2-time grand slam champ heading to Nationals
Published March 8, 2019
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—There is rarely such thing as perfection in high school sports. But then there is Melrose wrestler Hunter Adrian.
The Melrose High School junior will need his parents to build him another bedroom to store all the medals he’s earning as a Red Raider wrestler.
On March 2, 2018, the 113-pound wrestler became a repeat New England Champion at the Providence Career and Technical Academy by prevailing over Connecticut state champ Elijah Cyr in the 113 weight class for his second straight New England Title.
This was Hunter’s 108th consecutive win. This season he remains a flawess 58-0 and has extended his all time record to 157-5.
NEW ENGLAND Champion Hunter Adrian of Melrose High stands on the podium as winner of the 113 weight class. (courtesy photo)
What he accomplished is known as a Grand Slam in wrestling: earning Sectional, State, All-State and New England championship titles in one season. He pulled off the same feat last year as an MHS sophomore. Currently, no one in all of New England can beat him, thus, the only thing left is a National high school title.
He will compete with the nation’s best at the NHSCA High School Nationals on March 29 in Virginia Beach, VA.
An academically strong student, Hunter is already drawing the interest of Ivy League schools Brown and Princeton, while consideration is also going to Duke and Davidson. This gives him the potential of being one of the finest student athletes to ever come out of Melrose High. Certainly the best wrestler.
How does anyone achieve such success by the age of 17?
Training. And lots of it.
“I do a ton of off-season wrestling and travel to see competition outside New England,” says Hunter. “In the off-season I plan of perfecting my technique, getting stronger and getting ready for the next level.”
Whatever he’s doing, it’s working. He steamrolled his way to All New Englands this season and swept the field on Saturday to continue his undefeated season.
So how does it feel to repeat his championship? He may have to take a New England Patriot approach to compare his multiple titles.
“This title feels way more special than last year’s,” he admits. “All the hard work and sacrifice I put in this season feels very rewarding now.”
But he acknowledges some opponents gave him a run for his money last weekend. “I definitely had the toughest draw of the tourney,” he says. “I wrestled the 2nd-5th placers in my bracket, and had a few close matches early but battled my way through, and found my niches. Then I was dominant from that time forward.”
Adrian’s talent was noted years ago while in the youth circuit. As a freshman, the word on the varsity mats was to “watch this kid” along with the prediction that this then 14/15 year old could someday be a national champ or Olympian. Adrian may be on that path.
“What he’s accomplishing is very rare for any program,” notes first year Melrose coach Larry Tremblay. “Only two wrestlers have won four All-State titles.” The former Winchester head coach and current Hall of Famer is quick to refuse credit, and has previously noted, “Hunter is the one who has made him who he is. It’s his work ethic and natural talent. He has the potential to be the best wrestler to ever come out of Massachusetts.”
One more All-State title automatically enters Hunter into the Massachusetts Wrestling Hall of Fame. The probability of that one? Very likely. And if he earns another New England title he will be instantly entered into the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame. That’s also a very strong probability.
It’s been a long road for the son of Matthew and Dawn Adrian of Melrose, who’ve supported his many years of wrestling. The sport is in Hunter’s blood as his dad, Matthew Adrian, was a former Melrose High School wrestling captain. The two clearly share the passion for the sport.
“My teammates, coaches and family have been very supportive of my journey this season,” says Adrian. “My parents especially have been the backbone to my success with all the support they gave me.”
“He’s the most humble champion of all time,” surmises coach Tremblay.
And even if his affable nature masks raw ambition, Hunter Adrian has his eye distinctly on the prize.
He says, “My goal is to win Nationals this year, then go back next year and do it all over again.”
Let the games begin.
