The two seniors, Chelmsford’s Joe Vecchione and Anders Klass of Braintree, were seemingly on a collision course for the 170-pound final at the Division 1 state wrestling championships for two days.
And in the end, it was Vecchione, the defending state champion, who prevailed, earning a back-and-forth 3-2 victory over Klass at Newton South on Saturday afternoon. And the two are likely headed for a rematch in the All-State finals next weekend at St. John’s Prep.
Vecchione’s victory also helped push Chelmsford, under the direction of coach Bruce Rich, to its second state championship in three seasons.The Lions (130) edged Springfield Central (111.5) for the title, with Putnam (93.5) placing third.
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“For my finals’ matches, they’ve gotten harder every single year from my sophomore year to my senior year,” said Vecchione, the 160-pound Division 1 champion as a sophomore who is 45-1 this season.
“If I didn’t have the guys in the room pushing me, especially Evan Goodall [state champ at 145 pounds]. He helped me make this win possible.”
Vecchione and Klass were favored, but as Vecchione noted, “Anybody could’ve made that final round.
“I obviously knew about [Klass]. He’s a good kid, really good wrestler, strong kid. Props to him, he did well, it was a great match and came down to the wire.”
In the semifinals, Vecchione took out Springfield Central’s Dohnovin Harvey with a 2-0 win, helping Chelmsford gain ground in the team standings. The Lions also got valuable points from 106-pound champion Evan Kinney.
“We’re going to be state champions for the second time in my four years here and I couldn’t be more happy about that,” said Vecchione.
In the lower weights, Brockton senior Cole Wyman took his third D1 crown with an 8-0 win over West Springfield’s Calvin Curtis at 126 pounds.
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St. John’s Prep 132-pound junior Ryan Garlitz was the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
Division 2 — At Milton High, North Attleborough pinned down its third state title, accumulating 109 points to topple Central Catholic (105.5) and Nashoba Regional (105).
The Rocketeers sent six wrestlers to championships, with Mattuez Kudra earning the 220-pound crown to raise his season record to 38-4.
“There is no sport like our own,” said North Attleborough coach Wayne Griffin. “These kids work harder than anyone else and I’m proud that I get to be their coach.”
Division 3 — One year after earning his first state championship, Melrose sophomore Hunter Adrian was on the cusp of a repeat at 106 pounds.
Standing in his way at Wakefield High was Pentucket Regional eighth-grader Tyler Knox, who had hopes of ending Adrian’s perfect 37-0 record.
Instead, Adrian defeated Knox via decision, 8-0, in a match that went all three rounds.
Adrian nearly pinned his way to the title through the tournament, having done so through the semifinals.
“It was great,” Adrian said. “Got the win, did what I had to do. Since first grade I’ve been working for it.”
Melrose finished with 119.5 points, good for third place. Senior heavyweight Jonathan Cleveland carried Tri-Valley champion Dedham and first-year coach Wayne Sayers to the program’s first championship with 129 points, pinning Akhmet Azizov (Hampden Charter) at 5:20. Foxborough (127 points) was the runner-up.
Several accolades were presented, including coach of the year to Foxborough’s Bill Ivatts. Assistant coach of the year was awarded to Cohasset’s Mike Pimental.
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MIAA DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP
at Newton South High School
106 pounds — Evan Kinney, Chelmsford def. Wilson Gomes, New Bedford, 6-2.
113 pounds — Kyle Randall, Newton North def. Aiden Winn, Brockton, 8-4.
120 pounds — Eli Zibelo, Cambridge def. Ian Bakalars, Franklin, 4-2.
126 pounds — Cole Wyman, Brockton def. Calvin Curtis, West Springfield, 8-0.
132 pounds — Ryan Garlitz, St. John’s Prep def. Cesar Alvan, Ludlow, 9-4.
138 pounds — Mahari Miller, Springfield Central def. Zach Alexander, St. John’s Prep, 12-10 (SV).
145 pounds — Evan Goodall, Chelmsford def. Tommy Jaklitsch, BC High, (pin) 1:49.
152 pounds — Luke Donovan, Westford def. Chase Anestis, Acton-Boxborough, 5-2.
160 pounds — Andrew Piedrahita, Westford def. Ahmed Sharif, Putnam, 7-5.
