Go 3-0 in Wayland Quad

Published in the February 3, 2020 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

BURLINGTON — The Wakefield High wrestling team traveled to Burlington High on Wednesday for a league matchup against the Red Devils.

Wakefield overcame a slow start in which they were trailing 24-6 and closed on a 33-0 run to win 39-24.

Nick Roberto turned the tide with a pin in 5:59 against Jack Laverty at 138 lbs. That made the score 24-12 and the sent Wakefield on their way.

Captain Brock Johnson won a 6-0 decision against Timmy Vadnais at 145 lbs to make it 24-15.

Matt Cunningham followed that up with a pin in 1:34 over Adam Eldeeb pulling the Warriors to within three.

After a forfeit and six points for Joao Valdevino, John Summers shut the door with a pin in 3:08.

Zachary Murphy and Brian Fabbri also earned forfeit victories for the Warriors.

Wakefield moved to 13-2-1 after the victory, and once again set them up for a “winner-takes-the-Freedom” matchup against Melrose on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. for the third Brawl in the Hall.

Ickes the hero in Wayland win

The Warriors went 3-0 in a quad meet in Wayland on Saturday. The highlight came from Nathan Ickes who got the Warriors into playoff mentality with an epic matchup at 220 lbs. With a tie score at 30-30 in the final match against Wayland, Ickes stepped up when his team needed him most.

In a Warrior wrestling video that’s now gone “Wakefield viral” on Facebook and Twitter, Ickes looks like he’s down and out. With Luke Stitham on Ickes’ back, Ickes used his left arm to create space and turned his opponent creating a roar from the Wakefield bench. Ickes ended up winning by a 3-1 decision to send the Warriors to a 33-30 win over Wayland.

Wakefield won three matches in a row against Wayland from 113 to 132.

Tommy Grover won by a 12-2 major decision; Luke Fitzgerald won by a 22-8 major decision; Jameson O’Callahan pinned his opponent in 44 seconds and Anslem Schools win via pin in 5:45.

Wayland won six of the next eight matches to put the pressure on Ickes.

The two Wakefield wins during that stretch came from Brock Johnson at 145 (F, 2:52) and Joao Valdevino at 160 (TF 19-3).

The Warriors also beat Quabbin and Mahar on Saturday to improve to 16-2-1 on the season.

Wakefield rolled Quabbin 29-0.

Wins came from Ana Valdevino (DEC 6-1), Tommy Grover (TF 20-5), Luke Fitzgerald (DEC 7-1), Brock Johnson (F 1:10), Robbie Fossett (F :17) and Sam Valenti (F :18).

The Warriors beat Mahar 50-18.

Wakefield won seven in a row from 120 to 160 and four in a row to end the match.

Dan Lamonica (F :47), Nathan Ickes (F :42), Brock Johnson (F :43) and Luke Hopkins (F :40) all had convincing pins.

Luke Fitzgerald (MD 12-3), Jameson O’Callahan (MD 14-0), Nick Roberto (MD 15-5), Joao Valdevino (MD 15-3) and Luke Ickes (MD 11-3) all won by major decisions.

Jimmy Grover (DEC 4-3) and Matt Cunningham (DEC 11-4) won by decision.

The Warriors are now ranked No. 15 in the state. Melrose (18-1) is ranked No. 5.