Published in the February 22, 2017 edition
THE 2017 Div. 3 state champion Melrose High School wrestling team swept the field at the Div. 3 State Finals on Saturday at Wakefield High, earning their first ever wrestling team state title. Pictured celebrating after their championship win are: (kneeling) Stephen MacIntosh and champ Hunter Adrian; Sitting: Sean Herbert, champ Antonio DiFronzo, Patrick Whelan, Collin Casey. Standing: asst. coach Tim Morris, asst. coach Nick Macintosh, Mandip Singh, Mike Calvert, Isaac Siede, Josh Roderick, Cam Rosie, Jake Fortier and head coach James Bleiler. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Red Raider wrestling team are 2017 Div. 3 State Champions.
History was made on February 18 at Wakefield High when the Melrose High School wrestling team swept the field at the MIAA Div. 3 State Finals, earning a first place finish with 149 points, ahead of Foxboro (127), Wayland (124) and Danvers (115.5). The team Div. 3 State title is the first-ever in school history and cements the Red Raiders’ legacy as the most accomplished wrestling team to hit a mat at MHS.
Melrose head coach Jim Bleiler earned Div. 3 Coach of the Year honors for his work in the season. Under his guidance, Melrose finished 20-1-1 in the regular season, took the Div. 3 North sectional crown last week and now advances to All States at Reading High on Feb. 24 and 25th.
“The kids knew what they had to do and went out and did it,” said coach Bleiler. “We had a couple of hiccups early on, but the kids worked through it.”
Melrose crowned two individual state champs in freshman Hunter Adrian and senior captain Antonio DiFronzo. Adrian took a 10-2 win over Ian Forgitano of Georgetown/Ipswich in the 106 weight class finals, while DiFronzo prevailed over Pentucket’s Devin Young, 5-3, in the 195 finals.
“This is just an unbelievable feeling,” says DiFronzo after the victory. “We couldn’t do it without our coaches Bleiler and [Tim] Morris who are there 7 days a week. We weren’t going to stop until it was done.”
DiFronzo has been a pure beast for Melrose. His current record is impeccable 45-0 and he will likely be considered a favorite at All-States in the 195-weight class.
Adrian, a freshman, may seem young, but he is wise in wrestling years. An exceptional youth wrestler, he joined the team this year and wasted no time establishing a strong varsity career. Coach Bleiler referred to Adrian as “a machine” after his win. That’s pretty accurate. Adrian’s record this season was 40-2. According the wrestler, he came into the meet believing he could do it. “I just wanted to work hard in practice this week and stay focused. I’ve been doing this since first grade. So this feels good.”
Fans were on their feet when Melrose senior Antonio DiFronzo came to the mat late in the afternoon in the 195 finals. After some back and forth, DiFronzo took a 2-1 lead and in the third period was able to lift rival Young over his shoulder and on to the mat and preserve his lead and a 5-3 win. “I just saw an opening and took it. Bleiler and [coach] Mo tell us if you see an opening go for it. And it paid off.”
DiFronzo’s rivalry with Young has been a year-long battle and their meeting in finals was almost a forgone conclusion. “He’s a strong kid and I can’t take anything away from him,” says DiFronzo of his opponent.
But it wasn’t just the two state champs who helped make history. Melrose as a team competed relentlessly in consolation play, finishing with eight wrestlers on the podium, earning the points needed to overcome their closest rivals, Wayland and Foxboro. That includes Sean Herbert, a 2016 state champion who took silver on Saturday for Melrose. “Sean is a state champ, he is used to the pressure for a young kid. And Hunter is just unbelievable. He doesn’t get intimidated,” says their coach.
Earning spots on the podium for Melrose were DiFronzo and Adrian, Herbert, Pat Whelan, Isaac Siede, Steven MacIntosh, Jacob Fortier and Mike Calvert.
“It’s what we preach in the wrestling room,” Bleiler said. “Even though it is individual sport, it is a team sport as well. A lot of those kids stepped up in the (consolation) rounds. Patrick took fourth and Isaac [Siede] had a big, big win.”
According to tri-captains Collin Casey, Antonio DiFronzo and Pat Whelan, this was a mission the Raiders believed in back in December in early dual meet play.
“We had a strong early season, and I’d say right around then we knew we could do it,” says Casey.
Whelan, one of the most experienced wrestlers on the team, recently clinched his 100th career win. He spoke of the pride in doing this for the community. “It feels good to make history and represent our city.”
The team’s journey began with a stunning first place performance at the Wayland Invitational in December, then clinching the ML and Div. 3 North Sectional. Melrose, in fact, only had one loss of the season, a three-point match to perennial Div. 1 power Chelmsford.
“I thought we had an opportunity [for title] early on,” says coach Bleiler. “We started picking up a lot of wins and I thought ‘okay, maybe’. But you still have to see whose out there in the state.”
Melrose entered the meet on Friday and took a lead of 30 points going into Saturday. By mid afternoon and finals looming, Melrose maintained a 20+ lead over Foxboro and Wayland. Melrose had three wrestlers competing in finals, while Wayland had five. That meant the Red Raiders needed to earn some pins and consolation points.
Mission accomplished, according to Bleiler. “Our guys, even if they didn’t make it into the finals, they still came back today and scored points for us.” Having pulled off a true team effort, with all hands on deck, no doubt the victory is all the more sweet for Melrose.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” says DiFronzo. “I know how hard this team worked and it’s just great to see all the guys smile.”
Melrose will take a stab at the rest of the state at the MIAA All-States Finals where they will compete with the best of Div. 1 and Div. 2. Action begins Friday Feb. 24 and finals will be on the 25th at Reading High. Competing will be Hunter, MacIntosh, Herbert, Calvert, Siede, Whelan, DiFronzo, and alternate Jake Fortier.
