THE MELROSE High wrestling team has returned strong to their 2021-22 season with a 3rd place finish in Ashland. (courtesy photo)
Melrose starts off their season strong
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High wrestling team is off to the quickest of starts, kicking off their season last week with an appearance at both the Middlesex v. Merrimack All-Star Dual Meet and the Ashland Earlybird Tournament. We’re not even at Christmas yet and Melrose wrestlers are already picking up wins and they will kick off their dual meet season this Wednesday (post-deadline) against Wilmington. Melrose will open at home on Tuesday, Dec. 21 against Nashoba Tech at 6:30 p.m.
It’s been a year since COVID-19 canceled Melrose’s 2020-21 winter season and relegated them outside in a Fall 2 season, which was an oddly genius idea that allowed wrestlers to stay in “sport shape” but was certainly anything but normal. But with all that behind them, Melrose is looking forward to a long season of about 16 meets not including appearances at big Invitationals over the season.
They will be led by captains seniors Shea Fogarty and Sean Thomas and juniors Alexander McLaughlin and Oto Albanese. Thomas returns as a state champion while Fogarty and Albanese and McLaughlin are multi-year all-stars.
Rounding out the roster are Marco Albanese Nick Chiulli, Dom Delgado, Steve Fogarty, Quinn Fogarty, Ian Gauch, Jacob Guzman-Ceniceros, Nick Hitchman, Krisztian Jaszkanics, Tommy Keefe, Gabe LaVerde, Braden Marceau-Olayinka, Pedro Ribeiro, Jacke Ruelle, Luke Spencers, Mike Thomas and Alex Tremblay.
With 21 athletes on the roster, Melrose can move on from last season when they were short-handed and had to forfeit weight classes due to sport season conflicts. That’s all behind them and now they are ready to collect some medals. And a greater indicator of that potential was their appearance at the Ashland EarlyBird Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 11 where several wrestlers picked up their first varsity wins, including Marco Albanese (4-0), who came in 1st in the 103 weight class. Other returning wrestlers placed high like Oto Albanese (145) and 160 Shea Fogarty (160) who both came in second.
Coming in third was Sean Thomas (120) and Ian Gauch (195). Taking fourth was Alec McLaughlin (138) and Pedro Ribiero (170). Nick Hitchman, Tommy Keefe & Dom Delgado picked up their 1st wins for Melrose, while Mike Thomas and Brayden Marceau each picked up their first two varsity wins with 5th place finishes.
Melrose finished 3rd overall, behind Coventry, RI & North Attleboro. The competition on Saturday consisted of teams Melrose will be expected to fight this season in their quest to earn a Sectional or repeat state title.
On Thursday, December 9, Melrose sent wrestlers to the annual Merrimack Valley Conference vs. Middlesex League pre-season All-Star dual meet at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence. Representing Melrose High School Wrestling were: Michael Thomas, at 113 lbs., Sean Thomas, 120 lbs., Alec McLaughlin, 132., Oto Albanese, 145 and Shea Fogarty, 160.
With this amount of depth on the roster, expect Melrose to be a favorite for a league title. According to Melrose head coach Larry Tremblay, Melrose is more than equipped to prevail in this season’s Brawl in the Hall against Wakefield, among other opponents. “Absolutely we want the league title. And I think we’re in the mix in Div. 3 too up with teams like Ashland, Foxboro and Tewksbury, who might be the favorite. It’s great that we have weight classes covered and a lot of returning experience.”
Melrose has a busy December, including an appearance this weekend at the Sons of Italy Tournament in Wilmington on Saturday, December 18, followed by their home opener on Dec. 21.
There are no fan restrictions, so mask up and come see all the live action.
Full season schedule:
(Home: Marcoux)
Wed Dec 15 @ Wil, 6:30
Sat Dec 18 @ Shriners Aud. 9
Tue Dec 21 v. Nashoba, 6:30
Mon Dec 27 TBA @ Lowell
Thu Dec 30 v. Danvers, 6:00
Wed Jan 5 v. Excel Academy, 6
Thu Jan 6 @ Reading, 7
Wed Jan 12 v. Burlington, 6
Sat Jan 15 TBA v. Holliston
Wed Jan 19 v. Winchester, 6
Thu Jan 20 v. Pentucket, 6
Sat Jan 22 v. Tewksbury, 10
Wed Jan 26 v. Watertown, 6
Sat Jan 29 v. TBA
Wed Feb 2 v. Wakefield, 7
Wed Feb 9 v. Woburn, 7
