Adrian, Herbert & Seide take top spots; team earns bronze
Published in the February 23, 2018 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High wrestling team crowned three individual state champions in front of a large crowd at the MIAA Div. 3 State Finals at Wakefield High on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Sophomores Hunter Adrian and Sean Herbert and junior Isaac Seide became state champions in their weight classes to help Melrose earn a bronze medal third place finish as a team. Melrose (last year’s state champ) placed an overall third for a bronze medal finish with 116 points behind winner Dedham.
MHS WRESTLERS crowned State Champions on Saturday include from left, Isaac Seide (182) Hunter Adrian (106) and Sean Herbert (138).
Melrose’s finish at the event has advanced Adrian, Mike Calvert, Herbert, Steve MacIntosh and Seide to finals.
This is All State Champ Hunter Adrian’s second straight Div. 3 title, Sean Herbert’s second state title and a first state championship for football standout, Seide.
Melrose’s Mike Calvert advanced to finals with one of the most impressive performances of the tournament, earned a silver medal in the 152 weight class.
According to head coach James Bleiler, crowing three states champs at states may be an unprecedented feat for Melrose. “I’ve never seen it, and it was a great job by the guys. I was also very proud of Mike [Calvert] making finals. I can’t say enough about this kid. He’s a three sport athlete and doesn’t do this year round, to get this far just proves how tough he is.”
As his five Raiders now advance to All States, Bleiler can’t help but like his wrestler’s chances. “The way Hunter and Sean and Isaac wrestled, it’s hard to see anyone beating them at this point.”
Melrose had hoped to retain their state title but saw one of their top state contenders fall to injury in the opening night bouts.
Then on Saturday Melrose advanced to finals with Adrian, at 106lb., finishing off Tyler Knox of Pentucket in an 8-0 major decision. Herbert, at 138, prevailed over Tommy Gallagher of Foxboro with a half nelson that led to a buzzer-beating pin in the third period, firing up the Melrose crowd. And Seide in the 182lb. used a number of double leg takedowns to top his rival Andrew Bumpus of Carver in a 7-1 decision. Calvert advanced all the way to finals to faced winner Anthony Ostrander of Triton.
After the meet the three state champs took it all in while preparing for a trip to the podium.
“I just tried to wrestle as best as I could,” said Seide, no stranger to state titles after helping Melrose football secure a Super Bowl this year. “We have the greatest coaches in the state. They work us down to the bone.” The junior Seide has enjoyed a season record of 27-3, undefeated in Massachusetts, all the more impressive as he began his wrestling career as a freshman.
Adrian is no stranger to winning, as he is the reigning All State champion in the 106. The sophomore remains undefeated on the season at 38-0 (85-5 career) so this victory was part of the plan. When asked what his goals were, Adrian answered, “I want to win everything I can. New Englands, Nationals. And I just want to train to get better and better.” Adrian, who started wrestling at six, leaves little doubt that may happen.
Sean Herbert also has a title in his pocket. This is his second state championship since 2016. And this season he is 38-1.
“The last one was a little shaky,” he said. “I wasn’t as dominant. So this felt good not having to go into overtime.”
It was an overall good day for the grapplers, who advanced to second place going into finals on Saturday. Competing on Friday were Cam Rosie, Hunter Adrian, Isaac Siede, Sean Herbert, Jackson Curran, Mike Calvert and Steven MacIntosh. Those who took wins over the course of the two-day event were Jackson Curran, an opening round win over Dan Murray of Wayland, and Calvert (34-5), who advanced over opponents from Quabbin, Hanover and Franklin County to reach finals and Steven McIntosh who advanced to semifinals with wins over Hanover and Hampshire opponents.
Unfortunately, MacIntosh would fall to injury in his last bout, and while he battled through a knee affliction, ultimately it led to his pin from Zac Powell of Taconic in semifinals. MacIntosh was a favorite going in but the junior has plenty matches in his future and, injury pending, could be ready for All States this weekend, which takes place Friday and Saturday at St. John’s Prep.
When asked what it feels like to bring home more state titles for the city, Seide summed it up nicely, “The culture of winning in Melrose never gets old.”
