U.S. Girls Wrestling Association
Carden earns
All-American honors
YPSILANTI, Mich., March 19 – Branford High sophomore Cheyenne Carden finished fourth at the 2009 United States Girls Wrestling Association’s national championships at 128 pounds. After dropping her first match, Carden won three straight bouts with two pins and a forfeit before dropping a 10-9 decision to New York’s Tanya Kruse in the consolation final. Carden earned All-American honors for taking fourth. Cheney Tech’s Taylor Zboray (103) finished ninth at 103.
60 wrestlers
at national tournament
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., March 31 -- Sixty Connecticut wrestlers, including 19 seniors, are competing this week in the National High School Coaches Association’s national wrestling tournaments. The 20th annual Senior Nationals, which run April 3-5, feature 20 four-time state champions. The Junior, Sophomore and Freshman National tournaments run March 31 to April 3.
Seniors (19)
Steve Maston (103), Amity
Robert Lonergan (103), Jonathan Law
Robert Ferrante (125), Shelton
Anthony DeCato (130), Gilbert
Ryan Quinn (130), Bacon Academy
Michael Frick (135), New Fairfield
Curtis Watkins (135), Fairfield Warde
Ryan Clarke (140), East Lyme
Nathan Nadeau (145), E.O. Smith
Caleb Morth (145), Ledyard
Michael Monson (160), Southington
Shane Duplice (171), Waterford
Lucas Bowman (189), St. Bernard
Aaron Ogden (189), Bacon Academy
Michael Ingalls (189), South Windsor
Travis Koch (215), Windham High
Tim Chambers (285), Bristol Central
Humphrey Swift (285), Danbury
Brian Webster (285), Bacon Academy
Juniors (18)
Brian Jennings (112), Danbury
Charles Costanzo (119), Danbury
J.D. Damici (125), Danbury
Doug Fontaine (125), Southington
Mac Deer (125), Waterford
Nick Cyr (130), Bristol Central
Nick Giulietti (140), Sheehan
Zac Deer (140), Waterford
Castiglione Carmine (145), Southington
Brian Onofrio (152), Hand
Damian Winters (152), Danbury
Patrick Mickens (152), Bacon Academy
Daniel Thompson (160), Bacon Academy
Dylan Hancock (171), Danbury
Corey Gran (171), Waterford
Shane Battista (189), Waterford
Hideki Fernandez (285), Danbury
Martin Ball (215), Bacon Academy
Sophomores (10)
James Patton (103), Danbury
Sean McAllister (112), Bacon Academy
Christian Bowles (112), Southington
Evan Fraser (119), Fairfield Warde
Devin Coyone (145), Bacon Academy
Dean Gilbert (145), Ledyard
Duncan MacKinnon (152), Bacon Academy
Brandon Koch (189), Windham High
Patrick Gillen (215), Shelton
Dylan Kniska (285), Bacon Academy
Freshmen (13)
Dylan Bryant (103), Danbury
Colin O’Brien (103), Waterford
Gilberto DeJesus (103), Windham High
Taylor Grauer (119), Windham High
Michael Angotta (130), Danbury
Dan Kurasz (130), Montville
Edward Hunt (135), Shelton
Ryan Peterson (135), Danbury
Brandon Walsh (135), Griswold
Tucker MacGregor (135), Hand
Alex Manwaring (140), Ledyard
Kyle Westerfield (140), Danbury
Tyler Hancock (145), Danbury
NHSCA National Tournament
Gillen takes fourth,
Frick wins two bouts
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 4 – Shelton sophomore Patrick Gillen (215) finished fourth Friday in the NHSCA’s Sophomore Nationals. Gillen dropped a 5-0 decision to Brian Beattie of Pennsylvania in the semifinals but rebounded to beat New York’s Joe Bilello in the consolation semifinals, 7-0. In the consolation final, Brandon Clark of Pennsylvania beat Gillen, 7-0. Gillen was 3-2 in the tournament and finishes the year at 49-7 and 97-12 career.
At the Senior National tournament, Bristol Central’s Tim Chambers (285) and Danbury’s Humphrey Swift (285) were the only state wrestlers to earn first round wins. However, both lost in the second round to move into the consolation bracket.
In the consolation bracket, New Fairfield's Michael Frick (145) won twice and was the only Connecticut wrestler to win more than one match in the tournament. Bacon Academy's Ryan Quinn (130), Fairfield Warde's Curtis Watkins (135), Windham High's Travis Koch (215) each earned a consolation round victory. Connecticut finished 39th in the Senior Nationals with nine points.
NHSCA National Tournament
Gillen wins two, moves into semis
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 2 – Shelton sophomore Patrick Gillen (215) won two matches to earn a spot in the semifinals of the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals and earn All-American honors for the second straight year. Gillen beat New Mexico’s Michael Lamb, 4-1 and New York’s Jake Barnhart, 6-4, to earn a spot in the semifinals Friday morning against Brian Beattle of Pennsylvania.
Sean McAllister (112) of Bacon Academy won three straight matches in the consolation round at the Sophomore Nationals but fell one victory shy of earning All-American honors. He finished 3-2 in the tournament with a thrilling 4-2 OT win over Virginia’s Omar Maknassi on Thursday.
Alex Manwaring (140) of Ledyard went 3-2 in the Freshman Nationals with a win in his opening bout and two tight victories in the consolation round over New Jersey’s Tyler Miller, 5-3 and Georgia’s Hunter Gamble, 3-1 in OT. Windham’s Taylor Grauer (119) went 2-2 in the Freshman tournament.
At the Junior Nationals, Bristol Central’s Nick Cyr (130) was the only Connecticut wrestler to win at least two matches with a 4-0 and 3-2 victories in the consolation round. Danbury’s Charlie Costanzo (119), Waterford’s Zac Deer (140), Shane Battista (189), Sheehan’s Nick Giulietti (140) and Bacon Academy’s Danny Thompson (160) each earned one victory.
At the Freshman Nationals, Windham’s Taylor Grauer (119) and Danbury’s Kyle Westerfield (140) each earned victories while Fairfield Warde’s Evan Fraser (119) and Ledyard’s Dean Gilbert (145) earned wins at the Sophomore Nationals.
