines recently when Patrick Maloney was recognized by the New England PGA Jr. Tour at their annual awards banquet on Sept. 28 at Winchester Country Club. Maloney earned the award for top Junior Golfer for talent, attitude, integrity and sportsmanship.
“He’s obviously a very talented golfer, but this award speaks even more to his character than his talent,” said Wakefield head coach Chris Keane. “A good team needs great leaders and when those leaders are your better players, it sets the tone for the entire team. He’s a great leader for the Wakefield Warriors, but also for junior golfers across the state of Massachusetts.”
Wakefield hosts Belmont (8-1) today, 3:30 p.m. at Thomson in a matchup of the top two teams in the Middlesex League. After the ML Shootout tomorrow morning, the Warriors will travel to Winchester Country Club in the afternoon to take on the Red and Black at 3:30 p.m.