“I’m most proud of all the successful kids who have come out of the program,” said Tremblay, who moved past former St. John’s Prep coach Manny Costa with his 877th win. “We’ve had a lot of success.”
On the day, Joey Fowke (106 pounds), Jack Shea (132), Cian Sullivan (138), and heavyweight Scott Santos went 5-0, along with 120-pounder Johnny Moraes, who blew past his 150th victory to reach 154.
The senior captain came in with no wrestling experience, and wrestled up at 126 pounds for most of his freshman and sophomore seasons before enjoying a breakout season at 113 last year and finishing second at All-States.
“Getting a win to get closer for coach’s record was great,” Moraes said. “It was a great experience. I’m honored that I can reach the milestone. I’m nothing special, I’m just average, but I’m making do with what I got. I think anybody can do it.”
Moraes is of many great wrestlers over the years for Tremblay (879-127-5), who surpassed Costa (876-149-6), who is now over 900 with his wins in South Lake, Fla.
He congratulated Costa when he took the record during the Covid-restricted season when Middlesex League teams could only wrestle each other. The two connected as wrestling coaches and police officers, Tremblay in North Reading and Costa in Peabody.
Before he joined law enforcement, Tremblay coached the 1979-80 season with North Reading, which included Wayne Moda. Tremblay, who had been refereeing out of college while observing great coaches such as Lowell’s George Bossi, Wayland’s Rick Moyer, Milford’s Nick Zacchili, and Billerica’s Vinny Viglione, took a 2-12-1 team and put up a 13-2 mark.
The year after, he took over at Winchester, and flipped a 5-9 team to an 11-5 record.
It was the worst record he registered as a coach.
“I’ve taken two programs to multiple state titles and multiple dual-meet titles,” Tremblay said. “We’re just a small public school. I have to thank my assistants, I’ve had great assistants wherever I’ve been. Especially Eric ‘Bubba’ Johnson [who is in his 25th year with me]. I’ve had some great continuity, volunteer coaches.”
Assisting at Melrose now is former Red Hawk Hunter Adrian, a Brown graduate and one of four from Massachusetts to win four All-State and three New England titles (two did it last season).
“You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken poo, unless you get a lot of mayonnaise,” chuckled Tremblay.
This Melrose iteration is not the most star-studded he’s coached, but with technique and conditioning that Tremblay calls “some of the best in the state,” there’s plenty of opportunity. Shea and Santos each reached 100 wins on Wednesday.
“We don’t have the most athletic team, but we’re scrapping,” he said. “Trying to keep the tradition going. Great administration, great parents.”
• Central Catholic earned a rare podium finish at the Eastern States Classic in Halfmoon, N.Y., taking third with 82.5 points. Sam Winship (fourth at 103 pounds), Lucas Copper (fifth at 118), Caden Smith (eighth at 165), and Brian Waller-Reitano (fourth at heavyweight) placed for the Raiders.
• Dedham won the Weymouth Invitational, after Ryan Talon-Kelly and Manuel Garcia earned back-to-back finals victories at 132 and 138 pounds. The Marauders (210.5 points) edged out Xaverian (202) and Lowell (201).
• St. John’s (Shrewsbury) won the Quabbin Midland Dual Meet Tournament, racking up 266 pointsacross four duals and improving the Pioneers’ season record to 11-2.
• With Devon Mateo (113 pounds) and Abel Varzeas (190) capturing titles, West Springfield (222.5 points) topped New Bedford (182) and Silver Lake (155.5) to win the James Peckham Invitational at Canton High.
• At the Dan Gionet Memorial tournament in Pelham, N.H., Tyngsborough/Dracut (175.5 points) was the top Massachusetts team, finishing second. The co-op had two champions: James Shaffer (113 pounds) and Samson Xayachack (150).
• Woburn won the Brendan Grant Memorial Tournament at Belmont High, with Alexavier Orellana (113 pounds), Alexander Orellana (120), and Nelly Jean Louis (144) earning titles. The Tanners finished with 260 points, ahead of Arlington (223.5) and Winchester (130.5).
• Wayland sent eight to the finals and came away with four champions: Mark Altreuter (132 pounds), Dan Florez (138), Jo Jo Cavallo (165), and Nathan Hartunian (285), to win the Taconic Invitational in Pittsfield.
AJ Traub can be reached at aj.traub@globe.com. Follow him on X @aj_traub and Instagram @ajt37.
