Wakefield has five grapplers qualify for New England Tournament
Published in the March 1, 2017 edition
ZACH ARRIA, a fifth grader (second from left), was crowned the champion at 111 lbs. in the Youth Wrestling State Tournament which was held at Minnechaug Regional High School.
WILBRAHAM — The Wakefield Memorial High wrestling team had a record setting season. Given how well the Wakefield youth wrestlers did in the Massachusetts Youth Wrestling State Tournament which was held on Sunday, Feb. 19 at Minnechaug Regional High School, the future could very bright for the Warriors in the years to come.
Wakefield crowned one champion and had several others place in the tournament.
Fifth grader Zach Arria was crowned Wakefield’s first Fifth-Sixth grade state champion at 111 lbs. Arria went 3-0 to win the title at his weight class.
Arria pinned Wachusett’s Michael Gregorie at 1:16. Arria then pulled out an 8-6 overtime triumph over Boston’s Drew Tavares. Arria then pinned Chelmsford’s Kyle Wilder at 2:10.
Jayden D’Ambrosio placed fourth place at 86 lbs.
Others competing at the younger level were Andrew Valley at 69 lbs., Jaxon Pace at 97 lbs., and Tommy Grover at 81 lbs.
In the middle school division, Wakefield had four more wrestlers that competed.
Matthew Cummings, Bo Tryder, and Nathan Ickes all placed sixth in their respective weight classes. Cummings wrestled at 136 lbs., Tryder competed at 143 lbs., and Ickes wrestled at 188 lbs.
Luke Ickes also competed in the tourney at 136 lbs., but did not place.
Arria, D’Ambrosio, Cummings, Tryder, and Nathan Ickes have all qualified for the 11th annual Youth New England Wrestling Championship Tournament which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12 at Salem High School.
