Ahmadi wins 11th gold medal at veterans world championships
ATHENS, Greece, Oct. 15 – Shirzad Ahmadi of Coventry won his 11th career gold medal at the Veterans wrestling world championships Thursday. It’s the most career medals of any American in the veteran’s competition.
Ahmadi won a four-athlete round robin competition at 138 pounds (63 kg) with a 3-0 record thanks to a pin, tech fall and a victory by withdrawal with an 11-5 lead. He won in the G division for ages 66-70.
“The trip to Greece has been great. I was hoping that we would have more USA Gold medals but the competition was a lot tougher from around the world. This is my 11th world freestyle championship and I'm very happy,” said Ahmadi.
Ahmadi pinned Iran’s Abasali Ahsan, beat American Jack Hornbuckle by tech fall, 10-0 and prevailed over Russian Viktor Chipkov by withdrawal.
Earlier in the week, South Windsor’s Steve Turgeon finished second at 128 pounds (58 kg) in the E Division, ages 56 to 60. Turgeon went 2-1 with pins over Iran’s Abdolreza Mojiboursherhi and Kazakhstan’s Yevgeny Lim. Turgeon lost to Japan’s Yasuo Misawa by pin.
Former NCAA champ Steve Fernandes dies
SOUTHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Steve Fernandes, 54, one of only three Connecticut wrestlers to win a NCAA wrestling championship, died Monday, Sept. 14. Fernandes, a Southington High graduate, won a NCAA Div. III title in 1982 at the College of New Jersey, now known as Trenton State. He was a three-time All-American in college. Click here for more information on his wrestling career and final arrangements.
Buster Jadach named to Derby Sports Hall of Fame
DERBY, Aug. 14 -- Derby High wrestling coach Buster Jadach is one of 10 men and women that will be inducted in the inaugural class of the Derby High Athletic Hall of Fame. Jadach, a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, has coached the Derby wrestling team since 1980 and has more wins (586) than any other coach in state history.
Lindner to wrestle at Anderson
New Milford's two-time All-American wrestler Kyle Lindner will be wrestling at Division II Anderson University in South Carolina next winter.
Jadach honored with President's Award; will be part of U.S. team at worlds
DERBY, July 31 -- Derby’s Sarah Jadach, the state chair of USA Wrestling in Connecticut, was recognized with the President’s Award at the recent USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior national championships in Fargo, North Dakota.
The award is presented by James Ravannack, president of USA Wrestling, to a state leader who is exceptional at promoting and building wrestling programs in their state. As part of the award, Jadach will be invited to be a part of the U.S. delegation that will be attending the upcoming world wrestling championships in Las Vegas on Sept. 7-12.
“It is recognition for what she does all year long for wrestling and the work she does in Connecticut to develop our sport,” said Gary Abbott, director of Communications for USA Wrestling.
USA Wrestling Nationals
Kane wins 10 straight bouts to finish third at Junior Nationals
FARGO, N.D., July 25 – Fairfield’s Timmy Kane (126) certainly earned his All-American plaque at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals in Fargo. Kane dropped his second match in the Cadet freestyle tournament and proceeded to win 10 straight bouts in the consolation portion of the tournament to finish third. Kane won nine bouts by technical fall (lead of 10 or more points) and had just one pin.
Newtown’s Anthony Falbo earned All-American honors by advancing to the semifinals at 170 pounds in the Cadet freestyle competition and finished fifth.
For Kane, it was his second All-American trophy. He finished sixth in the Cadet Greco-Roman tournament earlier in the week. Kane beat Kyvan Hagan of Mississippi, 12-2 to take third. Kane also beat All-American Jason Reinteria of Illinois, in the consolation semifinals, 10-0 and All-American Taylor Brown of Missouri on the consolation quarterfinals, 10-0.
Falbo opened the freestyle tournament with four straight wins including a 9-7 win over Iowa’s Anthony Sherry in the quarterfinals. Falbo beat Ohio’s Tim Bowers, 11-4 to finish fifth.
Bristol Central’s Chris Trelli (88) went 3-2 and finished one win shy of All-American honors along with Fitch’s Jarod Kosman (3-2 at 94). New Milford’s Mel Ortiz went 5-2 at 120 and finished two wins shy of All-American honors.
