24-5 Melrose now considered a Sectional favorite
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It’s been a near-flawless season for the MHS wrestling team, who are now 24-5 on the season and unbeaten in Freedom League play following a weekend trip to Natick where they picked up two wins over Newton South and Weymouth and days later, a dual meet win over Belmont. Next week they will host the most anticipated meet of the season: The Brawl in the Hall against Wakefield, which almost always determines the winner of the league.
Wakefield is enjoying a strong season as well, unbeaten in the Freedom league and have only lost less than a handful of dual meets. The Brawl in the Hall takes place next Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 at Melrose’s Memorial Hall. It’s also expected to be broadcast on MHS TV on YouTube as it has in several years.
It appears Melrose might have the edge this year, as they is currently ranked #12 in the state as a dual team and are the highest-ranked Div. 2 North team.
One major factor in their success has been the relentless winning of Melrose junior Johnny Moraes, who on Saturday earned his 100th career victory—an impressive feat for a junior. He remains undefeated and #1 ranked in his weight class in all of Massachusetts.
When he reached the milestone last weekend, he soaked up the moment with friends and family. “This means a lot,” he said. “When I was a freshman I thought it was something only seniors did. The best part of being on this team is seeing the hard work that my team puts in pay off.” In fact, Moraes only started wrestling his freshman year, which makes him a rare find. “A few upperclassmen asked me to join freshman year because I love martial arts,” he confirmed.
With another year to go, he most likely will reach the exclusive 150-victory club. This season, with him being undefeated, expect him to go far against statewide and New England competition. There will most certainly be medals.
“I’d love to win New England’s,” he says. “I think that would be huge and I want to see our team enjoy our wrestling no matter what the outcome, and to be excited to come back next year.”
Coach Larry Tremblay tipped his cap to his junior captain. “Johnny is having a great season. He trains heard, always is in a good mood and smiling. He is also really mature for his age. I expect even more from him next year.”
Meanwhile, coach Tremblay is enjoying his own milestone: He notched his 850th career win recently. A longtime Winchester High wrestling coach, has made his mark at MHS in his 7 years, with 3 individual state titles and 2 dual meet state titles earned.
His 850th win happened after Melrose’s quad-meet victories over Concord-Carlisle, Holliston, Hopkinton and Catholic Memorial. With the milestone, Tremblay becomes the second wrestling coach in state history to get there. He is now at 855 and will only need 13 wins to surpass former St. John Prep coach Manny Costa, who holds the record at 867. “Manny and I have switched the distinction over the years. I held it, and then he held it. But, I’ll need a few more to catch up,” Tremblay confirms.
When asked how breaking 850 feels, he was bluntly honest, “Old. I feel old.”
As Melrose prepares for The Brawl, they had a fine dual meet against Natick, Newton South and Weymouth. Melrose beat Newton South and Weymouth but fell in the third match of the day, a one-point loss, 34-35, against a strong Natick team (#7 rank).
Melrose saw victories from Brennan Secor (1 win) Owen Savage (2 wins) Johnny Moraes (3 wins) Luke Brodeur (3 wins) Jack Shea (3 wins) Cian Sullivan (1 win) Luke Mestjian (1 win) Luke Kelley (2 wins), Parker Seibel (2 wins), Marco Albanese (3 wins) Quinn Fogarty (3 wins) and Scott Santos (2 wins).
There is plenty of wrestling left to go. This week they will take on Belmont and Watertown before they prepare to fight for a league title next Thursday at historic Memorial Hall.
Coach Tremblay says of the Warriors, “Wakefield will be tough. [Ayden] Lamb and [Sean] Callanan are outstanding. They also have a good football players on the squad too. They will push us.”