Duo will also compete in All Star Classic
Published in the April 7, 2017 edition
STATE CHAMPIONS Hunter Adrian (left) and Antonio DiFronzo earned All Scholastic honors for their remarkable seasons with the state-winning MHS wrestling team. (file photo)
MELROSE—Melrose High School state champions Hunter Adrian and Antonio DiFronzo earned All Scholastic honors after a historic season in which they led the Melrose Red Raider wrestling team to a Div. 3 State title.
Senior captain Antonio DiFronzo was recognized by The Boston Herald after an outstanding senior year. The 195-pound Middlesex League All-Star became the Division 3 State Champ and North sectional champ during Melrose’s historic run. DiFronzo turned heads earlier in the season when he won the Lowell Holiday tournament and went on to a 53-3 season. DiFronzo earned silver at All-States and was fourth at the New England Championship.The three-sport athlete is also all-star in football.
Hunter Adrian, a freshman, put his name on the map in the 106 pound class. He not only won the Div. 3 State title (and sectional title) but also became an All State champion. He capped off his season Wayland Holiday Tournament last December he went on to a record of 47-5 over the team’s historic season.
Adrian has three more seasons to collect medal and break records at the school, much of the delight of his coaches James Bleiler and Tim Morris. But Melrose High has seen the last of DiFronzo as a Red Raider wrestler come this Sunday, when both he and Adrian compete in the The Massachusetts Braggin’ Rights Classic at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, MA. The All-Star dual meet will feature and Awards Ceremony and College Fair. The senior DiFronzo spoke to The Melrose Weekly News about his high school experience.
“It’s bittersweet. I’m proud of what me and the boys have accomplished,” he said. “We have the best coaches around – I wouldn’t ask any any other guys in our corner. It’s really going to be hard to leave it all behind. I’ll miss my brothers on the team next year but I’m happy to say when I come back I can see the [state champion] banner hanging in the gym.”
DiFronzo, who is still deciding on college plans, recalls his nerves during freshmen year, back when he looked up to the Stanton brothers who wrestled at MHS. His advice to young kids who want to wrestle? “Keep working hard, bring fire and push yourself harder and harder everyday.”
