Published January 23, 2019
By RYAN MARSH
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Warrior wrestling team looked to start their Martin Luther King Jr. weekend off right by sweeping their matches at the quad meet on Friday the Jan. 18. Wakefield hosted Wilmington, Tyngsborough and Pentucket for a Friday night quad meet.
The first matchup of the night was against Wilmington. Freshman Jack Morris was wrestling in one of his first varsity matches, but Wilmington did not have a 106-pound wrestler and was forced to forfeit. The Warriors then lost the next two matches (pin and decision) to drop to a 9-6 deficit.
After the two losses, Wakefield re-focused and dominated. Nick Roberto won with a 10-4 decision over his opponent. The captains’ duo of Aidan Armstrong and Brock Johnson both won by pins under 1:30.
Matt Cunningham followed up the captains by putting another six points up on the board with a pin in 1:33. The next wrestler was Jimmy Grover, who wanted to help Wakefield extend their sizeable lead. Grover twisted his opponent for a pin in 1:06 to add another six points to Wakefield’s score.
ROSS ICKES earned his 350th win as head coach of the Wakefield wrestling team when the Warriors beat Wilmington during a quad meet at the Charbonneau Field House on Friday. Pictured with Ickes (center) are assistant coaches Mike Grover (left) and Matt Manfredi (right). (Kira Armstrong Photo)
After Grover, Joāo Valdevino stepped on to the mat. Valdevino was ready to go at it and gather some more points for the team. He pinned his opponent in 3:06. Luke Ickes was the last winner against Wilmington, helping gain six points with a pin in 1:26. To follow up Ickes, the next two wrestlers lost by pin and decision to make the match a Wakefield win, 45-18.
That win was the 350th for head coach Ross Ickes, all at his alma mater, Wakefield High.
“The wins just mean I’ve been here for a long time and have had great teams to back me up,” said Ickes.
After the win against Wilmington, the Warriors battled against the Tyngsborough Tigers. The match started off with Luke Fitzgerald beating his 113-pound opponent with a pin in 3:55. Wakefield then lost the next match but followed up with a forfeit win from Nick Roberto and a win for Aidan Armstrong by pin in 1:33.
The Warriors then lost the next two matches by pin and major decision. Wakefield then pressed forward, gathering points left and right. The run started with a win by decision from Jimmy Grover. After Grover, Valdevino gained another four points for the Warriors after winning by major decision, 13-5.
Next, captain Mike Yirrell was slated to wrestle. Yirrell quickly won by pin in 1:46. Kenny Tran was the next wrestler, and he got the job done as he pinned his opponent in 2:57. The captain Derek Dimascio wrestled next in the 195-pound bracket. Dimascio swiftly pinned his foe in 1:49. Next, the freshman Nathan Ickes wrestled as a 220-pounder. Ickes held off his opponent and came close to pinning, but eventually won by decision, 7-0. Wakefield then lost the final matchup, but gained enough points to beat the Tigers, 46-22.
NATHAN ICKES takes home the win against Pentucket as his teammates cheer him on. Ickes’ pin in 2:53 finished off a quad meet sweep for the Warriors on Friday night. (Kira Armstrong Photo)
Looking for a sweep at the quad meet, Wakefield next clashed against the Pentucket wrestling team. This match was very unorthodox.
Wakefield started off by winning four out of six matches by forfeits (Jack Morris, Jameson O’Callahan, Nick Roberto and Brock Johnson). Wakefield took an early 24-12 lead over Pentucket. After Johnson, Wakefield then lost another two matches to shorten Wakefield’s lead to 24-21. With the pressure on, Joāo Valdevino wrestled in the 160-pound slot. It was a hard-fought 2:33, but Valdevino pulled it off with the pin.
With Wakefield up by nine, Mike Yirrell needed to come up big and get some more points for the Warriors. Yirrell used his technique and abilities to tie up his opponent for six more points with a win by pin in 2:44. Wakefield lost the next match, giving up six points to make the lead, 36-27. With a decent lead, but not enough of a lead to feel comfortable, Wakefield sent out the upper weights.
Kenny Tran was the first wrestler of the last three. Tran fought hard and pushed the match to the end, but he couldn’t get the pin and won by decision 10-7. With a 12-point lead, Derek Dimascio stepped in. As a captain, DiMascio is one of Wakefield’s most experienced and reliable wrestlers. He used his muscle and skills to fight off his opponent for another three points, putting the match out of reach for Pentucket. Nathan Ickes was the last upperweight. Ickes put the icing on the cake with a win by pin in 2:53. Wakefield beat Pentucket, 48-27.
By beating Pentucket, Wakefield had successfully swept the competition at the quad meet.
“The heavy weights stepped up today. I’m looking forward to the rematch in the sectionals,” said coach Ickes. The Warriors will look to continue their hot streak tonight at 7 p.m. when they host Freedom Division foe, Burlington.
