Hansen, Fanikos Complete on First Day at Wrestling All-States

Melrose High sent two wrestlers to the MIAA All-State Championships at Salem High school’s Veteran’s Memorial Field House, but went home empty handed as both Matt Fanikos and Robert Hansen were eliminated from contention on the first day of the two-day meet.

Fanikos, wrestling at 125 pounds, fell to Lincoln-Sudbury’s Eric Davis in the second preliminary round via a 8-0 major decision, then lost a close match against Algonquin Regional’s Zach Marcoulier in the consolation quarterfinals on a 16-12 decision.

Meanwhile, Hansen started his meet off on a better foot, defeating Arlington’s Val Moisand by virtue of a 9-4 decision in the first preliminary round.

The rest of the 160 pound bracket would not be quite as kind.

Hansen fell to Springfield Central’s Anthony Brooks in the second preliminary round by technical fall, and ended his tournament with a 9-3 loss to Albert Chang of Newton South,

Despite failing to qualify any grapplers for next weekend’s New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships, the Red Raiders can take some solace in the fact that they had a strong 2010-2011 campaign. Hansen and Fanikos finished sixth and third respectively at the MIAA Div. 2 State Tournament at Marlboro High School.