170 pounds — Joe Vecchione, Chelmsford def. Anders Klass, Mansfield, 3-2.
182 pounds — Vinnie Holmes, Mansfield def. Atman Barrille, Brookline, 9-3.
195 pounds — Travis Manick, Methuen def. Darby McLaughlin, Springfield Central, 3-0.
220 pounds — Andrew Marshall, Lincoln-Sudbury def. Davyn Peterson, Putnam, (pin), 5:31.
285 pounds — Ryan Higgins, Billerica def. Chass St. Phard, Springfield Central, 7-4.
Team results — 1. Chelmsford, 130; 2. Springfield Central, 111.5; 3. Putnam, 93.5; 4. Brookline, 88; 5. Westford, 82.
MIAA DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIP
at Milton High School
106 pounds — Mike Glynn, Central Catholic def. Dante Rosetti, Dracut, 8-3.
113 pounds — Max Leete, Danvers def. Ryan Parmenter, Pembroke, 9-0.
120 pounds — Jack Darling, Masconomet def. Ronnie Rosetti, Greater Lowell, 2-1.
126 pounds — Joey Valentino, North Andover def. Tyler Glynn, Central Catholic, 5-2.
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132 pounds — Noah Wilcox, Marlborough def. Paul Kauranen, Walpole, 7-4.
138 pounds — Eddie Marinilli, Canton def. Wilson Ordonez, Marlborough, 2-0.
145 pounds — Joey Sanchez, Central Catholic def. Brevin Cassella, Nashoba, 3-1.
152 pounds — CJ Cincotta, North Andover def. Darren Driscoll, Reading, 10-5.
160 pounds — Lucas Cordio, Nashoba def. Colby Holland, Danvers, 4-1.
170 pounds — Will Rivera, Greater Lowell def. Tim Ramstrom, Natick, 5-2.
182 pounds — Josh Bechen, Catholic Memorial def. Ameer Alshrafi, Beverly, 8-1.
195 pounds — Malib Pastrana, Greater Lawrence def. Andrew Desmarais, Dracut, 14-4.
220 pounds — Mattuez Kudra, North Attleborough def. Olamide Adeyeri, Boston Latin, 3-0.
285 pounds — Josh Cohen, Wellesley def. Aodan Marshall, Stoughton, (pin) 5:22.
Team results — 1. North Attleborough, 109; 2. Central Catholic, 105.5; 2. Nashoba, 105.5; 4. Marlborough, 90; 5. Winchester, 87.
MIAA DIVISION 3 CHAMPIONSHIP
at Wakefield High School
106 pounds — Hunter Adrian, Melrose def. Tyler Knox, Pentucket, 8-0.
113 pounds — Jaden Estrada, Middleborough def. Adam Lanctot, Foxborough, (pin) 3:43.
120 pounds — Christian Rivas, Sabis Charter def. Brian Garry, Holliston, 12-11.
126 pounds — Connor Thompson, Quabbin def. Phil Dure, Foxborough, (pin) 2:57.
132 pounds — Ramazan Attasauov, Wayland def. Shayne Kerrigan, Foxborough, (pin) 2:54.
138 pounds — Sean Herbert, Melrose def. Tommy Gallagher, Foxborough, (pin) 5:57.
145 pounds — Jared Durkin, Triton def. Zabion Powell, Taconic, 6-4.
152 pounds — Anthony Ostrander, Triton def. Mike Calvert, Melrose, (pin) 2:46.
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160 pounds — DJ Willard, Hampshire def. Brandon Reyes, Dedham, 12-9.
170 pounds — Dylan Burke, Taconic def. Dave Dow, Foxborough, 7-3.
182 pounds — Isaac Seide, Melrose def. Andrew Bumpus, Carver, 7-2.
195 pounds — Armani Dotson, Marblehead def. Spencer Fetrow, Holliston, 3-2.
220 pounds — Sam Ware, Quabbin def. Romelo Medina, Hampden Charter, (pin) 4:19.
285 pounds — Jonathan Cleveland, Dedham def. Akhmet Azizov, Hampden Charter, (pin) 5:20.
Team results — 1. Dedham, 129; 2. Foxborough, 127; 3. Melrose, 119.5; 4. Quabbin, 104; 5. Hampden Charter, 86.
Chris Bokum reported from Wakefield and Andrew Higginbottom from Milton.