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This page was last updated on: November 6, 2003

Copyright 2003, Collinsville Publishing Company
2002-03 weekly notebook (No. 3)
Inspiration lifts Vermes to Classic crown
This week's key results



Conard 43, Southington 27
At West Hartford
103  Jeff Fontaine (S) dec. Brian Scavetta 5-0, 112  Yugia Zhai (C) pin Greg Fontaine 2:37, 119  Jared Schlar (C) dec. Paul Sasso 6-5, 125  Chris Gotay (C) pin Eric Sendrowski 1:35, 130  Bill St. Pierre (S) pin P.J. Decouteau 1:13, 135  Chris Lee (S) dec. Andrew Begin 9-6, 140  Jesse Wrubel (C) pin Brendan Blaschke :41, 145  John Wrubel (C) pin Mike Badgely :46, 152  Mike Medeiros (C) pin Jeremy Seeger 2:39, 160  Andy Liseo (S) dec. Joe Machowski 3-2, 171  Derek Crawford (C) pin Anthony DeFranco 2:10, 189  Pete Shreckengast dec. Brandon Campbell 13-0, 215  Chris D'Angelo (S) pin Chris Sliva 2:17, 275  Jon Vose (S) pin Nick Macca 1:09.

Avon 42, Montville 34
At Portland
103: Seby Lara (A) pin Alex Mallory :21; 112: Adam Twitchell (A) forfeit; 119: Reem Timme (A) dec. Nick Wilson 5-3; 125: Adam Freilich (A) pin Matt Wilson 4:21; 130: Robby Tolk (A) dec. Dan Dodge 5-2; 135: Steve Nelson (M) tech. fall Rob Hodgeson 16-0, second period; 140: Brandon Dombrowski (M) pin Ben Euibank 3:29; 145: Bryan Howard (M) pin Ryan Andres 3:29; 152: Dan Murphy (M) forfeit; 160: Joey Freidhoff (A) pin Mike Harris 2:29; 171: Robert Bedard (M) pin Dan Jameson 4:31; 189: Ryan Walsh (A) pin Tom Kruszewski 3:05; 215: Lou Shavelle (A) pin Justin Gaulin :54; 275: Matt Morgan (M) forfeit.

