Hall
Coach: Anthony Weber, 2nd year (8-17)
Last year: 8-17, 1-5 CCC West (6th), 5th CCC West tournament; 13th Class L tournament
Key losses: Justin Scalise (160, Class L champion, 4th State Open, 33-4), Bill Lerner (189, 3rd Class L, 34-9); Alex Misiorski (171, 5th Class L, 27-9) and four other senior starters.
Outlook: Instead of highlighting individuals, the Warriors said this season is about the team. “From the captains down to the freshmen, they want this to be about the team, not just one or two kids,” Weber said. Hall returns five starters but only one had a winning record a year ago. With 35 boys out for the team, Weber expects competition for varsity positions to push the wrestlers to succeed this winter.
Of note: Hall won the CCC West title in 2008 and 2009.
Conard
Coach: Chris Glowacki, 10th year (195-55)
Last year: 19-9, 4-2 CCC West (tied 2nd), 4th CCC West tournament; 6th Class L tournament; 18th State Open
Key losses: Antonio Squirewell (145, 4th Class L, 28-7); Samuel Newton (152, 26-6); Larry Burns (285, Class L champion, 4th State Open, 38-4)
Key players: Sophomore Lucas Muntz (152, 2nd Class L, 3rd State Open, 43-7), junior Johnny Belo (145, 4th Class L, 34-6), Seniors Dainius Lancinskas (171, 24-12), Kevin Fisher (215), Adam Bender (130)
Outlook: Coach Chris Glowacki is excited over the potential to challenge Simsbury, Southington and Newington in the battle for the CCC West championship. Strength should be in the upper weight classes. How the younger wrestlers in the lower weight classes develop should be key.
Of note: Conard is seeking its first league title since 2006.
Farmington
Coach: Eric Misko, 14th year (240-112-1)
Last year: 18-14, 2-4 CCC West (4th), 3rd CCC West tournament; 12th Class L tournament; 34th State Open
Key losses: Chan Keoveunexay (112, 6th Class L, 36-7); Sean O’Connell (189, Class L champion, 3rd State Open, 48-5); Tim Orrell (103, 31-11)
Projected lineup: 103 Eric Suhre, 112 George Sticca, Chris Thomas, Tim Kelsey, 119 Matt Natale (20-14), 125 Garrett Hastings, Zach Daugerty, 130 Ryan Rigney, Carlos Alvarez, 135 James Paigo (18-18), Joe Carpino, 140 Steve Kelsey, 145 Mike Berlandy, 152 Tyler Strauss (25-13, 6th in Class L), 160 Harry Pacheco, 171 Marcus Biggins, 189 Sean Rios (24-12), 215 Thomas Stevens, 285 Joe Fillian, Aleks Shanazarian
Outlook: We have a few seniors on this year’s team but the youngsters are the ones that will dictate how our team’s season goes,” Misko said. “We call them the “super sophomores” and as soon as they start clicking this team is going to be tough.”
Of note: Natale and Rios are returning CCC West tournament champions while Hastings and Strauss each finished second.
Simsbury
Coach: Ernie Goodwin, 5th year (72-37); Career: 191-114, 13 years
Last year: 20-7, 4-2 CCC West (tied 2nd), won CCC West tournament; 10th Class LL tournament
Key losses: Nick Stemm (152, 2nd Class LL, 33-4); Spencer Brickley (160, 4th Class LL, 28-7), Dan Calzarette (130, 3rd Class LL, 38-6), David Brant (171, 22-12)
Key players: Sophomore Ben Durst (112, 31-7), Sophomore Gerald Nelson (119), Senior Alex Kozieradzki (125, 25-18), Senior Connor Alexander Ciment (145, 23-14), Senior Josh Gowdy (152, 26-10), Junior Stephon King (215), freshman Tucker Salls (160), freshman Nick Summa (135/140).
Outlook: Simsbury has a strong but balanced lineup in its quest to win its first league title since 2001. “We have a lot of kids who aren’t afraid to work,” Simsbury coach Ernie Goodwin said. “We don’t have any superstars. We have kids who are gritty.”
