2016 All-State banquet
South Windsor’s Odell is named state wrestler of the year
SOUTHINGTON, March 13 – South Windsor’s Max Odell followed in the footsteps of his brothers and won a State Open championship. Odell (35-1) won his 35 first matches of the season and finished second in New England at 170 pounds.
On Sunday, he was named Wrestler of the Year in balloting by coaches at the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) All-State banquet at the Aqua Turf restaurant.
For the first time, New Fairfield was recognized as the state’s team of the year.
Wrestlers that won State Open, Class LL, Class L, Class M and Class S championships were recognized with All-State honors along with seven senior wrestlers earning Academic All-State honors. State Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year honors were also presented.
New Fairfield won its first-ever State Open championship in a thrilling three-team race with Danbury and New Milford.
It was New Fairfield with two individual champions and four medalists that edged Danbury by three points for its first-ever State Open championship, 115½ to 112½. New Milford, which led going into the finals, was right there with 111 points. Seven of the team’s nine wrestlers in the tournament won at least three matches.
New Fairfield became the first Class M team since Bacon Academy (2011) to win an Open championship. The Rebels’ three-point win over Danbury was the tightest since Bacon beat Hand by three points in 2011, 98-95.
The Academic All-State award recognizes seniors in good standing at their schools and members of the All-State team in wrestling. Candidates also need to score at least 1,800 on the SAT and/or at least 26 on the ACT.
