Tremblay to replace Day at Berlin High
BERLIN, June 28, 2007 – Former Berlin High wrestler David Tremblay has been hired to replace Jim Day as wrestling coach at Berlin High. Tremblay won a Class M title, placed twice at the State Open and wrestled at Southern Connecticut State and with Team USA. He has been an assistant to Day, with the Berlin High football team and with the Glastonbury High wrestling team. “Dave is part of the (former BHS football coach) Al Pelligrinelli coaching tree and brings the same high standards for ethical, competitive behavior,” Day told the Berlin Citizen. “Dave will be energetic and thoughtful in his approach to coaching. It is a nice feeling to hand the baton off to one of Berlin’s own.” Day, a member of the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame, retired at the end of the 2007 season. In 26 years, Day (445-132-3) led Berlin to 20 Northwest Conference and nine state titles. Day will remain as athletic director at BHS.
Five wrestlers are scholar athletes
SOUTHINGTON – Five wrestlers were named as Scholar-Athletes at the CIAC’s 24th annual Connecticut High School Scholar-Athlete awards banquet in Southington in May. Sam Wilcox (Griswold), Corey Paulish (Ridgefield), Steven Flathers (Stratford), Bryant Jiravisitcul (Jonathan Law) and Zebulon Levine (Woodstock Academy) were honored as the top male scholar-athletes from their respective schools.
Three state wrestlers on All-Academic team
EASTON, Pa. -- Seniors Tyler Howe of Danbury and Ralph Riello of Platt in Meriden and sophomore Ryan Quinn of Bacon Academy were named to the National High School Coaches Association’s All-Academic team for 2007. Eight-nine athletes from 32 states were honored. Howe, a three-time Class LL champion, went 46-5 this year at 152 pounds and finished with a career record of 136-20. He earned a 3.57 GPA. Riello was 37-6 and fifth in Class M at 135 pounds. He earned a 3.9 GPA, was ranked No. 9 in his class of 244 and will attend UConn. Quinn was 47-4 and third in Class M at 112 pounds. He is 86-12 in two seasons. He has a GPA of 3.7.
Seymour BOE finds money for wrestling
SEYMOUR, June 12 -- The Seymour Board of Education adjusted its budget to save the wrestling program. In May, the Board said they would cut wrestling to help save $54,000 that was cut from the education budget by the Board of Finance. Instead, the Board of Education cut
$24,000 by deferring several maintenance projects, cut $21,000 from special education salaries and reduced pay for several administrative positions. (Connecticut
Post, 6/14)
Seymour poised to eliminate wrestling
SEYMOUR, May 22 -- The town of Seymour is considering eliminating the varsity wrestling team and putting off repair and maintenance programs will enable the school district to cut $54,000 from its $28.1 million budget. The town cut the Board of Education budget by $54,000 after voters rejected the town budget at a referendum on May 3. The town budget passed by 20 votes on May 17. Board of Education subcommittees will discuss the proposals in the coming weeks and make a final vote on June 25. (Waterbury Republican American, May 22)
Hepburn, Fong honored at All-State banquet
SOUTHINGTON, March 18 – Ledyard’s T.J. Hepburn was named Connecticut wrestler of the year at the 13th annual Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State banquet on Sunday afternoon. Hepburn (140 pounds) won his second straight New England title and went undefeated for the second consecutive year. Middletown’s Mark Fong was named coach of the year for leading the Dragons to their first-ever Class L state championship and their second straight NWC title.
Danbury’s Mark and Nancy Camissa of USA Wrestling Connecticut received the state appreciation award. Seventy-seven wrestlers earned Academic All-State honors while Connecticut Wrestling Online editor Gerry deSimas, Jr. was named sportswriter of the year.
State photographer wins national honor
NEW HAVEN, March 24 -- Connecticut’s Jeffrey Nolan, a former high school wrestler from Brookfield High, has been named the wrestling photographer of the year by the National Wrestling Media Association. Nolan has been shooting wrestling for over 20 years and has photographed the Olympics, World Championships and World Cup.
SHU wrestler named All-American
DETROIT, MI, March 16 - -Payam Zarrinpour, a heavyweight wrestler for Sacred Heart University, earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships by finishing seventh. He beat Nichael Spaid of Bloomsburg University, 11-8, to finish seventh. Zarrinpour (127-32 career) was thrown to his back but rallied to earn the win. Zarrinpour, who won the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title was 4-1 in the tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing his first bout to No. 2 Aaron Anspaugh of Penn State, 5-4.
Monday, March 5
Nutmeg youth wrestlers excel
Connecticut wins New England title in youth wrestling this past weekend. Wrestlers from Connecticut were first in the novice division (grades 5-6) and the junior high division (grades 7-8).
Monday, February 26
For 11th straight year, Danbury is No. 1 in poll
Danbury was No. 1 in the state coaches poll for the 11th straight year with all 12 first place votes. Ledyard moved ahead of Middletown to claim the No. 2 spot. No. 3 Middletown, which won its first Class L title, earned a spot in the final top 10 poll for the first time ever. Griswold had its highest ever finish in the poll, leaping from 11th to No. 4 after winning its second straight Class S title and finishing second at the State Open.
Danbury captures Open
NEW HAVEN, Feb. 25 -- Danbury (140 points) won its seventh straight Open championship with seven medalists and four wrestlers that finished second. Griswold nipped Ledyard for second place, 83-71.
Championship Saturday
Thanks for checking out Connecticut Wrestling Online's coverage of all four state championship tournaments. Summary stories from the four classes are posted below.
Monday, Feb. 12