Of note: With 40 kids in the program, Goodwin has some quality help in the wrestling room. Assistant coach Bill Heuschneider, a former State Open finalist, is joined by volunteer coaches Ken Pera and Joe Mormile. Pera is a former New England champion while Mormile was a state champion in New Jersey.
Canton
Coach: Mario Bonito, 1st year; Career: record unavailable, 12th season
Last year: 10-21, 2-5 NCCC; 3rd NCCC Tournament; 10th Class S tournament
Key losses: Steve Carpenter (125, 2nd Class S, 39-5), Matt Grisevich (130, 33-9); Rich Jones (160, 5th Class S, 42-4)
Key players: Senior Nate Getler (3rd Class S, 41-6), Junior Brian Fitzpatrick (13-11), Junior Matt White (4th Class S, 30-8)
Outlook: Getler, Fitzpatrick and White are the most experienced wrestlers returning this year and all three should challenge for NCCC titles. Getler is looking for his first state title. There are just 16 wrestlers out for the team, which could make it challenging to field a full team in 14 weight classes. The remainder of the team is enthusiastic but lacks significant varsity experience.
Of note: Bonito, who coached 11 years in New York state from 1985-96, replaces Bill Phelps, who coached Canton for 28 years. Phelps’ long-time assistant Ed deSImas was retained and begins his 27th season behind the bench with Canton.
Avon
Coach: John McLaughlin, 14th year (250-91-1)
Last year: 23-6, 7-0 NCCC; league champions; NCCC Tournament champions; 12th Class M tournament
Key losses: Jason Lybeck (112, 24-6); Mike Hogan (152, 36-7); T.J. Portelance (215, 27-11)
Key players: Sophomore Jessica McCamish (103, 26-11), Senior James Gendler (140, 4th Class M, 5th State Open, 25-7), Sophomore Joe Murphy (160, 29-7), Senior Ryan Pearson (160, 22-10), Leo Herbert (171, 18-9)
Outlook: Avon could be a stronger tournament team than dual meet team this year but it should be strong enough to win its sixth NCCC championship in the last seven years. Murphy and Herbert are defending league champions while McCamish and Gendler each finished second in the league.
Of note: Avon has won its last 21 league matches and 41 of its last 42 since 2005. … McCamish was second at the New England Girls Wrestling Association championships last March and won a USA Wrestling national championship in 2009 as an eighth grader.
Granby
Coach: Todd Crisostomo, 9th year (93-75)
Last year: 2-18, 1-6 NCCC, 7th NCCC Tournament; 33rd Class S tournament
Key losses: Ryan Coyle (215, 18-15)
Key players: Senior Chris Brown (140/145, 24-13, 2nd NCCC), Junior Jordyn Hurley (189), Senior Dave Joslyn (130/135) Sophomore Nick Paolino (119), Sophomore Alden Rossette (125)
Outlook: With only 15 wrestlers out for the team, the focus will be on individual growth and stealing a win where they can.
Of note: East Granby senior Oliver Hooper (140) returns for his third season with the team. He’ll wrestle as a one-man team representing the Crusaders.
West Hartford, Farmington Valley previews
Conard has its eyes on a CCC West title
By GERRY deSIMAS, JR.
Connecticut Wrestling Online
WEST HARTFORD, Dec. 14 – With some experienced wrestlers returning this winter, Conard High wrestling coach Chris Glowacki is excited about the prospects for the Chieftains contending for a CCC West championship.
It won’t be easy with Southington, which usually spends much of the season ranked among the top 10 teams in the state, and Simsbury along with a resurgent team in Newington but Glowacki knows that Conard will be competitive.
Perhaps the best wrestler is sophomore Lucas Muntz, who was 43-7, second in Class L and third in the State Open at 140 pounds a year ago. He’ll move up to 152 pounds. Junior Johnny Belo (34-6 at 135 in 2010) returns at 145 pounds while seniors Adam Bender (130), Dainius Lancinskas (171) and Kevin Fisher (215) are scheduled to start. Junior Ricky Cotton (189) is one of six starters returning.