In the Junior freestyle tournament, New Fairfield’s Alex Opsal went 3-2 at 113 pounds and finished one win shy of All-American honors. Emmett LiCastri (152) of Immaculate/Joel Barlow went 4-2 at 152 pounds. In the Junior Greco-Roman tournament, LiCastri (152) went 3-2 at 152 pounds along with Fitch’s Billy Goff, who was also 3-2 at 152.
Complete results
Fairfield's Kane wins six bouts to earn
All-American honors
FARGO, N.D., July 20 – Fairfield’s Timmy Kane won six matches to finish sixth and earn All-American honors at the USA Wrestling Cadet Greco national championship at 126 pounds Monday. Kane won six of his first seven matches including four straight consolation round bouts to earn All-American honors. He had four wins by technical fall and one pin.
Ten Connecticut wrestlers competed in the Cadet Greco tournament. Bristol Central’s Chris Trelli (88), Fitch’s Jared Kosman (94), New Milford’s Mel Ortiz (120) and Newtown’s Anthony Falbo (170) each were one win shy of finishing among the top eight and earning All-American honors. Kosman, Ortiz and Falbo were each 4-2. Southington’s Shaun Wagner (113) went 5-2 in the tournament.
Complete results
Broadus earns All-American honors for 2nd time this week
FARGO, N.D., July 21 – Plymouth’s Cara Broadus, who will be a sophomore this fall, earned All-American honors for the second time in three days by taking fifth in the USA Wrestling Junior women’s freestyle tournament at 118 pounds. Broadus went 5-2 beating Hailey Finn of New York to finish fifth. Broadus won four of her first five matches. Two days earlier, Broadus was seventh in the Cadet women’s freestyle tournament at 120.
Complete results
Broadus earns All-American honors in women's freestyle
FARGO, N.D., July 18 -- Plymouth’s Cara Broadus, who will be a sophomore this fall, earned All-American honors by finishing seventh in the USA Wrestling Cadet women’s freestyle national championships in Fargo, North Dakota on Saturday at 120 pounds. She went 5-2 and finished seventh with a 10-0 win over McKenzie Walker of Virginia. All five of Broadus’ wins came by tech fall. It’s the latest All-American honor for Broadus, who won the WOTR girls grand national high school tournament in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco roman in Michigan in April.
Complete results
U.S. national team member will host upcoming clinic in Branford
Reece Humphrey, a current member of the U.S. national wrestling team, will be hosting a clinic at Team Tugman in Branford on Aug. 1 (1-3, 4-6 p.m.) and Aug. 2 (10 a.m. to noon, 1-3 p.m.). Cost is $150 for both days (all 4 sessions), $80 for a single day (2 sessions) or $50 for one session. Register via email at teamtugmaninfo@gmail.com. This isn't just for wrestlers. Coaches are invited, too.
Coaches to host free wrestling camp in honor of late wrestler
MIDDLETOWN, June 22 -- In honor of the late Colter Abely, who wrestled at Middletown High and Xavier, a free wrestling program will be held in Middletown Aug. 3-6 for kids ages 9-11. Middletown High coach Mark Fong and Xavier coach Mike Cunningham will lead Camp Colter. "I thought it was a perfect way to remember Colter," Fong told the Hartford Courant. "He would love the idea of us teaching wrestling to little kids in the Middletown community."
Shaw, Yost inducted into New England women's wrestling Hall of Fame
SPRINGFIELD -- Two Connecticut wrestlers were among seven athletes honored at the inaugural New England women’s wrestling Hall of Fame last December. Waterford’s Stefenie Shaw, who wrestled at Oklahoma City University, and Manchester’s Jillian Yost, who wrestled at AIC, were honored. Each earned multiple All-American honors.
Two state wrestlers awarded scholarships
The Connecticut chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame recently awarded $500 scholarships to two deserving athletes who will be continuing their education in college this fall. Danbury’s Juan (Johnny Garcia) was awarded the Career Achievement scholarship while Southington's Zack Murillo was awarded the Scholar Athlete award. Garcia will attend Notre Dame College in Ohio and Murillo will attend Wesleyan in Middletown.
