Watertown Wrestlers Win Thrilling Opening Meet

Trailing 37-36 heading into the final match of Wednesday's dual meet with Watertown, the wrestling team would need a big performance from heavyweight Anthony Lotardo to win its first meet of the season. 

But with Lotardo leading Watertown's P.J. Phinney 4-2 with just 13 seconds left in the final period, Lotardo was called for stalling and Phinney was awarded two points to send the match into sudden death, where Phinney scored a takedown to win the match, 6-4, and give Watertown a 40-36 victory over Melrose. 

"(The referee) called him three times in a row for stalling," said Melrose coach James Bleiler. "I thought our kid was in control, I thought he was backing up. When he got hit (with the stalling call) the first time, we told him to circle more and he just hit him (with a stalling call)."

Watertown's P.J. Phinney struck first with an escape for one point, but Lotardo took Phinney down to the mat to go up 2-1, and then scored  again to take a 4-1 lead heading into the third period. After Phinney cut the lead to 4-2, Lotardo look poised to take the match as time wound down, but the stalling call doomed Melrose's comeback bid.

"It was a good match," said Watertown coach Kevin Russo Wednesday. "Melrose is a good program, we have a lot of respect for them. It was one of those matches that if we wrestled 10 times, it could go either way. Tonight it's the only night that mattered and went our way so we're happy."

"That was all heart there," Russo added. "You just keep pushing and pushing and good things happen." 

Watertown's Daniel D'Amico pinned Paul Paone to win the first match of the night at 103 pounds, but Melrose's Matt Fanikos (125) pinned Andrew Doob in the first period to even the score. 

Watertown then picked up a string of victories, including wins by Collin Geagan over John Sampson at 130 pounds, Nick D'Amico over Deslyn Pierrot at 135 pounds, Alex Logan over Scott Place at 140 pounds and Jack Bracket over Erik Gerson at 145 pounds. 

"We got some senior leadership from Alex Logan and Collin Geagan and that's what captains are all about," Russo said.

Dean Anderson snapped Melrose's skid with a third period pin against Andrew Logan at 152 pounds followed by a second round pin by Stavon Butcher to beat Juan Mesa at 171 pounds. 

After Watertown's Vahan Hagopyan (189) pinned David Golini in the second period, Spencer Walsh (215) beat Spencer Pettiglio with a first round pin to pull Melrose to within one point before Lotardo and Phinney's deciding match. 

"We came back toward the end," Bleiler said. "Fanikos looked solid. Dean Anderson in his first career match came up with a pin and Spencer Walsh at 215 came up with a big pin. First time wrestler too which is huge."

"We're just looking to improve," Bleiler added. "I just think we can improve week to week and just get better. We've got Wayland Saturday, if we can get some different guys at different weights that they should be at then we'll be alright."