“We have a lot of experience in the upper weight classes,” said Glowacki, who is five wins shy of 200 for his career. “We have a great group of sophomores and juniors with previous experience. They went to camps and look pretty good. We’re excited for this year.”
Even in the first few days of practice, Glowacki noticed a rise in the ability of his team. “Usually, we’re showing the basics in the first few days. This year, the skill level is a little higher,” he said. “We have the potential to be a better team.”
Conard opens the season against Manchester. The home opener is Tuesday (Dec. 21) when they host Farmington in a CCC West contest at 6:30 p.m.
At HALL, it was just two years ago when the Warriors captured their second straight CCC West championship. But last year, Hall slipped to 8-17 under first-year coach Anthony Weber despite getting a state championship victory from Justin Scalise at 160 pounds.
Seven starters graduated from last year’s team but Weber is cautiously optimistic this winter.
“Although this is not a rebuilding year, the wrestlers who will be starting have limited varsity experience,” Weber said. “I expect some freshmen and sophomores with experience to be pushing at the seniors for varsity spots.”
Weber is counting on challenges for varsity spots to help his team to improve in a challenging CCC West conference with Simsbury, Conard and Newington. Five starters return for Hall but only one had a winning record.
For Weber and the Warriors, it is all about the team. Weber declined to provide specifics on individual wrestlers at this time. “From the captains down to the freshmen, they want this to be about the team, not just one or two kids,” Weber said
Hall open the season at East Catholic. The Warriors have their home opening meet on Jan. 5 when they host Newington. Hall will host the Greater Hartford Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 15.
Conard hosts Hall on the final day of the regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
SIMSBURY has a big challenge ahead of them if they want to bring home their first league title since 2001. Simsbury returns eight starters from last year’s team that went 20-7 but the Trojans will have to contend with Southington, a team that won its third straight conference title a year ago and spent most of the season in the top 10 of the state coaches poll, Conard and a resurgent team from Newington, fueled by its Blackhawks youth wrestling program.
Coach Ernie Goodwin is confident that Simsbury will be a contender. “We have a decent lineup,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of superstars. We have kids who will be gritty. These kids are not afraid to work. They bring a good attitude to practice.”
Seniors Alex Kozieradzki (125), Connor Alexander Ciment (145) and Josh Gowdy (152) will look to start. Look for contributions from junior Stephon King (215) and sophomores Ben Durst (112) and Gerald Nelson (119).
At FARMINGTON, a talented group of young wrestlers is led by defending CCC West Tournament champions Matt Natale (119) and Shaun Rios (189). “We have a few seniors on this year’s team but the youngsters are the one who will dictate how the team’s season goes,” long-time coach Eric Misko said. “We call them the “super sophomores” and as soon as they start clicking this team is going to be tough.”
Farmington went 18-14, its first season under 20 wins since 2005.
AVON is looking to win its sixth NCCC championship in the last seven years and its fourth straight league championship. The Falcons (23-6, 7-0 NCCC) have some experienced wrestlers returning in defending NCCC champions Joe Murphy (160) and Leo Herbert (171) along with conference finalists Jessica McCamish (103), James Gendler (140) and Ryan Pearson (160). Gender finished fourth a year ago in Class M and fifth at the State Open.
“We have some real solid wrestlers who could deep for us in big tournaments,” Avon coach John McLaughlin. “It remains to be seen how the younger, less experienced wrestlers will step up. But I’m optimistic because we had a lot of good off-season work this year.”
Defending Class S champion Somers and Suffield loom as the challengers to the Falcons.
The number of wrestlers are down at CANTON and GRANBY. Each team has less than 18 wrestlers on their respective squads. At Granby, senior Chris Brown won 24 matches a year ago and finished second in the league. He’ll be looking to improve this year.
It’s a transition season at Canton after coach Bill Phelps stepped down after 28 years behind the bench last spring. The Warriors hired Mario Benito, a head coach for 11 years in New York State. Defending NCCC champions Nate Getler (135/140), Brian Fitzpatrick (112/119) and Matt White (119/125) are the most experienced wrestlers returning. Getler, who severely injured his knee was a sophomore, is aiming for a state championship. He was 41-6 a year ago. White went 30-8.
