Wayland 28, Pembroke 27: Perfect finish

Last night, the Wayland wrestling team captured the Division 3 state championship with a storybook 28-27 triumph over Pembroke.

With his team trailing 27-25, Wayland coach Sean Chase bumped up senior 215-pounder Abe Freedberg to heavyweight for the final match of the night. On the line for the Warriors was their first state championship since 2006, after losses in the championship match the last two years.

"Abe had beaten him before at the beginning of the year," said Chase. "I felt comfortable with Abe. I could tell he felt good and I knew he gave us the best chance to win. He's not flashy but he finds a way to win all the time for us."

Last night was no different.

Freedberg secured a takedown within the first 30 seconds of the first period, and the Wayland faithful responded with a thunderous cheer, rising to their feet.

Freedberg built up a 5-1 lead after two periods, but Pembroke's Nick Burton, with an overwhelming weight advantage, battled back in the third, cutting Freedberg's lead to 6-5. Freedberg weathered the storm and ended the match with a 7-5 victory.

The state title was Wayland's.

"It feels great, amazing," said Freedberg. "It's a dream come true."

He added, "Once I had the first takedown I was just going to ride it out until the end. I was confident. I knew I could beat him."

Chase noted that he felt the title was actually won in the second match of the night, at 112 pounds. After Carter Shearer pinned Brad Wong with just seven seconds remaining in their match at 103 pounds to open the dual, Ryan Malloy stepped onto the mat.

Malloy pinned Pembroke's John Mercurio in the first period, giving Wayland the early 12-0 advantage.

"When we wrestled them before, we got pinned at 112 because Malloy wasn't in the lineup and we ended up tying them," said Chase. "But tonight he was in and he pinned and that gave us a 12-point swing from the last time, which turned the outcome of the match around."

"I just wanted to go out there and wrestle," said Malloy. "I knew what I had to do and I was just relieved to get the six points for my team."

Wayland's Greg Eng lost an 8-2 decision to Mike Bunszell at 119 before Max Garelick defeated Matt Merritt 9-7 at 125, making the Warriors lead 15-3.

Pembroke then made its move, winning five of the next six weight classes to take a 21-18 advantage with only four matches remaining.

Chase wasn't worried.

"I knew at the upper weights we had the advantage," he said. "I didn't think it was slipping away because I thought we would catch them when we got there."

Jean Mbidimbu got a major decision against Rich Benoit at 171 pounds, and Jack McCullough defeated Neil McIsaac 10-3 at 189 pounds to give Wayland a 25-21 lead.

Pembroke's Ross Waldon then pinned Wayland's Kep Edwards at 215, giving the Titans a 27-25 lead heading into Freedberg's match.

"Right there we knew we were in big trouble," said Pembroke coach David Vining. "We knew Freedberg was definitely the better wrestler, and once he got that first takedown it took the wind out of our sails."

Pembroke saw a glimmer of hope at 152 pounds when Pat Walsh, who had previously lost to Alex Gupta, defeated him 6-3. But the swing at 112 was just too much.

"That match at 152 was a big move for us to give us at least a shot," said Vining. "But in the end, they didn't get pinned and we did. We got pinned at 103 and 112 right away and that was it. They were better than us."

"This team has really grown a lot in the past three or four weeks and has improved tremendously," said Chase. "It was the first time all season we have had our full lineup, and with that lineup we are unstoppable."

Hours earlier, Wayland handily defeated Mount Greylock 49-7 in the semifinal, while Pembroke defeated Triton 37-26.

Those were mere appetizers for what turned out to be an unforgettable main course.

"I woke up today and I said we were going to be state champions," said Malloy. "I just knew it."