PEABODY — It’s a time honored tradition that a wrestler leaves his boots in the circle in the middle of the mat when he’s finished his last match.
Wednesday night, that solemn duty fell to the captains of the Peabody/Saugus co-op wrestling team — and there weren’t many dry eyes in Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse as they placed the black-and-gold shoes Freddy Espinal expected to wear this winter in the center of the ring.
The entire North Shore wrestling community came together to honor Espinal, a Peabody High junior who passed away unexpectedly this past fall, in a dual meet that featured the host Tanners against visiting Marblehead/Swampscott.
Before the match, more than a dozen members of Espinal’s family were greeted with applause and appreciation by the big crowd. His dad, Freddy Sr., was an honorary captain, while money from concession sales, T-shirts and silent auctions was raised for a scholarship in Freddy’s name.
“Not a day has gone by that we haven’t thought about Freddy,” said Peabody/Saugus head coach Wayne Moda. “Wrestling was his absolute favorite thing to do. His memory means everything to us.”
After the lights were dimmed and all the fans held up their cell phone lights in a moving scene, the wrestling action got going and did not disappoint.
Peabody/Saugus pulled out a 47-30 win over the Black-and-Blue co-op. With competitors in all 14 weight classes, there were competitive and spirited bouts all night to highlight what was a tremendous showcase for high school wrestling.
“This is what our sport should be. What a great atmosphere,” said Marblehead/Swampscott coach Mike Stamison. “I’m amazing by what Wayne and his guys and girls have been able to do, and our heart breaks for what they’re going through. We experienced it in Marblehead when James Galante passed away a few years ago and we just want to be there for them in any way we can.
“It’s sad that this is the reason for an event like this, but I’m sure that if Freddy could see this he would have loved it.”
A flurry of pins in the lighter weight classes staked Peabody/Saugus to a 29-6 lead midway through the contest. Anna Felicio scored a win at 106 pounds while Jake Murray earned a pin at 120 and Jackson Deledi followed with a pinfall of his own at 126.
Peabody/Saugus’ Lukas Fondulis grabbed a pin at 138 and Max LoRusso put on a show at 144 with two big throws, a successful double leg takedown and an eventual pin achieved by front facelock.
Mike Moralo earned another pin for the Tanners at 150 before Marblehead/Swampscott piled up some points to get back into the match.
One of the evening’s most competitive matches was Blue-and-Blue 100-win man Mason Hinshaw’s overtime victory at 157 pounds. Peabody’s Justin Bremberg had a 1-0 led in the third period, but Hinshaw got it tied up and then prevailed in the extra session.
Marblehead/Swampscott then got wins by Alejandro Haven (165), Colin Hart (190) and Xavier Tejada (215) to round out their scoring. James Carey also picked up a victory for the Black-and-Blue at 113 pounds, and captain and 100-win man Liam O’Brien scored a first period pin at 132.
Evan Johnson got a hard-earned pin at 175 to put Peabody/Saugus on top for good, and the heavyweight battle between Antonio Anzalone and Justin Gonzalez was the biggest crowd pleaser of the night.
After brawling for much of the first period, the two big fellows staged some impressive escapes in the second before Anzalone scored a late period pin.
“Those two have finished out every dual meet we’ve had against them for the last few years,” said Stamison, “and they never disappoint.”
After doing some volunteer work last summer, Freddy Espinal decided he wanted to pursue a degree in criminal justice when he got to college. So, his family has decided that the scholarship in his name will go to a Peabody High senior who intends to study criminal justice. Donations are being accepted @Freddy-Espinal-Scholarship on Venmo.