Take down Burlington, face Watertown in title match next week

JOE MARINACCIO, a junior (top), earned a key victory as he won by pin at the 160 weight class in Wakefield’s 48-34 triumph over Burlington last night in a Middlesex League Freedom division contest at Burlington High School. (Donna Larsson File Photo)

JOE MARINACCIO, a junior (top), earned a key victory as he won by pin at the 160 weight class in Wakefield’s 48-34 triumph over Burlington last night in a Middlesex League Freedom division contest at Burlington High School. (Donna Larsson File Photo)

Published in the January 28, 2016 edition.

BURLINGTON — The Wakefield Memorial High wrestling team was a tri-champion in the Middlesex League Freedom division last winter. Now the Warriors have put themselves in a position to repeat as league champs and win the crown outright with its victory over Burlington last night at Burlington High School.

Wakefield upped its league record to 3-0-0 in the M.L. Freedom division as it took down the Red Devils by a 48-34 score.

The Warriors, who are 13-5-0 overall, have a chance to win the M.L. Freedom division title on Wednesday, Feb. 3 when they host Watertown at 7 p.m. at the Charbonneau Field House. Watertown currently has a 13-8-1 overall record and 2-0-1 record in the league.

Wakefield jumped out to an 18-0 lead with forfeit wins at the 195, 220 and 285 weight classes. Sophomores Steve Mercurio and Aiden Coleman along with senior Mike Lima earned the victories.

Aidan Armstrong, a freshman, was pinned by Burlington’s Tom Derosa at 1:23 of the 106 bout for the first six Red Devil points.

But Jack Spicer, a junior, accepted a forfeit at 113 to make the score 24-6.

Burlington won the next two contests to cut the lead to 24-18. At 120, junior Jake Allen was pinned by Kevin Nigro at 3:23. At 126, Shannon Drager, a senior, was pinned by Josh Lee at 1:35.

Wakefield came up with a big win at the 132 weight class. Jake Goodchild, a sophomore, won by pin over Sean McGilvery at 2:45.

The Red Devils then won the next two weight classes to cut the lead to 30-28. At 138, sophomore Ryan Smith was pinned by Tommy Lee at 1:08. Matt Murdocca, a junior, lost by major decision (14-0) to Josh Becker at the 145 bout.

Junior Ben Piercy accepted a forfeit at 152 before Joe Marinaccio, also a junior, earned a key victory by pin in the 160 match. Marinaccio defeated Dylan MacKinnon at 36 seconds.

Senior captain Evan Gourville earned six more points at 170 with a forfeit triumph.

In the final bout at 182, Mike Yirrell, a freshman, was pinned by Brendan Phair at 42 seconds.

Before the Warriors can worry about the Watertown meet which will determine the league title, they will gear up for the Middlesex League Tournament which will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Charbonneau Field House.