Morgan Duals final
Waterford 43, Morgan 33
At Clinton
103: Fratus (W) pin Grass 1:34; 112: Nolda (W) pin Greg Hicks 5:25; 119: Marvin Mayer (M) pin Ward 0:22; 125: Metzig (M) pin Dennis Ketner 1:21; 130: AJ Powers (W) defeated Alex Merriman 9-2; 135: Eric Delahenty (M) pin Cullers; 140: Bonavita (M) maj. dec. Ryan Cramer 9-1; 145: Connor Comiskie (M) pin Gorton 1:48; 152: Dave Faquinta (M) pin Grote; 160: Shaw (W) pin Ben Lane 1:42; 171: Karasevicz (W) pin Eninger 1:11; 189: Welch (W) pin Kevin Hylan 1:48; 215: Bill Reiss (M) defeated Neilan 9-4; 275: Nelson (W) pin Alex Mizger 1:22.
Record: Wateford 15-2.
.
Silk City Classic
At Manchester
Team results  1. Mount Anthony Union-Bennington, Vt. 224½, 2. RHAM 160, 3. Killingly 152, 4. Berlin 148½, 5. Plainville 110, 6. Windham High 106, 7. Nonnewaug 67½, 8. New Fairfield 62½, 9. Rocky Hill 61, 10. Rockville 58, 11. Simsbury 56, 12. East Windsor 46, 13. Manchester 44, 14. New-ington 41, 15. Woodstock Academy 40, 16. Canton 37, 17. Fermi 29, 18. South Windsor 15, 19. Tol-land 16, 20. East Catholic 5, 21. Lewis Mills and E.O. Smith 0.
95 pounds
Nick Cavallaro (Plainville) dec. Doug Rohner (Manchester), 8-3; 3. Adam Olin (MAU) dec. Chris Fusco (New Fairfield), 9-4; 5. Jose Negron (Rockville) pin Matt Carpenter (Canton), 4:12
103 pounds
Joey Martin (Simsbury) pin David Brummert (Canton), 1:08; 3. Tom Phillips (Killingly) dec. Trevor Olmstead (RHAM), 10-9; 5. Kevin Horan (Newington) dec. Mike Longo (Rockville)
112 pounds
Jay Vermes (East Windsor) pin Ian Kessler (New Fairfield), 1:12; 3. Chris Pruden (MAU) dec. Jesse Cavallaro (Plainville), 8-5; 5. Nick Miraguillo (Woodstock) dec. Scott Warren (RHAM), 13-3
119 pounds
James Therrian (Killingly) dec. Rob LaBrake (MAU), 1-0; 3. Navarre Jones (Windham) dec. Nick Raiola (RHAM), 8-6; 5. Dan Madey (Berlin) dec. Rahul Bala (Fermi), 8-3
125 pounds
Trevor Brown (RHAM) dec. T.J. Maroney (MAU), 8-6; 3. Kostas Hatzikostas (Nonnewaug) dec. Jordan Blain (Windham), 2-1; 5. Dan Zachs (Simsbury) dec. Matt MacFarland (Killingly), 12-5
130 pounds
B.J. Madey (Berlin) dec. Brad Betit (MAU), 9-7; 3. Brian Bayley (Simsbury) dec. Chevon Schard (Manchester), 10-0; 5. Jeff Larron (Woodstock) dec. Eric Thoran (RHAM), 3-2
135 pounds
C.J. McCormack (Berlin) dec. Pat Parizio (MAU), 4-2; 3. Brock Littlefield (RHAM) dec. Chris Lovell (Fermi), 8-0; 5. Tim Gardiner (Rockville) dec. Kurtis Strout (Windham)
140 pounds
Vito Barbagallo (Plainville) dec. Bran Crudden (Windham), 4-2; 3. Loxley Walters (Rocky Hill) pin Kainen Mattison (MAU), 2:30; 5. Bernie Cunningham (Tolland) pin Grayson Glover (Nonnewaug), 3:50
145 pounds
Ian Coyne (RHAM) dec. Ken Volkmer (MAU), 8-6; 3. A.J. Maselli (Rocky Hill) win by disqualification over Luke Guyot (Windham); 5. Jimi Maiorino (Woodstock) dec. Nick Morrett (Manchester), 14-4
152 pounds
Greg Dussol (RHAM) dec. Justin Giarnella (Berlin), 2-1, 2 OT; 3. Larry Loomis (Killingly) dec. Corey Patrick (Nonnewaug), 7-4; 5. Vince Chiorgno (MAU) dec. Bob Marduski (Windham)
160 pounds
Kevin Davis (RHAM) pin Bryan Hawes (Windham), 1:01; 3. Tom Discipio (Newington) dec. Brendan Beloin (Killingly), 11-2; 5. Matt Morrett (Manchester) dec. Alex Pender (Rockville), 4-3
171 pounds
Ben Frost (MAU) dec. Pete Okrasa (East Windsor), 3-0; 3. Cole Whitehead (Killingly) pin Ferdinand Quiles (Windham), 3:488; 5. Ryan Beiler (Fermi) pin Nick DiSalvo (Berlin), 2:43
189 pounds
Mike LaBeef (Killingly) dec. Dave Chapman (Plainville), 6-1; 3. Mike Sanders (Rocky Hill) dec. Matt Powell (Berlin), 8-5; 5. Tim Owens (Newington) injury default over Kevin Coon (MAU)
215 pounds
Tory Rich (MAU) dec. Matt Sutera (Killingly), criteria, 2nd OT; 3. Justin Fanguillo (Plainville) dec. Brian Dinnie (Rockville), 7-1; 5. Jamie Hines (New Fairfield) dec. Kevin Valencia (Canton), 7-6
275 pounds
John Russo (Berlin) dec. Ray Dommermuth (New Fairfield), 3-0; 3. Brian Wilson (Plainville) pin Andy Dohan (Nonnewaug), 3:53; 5. Marquez (Windham) pin J.P. Pechie (Killingly), 2:23
Fast fall award  Joey Martin, Simsbury, 4 pins in 4:27
Outstanding wrestler (lower weights)  Jason Vermes, East Windsor, 112
Outstanding wrestler (upper weights) : Ben Frost, MAU
Lee Pinney Award (sportsmanship)  Justin Giarnella, Berlin
Barry Bernstein Award for sportsmanship  Mount Anthony
Best technican  Vermes
Best final  140 pounds: Crudden vs. Barbagallo


By GERRY deSIMAS, JR.
Connecticut Wrestling Online
MANCHESTER, Jan. 27, 2003 -- When he was tired and his body was crying for rest, East Windsor's Jason Vermes would simply look up.

He would gaze at a photo on his dresser of Mount Anthony's Chris Pruden on the medal stand holding his first place medal from last year's Silk City Classic with Vermes a few inches lower in second place.

