It may have taken longer than they had hoped, but the members of the Norwood High wrestling team broke into the win column Wednesday, pinning a 60-22 decision on Dedham to close out the dual meet season.
The Mustangs finished the season at 1-9-1 and gear up for the MIAA Division 2 Metro sectional tournament Saturday at Quincy High. For coach Dan McQuade, winning Wednesday was a solid reward for the work put since late November.
“I can say everyone has made improvements throughout the year,” he said.
The win was particularly gratifying considering it came after a weekend in which the Mustangs were paired up against three solid opponents at the annual Bay State Conference quad in host Wellesley and perennial powers Framingham and Weymouth.
Norwood won eight of the 12 contested bouts – all by fall – and also earned two victories by forfeit.
Adam Sicklick, Josh Walsh and J.J. O’Donnell got the Mustangs started in the right direction with victories.
Sicklick, the best bet from the lower weight to contend for a spot in the top four Saturday, had little trouble before finally pinning Jared Hunt at 4:55 at 106 pounds. Walsh had a big lead before sticking Jael Rivera at 2:39 at 113. O’Donnell was trailing his match at 120 against Cristian Martinez 3-2 after one period but took advantage of top position to start the second period and picked up the pin at 2:47 for an 18-0 lead.
Declan Heaslip got the Marauders on the board with a pin at 126, but Dedham was unable to fill 132 and 138, giving forfeit wins to Luke Williams and Tyler Hutchens, who also figures to contend for a spot in the state tournament.
Brendan Zablocki pinned his opponent in the second period at 145 and Alex Pandolfo did the same at 41 seconds at 160 to clinch the meet.
Dedham’s Nick Romig defeated Mike McDonough 15-3 at 152. Stevie Heaslip, the Marauders’ top contender, earned a pin in 58 seconds at 170 and Andrew Maher won at 182.
The Mustangs dominated the higher weights, state tourney contenders Mark Saulnier (195) and Quincy Wilson (220) earning pins at 42 seconds and 5:00, respectively. Javier Cardona (285), another contender to place, needed 1:38 to close out the night.
“I hope everybody does their best and we can get as many to move on (to the state tournament in Reading the following weekend) ” said McQuade. “There is going to be some good muscle out there this weekend.”
Norwood is in a section that includes Natick, Needham, Arlington and host Reading among the 12 teams. Wrestlers need to finish in the top four at sectionals to earn a spot at the state individual tournament, while the top four team scores get an invitation to the state team tournament.
McQuade hopes future teams benefit from the recent start of a middle school program that has the youngsters coming up to the high school to observe and participate alongside the high school athletes.
