THE SKY is the limit for the MHS wrestling team who became 2023 Div. 3 Dual Meet State Champs last Saturday with a come from behind victory over rival Tewksbury. (courtesy photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
ASHLAND—The Melrose High wrestling team prevailed in an epic 39-36 victory over favorite Tewksbury at the Div. 3 State Dual Meet held at Ashland High on Saturday, Feb. 4 to clinch the 2023 Dual State Meet title, this on the eve of the MIAA Sectionals.
It was one of their best collective efforts of the season and a true, come-from-behind win, with sophomores Mike Thomas (3-0, 2 pins) and Marco Albanese (3-0, 3 pins) sealing victory with a decision and pin that reversed a 36-30 Tewksbury lead into a 39-36 Melrose win—with Albanese sealing the victory with a pin in the 120. It’s Melrose second Dual Meet State Title since 2020.
Getting there, Melrose defeated Foxborough, 64-11, to advance against Duxbury, who they beat in a 48-24 victory in an exciting semifinal.
The best part of the championship is that it came from their favored rival, Tewksbury, who beat Melrose in January, 63-18. To say the result was stunning may be an understatement.
While the underclassmen came up in the end, senior captains paved the day. Stephen Fogarty went 3-0 with 2 pins, Oto Albanese also went 3-0 with 2 pins and Braden Marceau-Olayinka went a perfect 3-0 with 3 pins.
It was also a great day for junior Nico Chiulli who had a clutch pin, Luke Brodeur and Johnny Morales (two pins each) and Max Rosnov and Quinn Fogarty who went 2-1. Senior captain Alec McLaughlin pulled up a key pin to keep Melrose in the mix.
Against Tewksbury, Johnny Morales started things off in the 126 with a pin over his Tewksbury opponent to lift Melrose, 6-0. Tewksbury took a pin in the 132 and a 7-4 decision in the 138, putting them ahead 9-6.
Steve Fogarty and Oto Albanese (in the 152 and 160) gave Melrose a crucial 18-15 lead. Melrose fell in the 170 and saw Tewksbury take a 21-18 lead. The pendulum swung and Melrose’s Nico Chiulli came up huge in the 182, putting the lead back to Melrose, 24-21. Then it swung again and Tewksbury took an 11-5 win in the 195.
The score was 24-24 with Braden Marceau-Olayinka up, and he didn’t fail, delivering a first period pin in the 220, making it a tied match at 30-30, paving the way for the two sophomores to clinch the win. Thomas and Albanese prevailed and its safe to say the gymnasium erupted.
Melrose will now look at a post season, including this weekend’s Sectional at Tewksbury High.