For three straight years, Pruden beat Vermes in the finals of the Classic. In 2000, Pruden pinned Vermes in 53 seconds, a year later it was 3:04. A year ago, Pruden prevailed, 8-5. On Saturday, Vermes was face-to-face with his nemesis in the semifinals of the 112 pound division of the Silk City Classic.

"I've been training all month for this tournament," Vermes said. "As soon as I took him down in the first period and threw him on his back, I knew I had a chance."

Vermes got his revenge with an 8-5 victory. In the finals, Vermes (23-1) manhandled New Fairfield's Ian Kessler with a pin in 1:12. What pressure was there after he had beaten Pruden, who was second in New England a year ago at 103?

"The semifinal win was more satisfying," Vermes admitted.

Hard work is part of Vermes' routine now. Hours before Saturday's final, he was trying to set up a pair of workouts for the next day  Super Bowl Sunday.

Vermes win denied Pruden the chance to become the fourth 4-time champion in the tournament's history. Bristol Central's Casey O'Connor (1996-99), Mt. Anthony's Tyler Galipeau (1997-00) and Ben Lackey (1999-02) never lost in the tourney.

HOST WANTED: All season long, former Griswold coach Dave Nowakowski has been trying to secure a facility to host the CIAC Class S wrestling championships on Feb. 21-22. With less than four weeks to go, no firm commitment had been obtained.

Nowakowski had hoped to host it at Griswold but when it looked like the Griswold girls basketball team could qualify for a home game in the ECC Tournament, that idea was dashed.

The problem is there aren't many Class S schools with facilities large enough to fit four mats on the floor and still have ample bleacher space remaining for the fans and wrestlers. And some schools are simply not interested in hosting the two-day event.

"We'll host it at a non-Class S school if we have to," Nowakowski said. "We'll bring our people and do whatever we have to do. We need to get this settled so people can make travel plans."

A year ago, East Catholic hosted the meet at Berlin High. The other class meets have been set all season. This year's Class LL meet is at Bristol Central, the Class L meet is at Bristol Eastern with the Class M meet at Plainville High.

SACHEMS AIM FOR TITLES: RHAM has some high hopes for the upcoming post-season tournament. RHAM (16-0) is looking to repeat as Class M champion against some stiff competition (Plainville, Windham, Ledyard and Bethel) and hopefully contend for a State Open championship.

RHAM has six seniors in the starting lineup, including veterans Trevor Brown (125), Greg Dussol (152), Kevin Davis (160) and Ian Coyne (145), who all took home Silk City Classic crowns. Brown won the State Open a year ago while Dussol was second and Davis fifth. Brock Littlefield (135), who also placed at the Open a year ago, was third at the Classic.

"A tournament like this gives you an idea where you are and what you need to improve on," RHAM coach Kevin Kantaitis said.

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Simsbury freshman Joey Martin (103) has had an impressive start to his varsity career. He is 24-0 after winning the title at the Silk City Classic. Martin has been wrestling for several years at camps and tournaments all over the country. His older brother, Curtis, is a 189-pound senior for the Trojans while another brother, Ray, also wrestled for Simsbury. Martin won the fast fall award with 4 pins in 4:47 at the Silk City Classic.

AROUND THE STATE: A year ago, Killingly's James Therrian was second at the State Open and fifth in New England at 112. Saturday, he outlasted Mount Anthony's Rob LaBrake, 1-0 in the final on a second period escape. Therrian improved to 24-1 while LaBrake, a two-time champion at the Classic, fell to 29-2.

Nonnewaug was seventh at the Silk City Classic, the best showing by a Berkshire League team since Gilbert was fifth in 1997.  The fastest pin the 2003 Silk City Classic came from Rockville's Tim Boland who pinned East Windsor's Mike Maheau in six seconds in the quarterfinals. Berlin's John Russo had an 11-second pin in the quarterfinals.

Simsbury's Frank Chaves will be honored as the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) wrestling coach of the year in May. Chaves has led Simsbury to three Class L titles (1992, 1995, 1997) and second place finishes in 1990 and 2001. He took over in Dec. 1977 and has a career record of 381-162-5. ... No. 10 Conard stunned No. 5 Southington with a decisive win, 42-27. ... No. 7 Waterford won four of its last five matches by pin to beat No. 11 Morgan and win the Morgan Duals, 43-33. ... NFA had 4 champions and won the New Milford Invitational, outlasting Seymour, 163-143. ... In a meeting of Class S contenders, Avon swept Montville, Portland and Derby.