Published in the October 26, 2016 edition
WATERTOWN — The Warrior boys’ cross country team had one last matter to deal with to capture its first Middlesex League Freedom division championship since the 2013 season.
Wakefield took care of that business in the form of a 20-39 triumph over Watertown in the dual meet finale yesterday afternoon at Arsenal Park.
The Warriors wrapped up the league schedule with a 5-0 record and finished the dual meet schedule with a 6-1 overall record.
“The boys were confident going into the Watertown meet feeling they could take care of business and secure the league title,” said Coach Perry Pappas. “Based on previous performances this season the Warriors were much stronger on paper. They just had to run their own race and make it official.”
That they did as they secured 12 of the top 13 places in the race.
Watertown senior James Piccirilli came in first on the 2.8 mile course in a time of 15:44. After that it was a sea of red as 12 Wakefield runners crossed the finish line.
Matt Greatorex, a junior, was the runner-up at 16:04. Right behind him were teammates Adam Roberto and Ryan Sullivan, two senior captains, and junior Tom Lucey as they took third, fourth and fifth with identical times of 16:05.
Jack Stevens, a senior captain, was Wakefield’s fifth runner and he placed sixth overall at 16:06.
Mike Frezza, a senior, and Tanner Jellison, a freshman, were the sixth and seventh runners for the Warriors to round out the varsity. Frezza and Jellison finished seventh and eighth with times of 16:16 and 16:16.
“The last time the boys team won the league title was in 2013 when the seniors were just freshmen,” said Pappas. “More recently a strong Melrose team was able to defeat the Warriors in the previous two seasons as last year they (Melrose) were the All State runners-up.
“The boys fed off the rivalry with Melrose and were very motivated to win back the title. In doing so they have boosted the program to the #2 team in the Massachusetts small school rankings and number #1 ranked team in the Division 4 EMass State rankings,” continued Pappas. “Now the boys can focus on the Middlesex League championship meet and state meets in November.”
Wakefield also had some good performances from its JV runners in the meet.
Junior Riley Brackett (ninth overall, 16:20), sophomore Rohan Singhvi (10th, 16:21), sophomore Billy Stevens (11th, 16:21), sophomore Casey Brackett (12th, 16:28) and junior Robert Shaw (13th, 16:38) were the top JV runners in the meet.
The rest of the JV runners included senior Justin McGonagle (16:58), sophomore Derrick Scheeler (17:03), sophomore Matt Roberto (17:06), sophomore Derryn Langlois (17:11), senior Shahnawaz Anwar (17:24), junior Ryan Smith (17:26), junior David Lee (17:32), freshman James Crump (18:07), junior Max Hinchey (18:08), freshman David Root (18:20), junior Dominick Dennis (18:22), sophomore Chris Beaudoin (18:39), senior captain James Connors (18:44), freshman Jack Palmer (18:53), sophomore Tom Harrington (19:04), freshman Jack Callahan (19:39), sophomore Sam Simpson (19:45), senior Cal Sylvia (20:34), freshman Andrew Russell (23:28) and sophomore Brian McGonagle (24:34).
The Warriors will now get ready for the league meet which will be held on Monday beginning at 2 p.m. at the Woburn Country Club.
