Taking on an archrival proved to be just the medicine the Marauders needed as they entered the tournament season with a 40-31 win in the final dual meet at the current Norwood High School.
In the final bout of the match, heavyweight Matt Richberg simply needed to avoid getting pinned to secure at least a tie and delivered a 9-1 major decision over Aquie Moxam to cap off the Marauders dual meet season at 8-11 overall and 5-6 in the Bay State Conference.
“Emotionally, we needed this. We haven’t been wrestling very well,” said Dedham coach Jim Maher. “Hopefully this woke everyone up and they’ll be ready for Saturday and the rest of the tournaments.”
The Marauders controlled the upper weights, taking four of the last five bouts after Norwood had built a 28-21 lead through the opening nine bouts.
Rob Salter had a first-period pin of Nick Nolfi to start the Dedham comeback at 160 pounds. Frank Mahoney followed with a pin over Vinny Serino in the second to put the Marauders in front to stay at 33-28. Nick Boudreau added a 10-3 decision against Colby Davis at 189.
Brian Carilli dropped a narrow 2-0 decision against Paul DeRosa at 215 to give the Mustangs hope, but Richberg secured the win with the major decision.
Hadi Ghantous opened the match on a good note for the Marauders at 103, with a pin in the second period and Jack Walko won his match by forfeit for a 12-0 lead.
But from 119 to 152 the Marauders only managed two wins, Kyle Kanclerowicz a first-period pin at 125 and a 9-6 decision from Matt McLaughlin at 140 while losing four bouts and having to forfeit two others.
On Saturday the Marauders went 1-2 at a quad in Holliston, losing to the host Panthers 46-30, dropping a 39-31 contest against Durfee and rolling past Frontier 69-6.
Boudreau won all three of his matches by pin. Mahoney and Carilli were each a perfect 3-0, with Mahoney taking a 12-8 decision against Seth Dellert of Frontier, a sectional champion a year ago.
McLaughlin, Richberg, Adam Guinan and Ghantous each won a pair of matches.
Dedham opens the tournament season on Saturday with the Division 3 Central sectional team tournament at Holliston.
