Perfect end with Melrose’s Adrian
DEDHAM — There’s a certain insurance commercial that tells people to protect themselves from mayhem.
Then there’s a certain wrestling tournament that tells folks to run toward it.
Those that sided with the latter and made the trek to Noble and Greenough School campus for “Mass Mayhem” didn’t leave disappointed. The self-proclaimed “Massachusetts Braggin’ Rights Classic” lived up to it’s billing once again this year, as Team Black edged Team Blue in a back-and-forth 34-27 tournament final.
“An event like Mass Mayhem, an all-star wrestling event, just elevates the sport of wrestling,” said Charles Danhof, vice president of promotions for the state chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “Because it brings people together, and it puts us a little bit more on the map, gives us a chance to showcase some of the best wrestlers in private schools, some of the best wrestlers in public schools.”
The top wrestlers showed their true colors right from the opening 113-pound match. Melrose sophomore Hunter Adrian capped off a perfect 52-0 season with a 10-3 major victory over Pembroke’s Ryan Parmenter in a three-round bout.
In one of the best battles of the day, Masconomet’s Jack Darling picked up an overtime win at 126, using a college-style out-of-bounds takedown to knock off Nobles star David Yeh.
“I was just trying to move him a little bit, create some space, create an opening for a shot,” Darling said. “And I got down a little too low. He snapped me down, tried to bowl me over, and I saw that he was in bad position, obviously because he was tired. And he was on his stomach, and I was just able to come out, keep my foot inbounds. Smart wrestling, and I got the takedown, got the job done.”
Nashoba’s Lucas Cordio ended his high school journey in a style he has become used to over his four years. The Maryland-bound senior pinned Stephen Willis of Salisbury at 160 to cap a remarkable 173-20, threetime state title career.
“It feels awesome,” Cordio said. “(Maryland’s) got a great program down there. The coaches are class acts. I’ve never had anything but great (things) to say about it. It’s a great school, great education. You can’t pass that up. When you get to have both school and wrestling at the Division 1 and Big Ten level, there’s nothing better than it.”
BB&N’s Brad Basham edged Travis Manick of Methuen at 195, effectively winning the match for Team Black. Yaraslau Slavikouski of Northfield Mount Hermon and Billerica’s Ryan Higgins closed things out for Team Blue at 220 and 285, respectively, with back-to-back pins.