Warriors have the talent and postseason pedigree for a successful ’14-’15 campaign
DAN WENSLEY, a senior tri-captain, returns to wrestle at 195 and is one of the top wrestlers in the Middlesex League. Wensley also had a terrific showing in sectionals, the Div. 3 State Meet, All-State Meet and New England Meet. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — The overall numbers are good, there are many returning veterans and there are several wrestlers with quite a pedigree in the postseason. Now, the Warriors must get down to weight and spread that size around among the 14 different weight classes.
Wakefield is still working on just that as it prepares for its season opener tomorrow in the Bristol Aggie Tournament.
“We have 29 on the roster,” said Head Coach Ross Ickes, entering his 19th year. “We need to get down to weight and spread out the lineup. We have a lot of guys that are the same weight. So it will be tough at the start.”
Wakefield finished the dual meet season with a 12-9-0 overall record a year ago. But the Warriors made a terrific impact at the Div. 3 North Sectional Meet, Div. 3 State Meet, All-State Meet and New England Meet last winter.
The Warriors will be led by senior tri-captains Alex Kane, Dan Wensley and Ryan Cunningham.
Kane is back to compete at the 220 weight class. He finished second in the Div. 3 state meet a year ago and sixth at the all-state meet. He currently stands at 111 career wins and could be the record holder by the end of this winter season.
Wensley returns to wrestle at 195 and he was second in the Div. 3 state meet last year and was fifth in the all-state meet.
Both Kane and Wensley have the capability of surpassing Dylan Conn for the most career victories at WMHS. Conn posted 139 wins while at WMHS.
Cunningham is the third tri-captain and he returns to compete at the 160 and 170 matches. He was hampered by injury a year ago.
Eric Schilling and Matt Yirrell, both seniors returns to compete at heavyweight. Yirrell had a good showing in the postseason last year as he came in third in the sectional meet. Yirrell may also compete at 182 and 190.
Connor Shine, a senior, returns to compete at 120. Shine competed in the Div. 3 State Meet last winter.
At 113 and 120, junior Shannon Drager returns. Also returning to compete at 120 is Evan McGuire, a junior.
Evan Gourville, a junior, returns to compete at either 152 or 160. He was fifth in sectionals at 152 last year.
Sophomore Ben Piercy will most likely compete at 145. He wrestled at 138 a year ago.
At 106, sophomore Jack Spicer returns to the lightest weight class.
“We have 11 returning starters,” said Ickes. “We are a little thin in the middle weights (145 and 152).”
The Warriors have a host of returning players that saw varsity time a year ago. There are also some newcomers that could help out, too.
The returning seniors are Dan Bertini (152, 160, 170), Vin Murdocca (170, 182), Nick Murphy (170, 182), David Piracini (182) and Dan Gill.
There one first-year senior with the team. Rob Nohelty will compete at the 170 and 182 weight classes.
Mike Lima, a junior, returns and will wrestle at heavyweight.
Two sophomores — Dan DiMeglio and Matt Murdocca — return as well. DiMeglio is at the 220 weight class and Murdocca is slated to compete at 160.
There are two new sophomores out for the team. They are Jacob Allen and Anthony Denham. Allen will wrestle at 113 and Denham at heavyweight.
Another sophomore, Joe Marinaccio, is slated to compete at the 152 weight class.
There are two freshman — Jake Goodchild and Ryan Smith — who could jump into the starting lineup right away. Both are wrestlers at 132.
There are four more freshmen out for the team. They are Steve Colandra (113), Aiden Coleman (182), Steve Mercurio (170, 182) and John Moran (170).
Ickes is joined by assistant coaches Jerry DoVale, Anthony Lauria, John Bosco, Adam Russell, Matt Manfredi, Joe Lauria and Mike Petralia.
“Kane and Wensley are as good wrestlers in their weight class that there is and both are probably going to break the wins record,” said Ickes. “Kane could be a two-time state champ and his third time as a New England qualifier. Wensley could be going for a third sectional title. We will miss Ben Spicer, but we have plenty of guys that could do well in Div. 3.”
Wakefield is hosting the Div. 3 State Meet this year. North Sectionals are at North Reading, the All-State meet is in Salem and the New England Meet is in North Andover. So the Warriors won’t have far to drive to those facilities. Ickes also believes that Wakefield has the wrestling talent to qualify for those meets.
The Warriors open up the season tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. when they compete in the Bristol Aggie Tournament at Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton.