Avon broadcaster inducted into Wrestling Hall of Fame
Avon's Mike Golic of ESPN Radio to be inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this weekend for his consistent and vocal support of wrestling. Golic, who grew up in Ohio and wrestled for Notre Dame, has raised his family in Connecticut.
State wrestlers named
to NHSCA Academic
All-American team
Eleven wrestlers from Connecticut are among 114 athletes from around the nation to be named to the National High School Coaches Association’s (NHSCA) Academic All-American team. Four are from Foran and two are from Southington.
Derby's Jadach honored with Good Sports Award
Derby’s Sarah Jadach was recently honored with a Good Sport Award from the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance at their annual Gold Key dinner.
SHS' Murillo wins Dave Schultz Award
SOUTHINGTON, May 3 – Southington High senior Zach Murillo (106), who won New England, State Open and Class LL championships earlier this spring, has been selected as the Dave Schultz Excellence Award winner from Connecticut, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced. The award recognizes excellence in wrestling, scholarship achievement, citizenship and community service.
Murillo (45-3) won 12 consecutive post-season matches is the first Southington High wrestler to win a New England championship. He had a career record of 130-35 and twice was second at USA Wrestling’s national freestyle championship tournament in Fargo, N.D., in 2014 and 2013. In 2014, he was also second at USA Wrestling’s Greco-Roman tournament.
Ranked in the top 10 percent of his class, Murillo will attend Wesleyan next fall. Murillo has also earned NHSCA Academic All-American honors.
Five state wrestlers win Northeast Region titles
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa., May 3 -- Five Connecticut wrestlers win titles at USA Wrestling's Northeast Regional in Pennsylvania on Sunday, including former Middletown High wrestler Richard Perry in the Senior Division.
Wrestling update
Knights to wrestle in college; Jack on All-Rookie team
Three Southington High wrestlers – Zach Murillo (Wesleyan), Zach Bylykbashi (Washington & Lee) and Shawn Devin (Southern Maine) – will be wrestling in college next year. … Howard Kilpatrick, a freshman from Colchester and Bacon Academy, was named the MVP at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. … Danbury’s Kevin Jack (141) of North Carolina State was named to the national 2015 All-Rookie team by Amateur Wrestling News. …. Xavier’s Chidi Broderick was named wrestler of the year by the New Haven Register. … Southington’s Zach Murillo is the Hartford Courant’s wrestler of the year. … Trent Turner of Green Farms Academy in Westport is the wrestler of the year for the Norwalk Hour. … Fairfield Warde's Charlie Kane is wrestler of the year as selected by Hearst Newspapers. ... Former Hand High coach David D'Alessio will be inducted into the Madison Athletic Hall of Fame in September. ... Former Simsbury High coach Ernie Goodwin will be recognized as the state wrestling coach of the year for the 2013-14 season. … Regional All-Star teams: Courant, New Haven Register, Bristol Press, New Britain Herald, Norwalk Hour, Hearst Newspapers, MSG.
Falbo is 2nd CT wrestler to win a NHSCA national title
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., March 28 – Newtown's Anthony Falbo became just the second Connecticut wrestler to bring home a NHSCA national title with a 6-4 win over Brandon Kui of DePaul Catholic in New Jersey at 160 pounds Sunday.
Foran freshman Ryan Luth finished second at 120 pounds while eight other Connecticut wrestlers earned All-American honors for finishing in the top eight of their respective weight classes.
Senior Juan Garcia (182) of Danbury became just the second Connecticut wrestler to earn NHSCA All-American honors for four years by taking seventh. New Milford’s Kyle Lindner (120) was seventh while Windsor Locks’ Khamri Thomas was sixth at 195.
Windham junior Seijia Arzuaga (220) was fifth and New Fairfield’s Alec Opsal (113) was eighth in the Junior National tournament. In the Sophomore Nationals, Bunnell’s Michael Ross (138), Newtown’s Ed Lovely (125) and New Fairfield native Avery Shay (132) each finished eighth to earn All-American honors.
Four Connecticut middle school students earned All-American honors. We also have a list of how each CT wrestler did in the tournaments.
Warde's Kane named wrestler of the year
SOUTHINGTON, March 22 – Fairfield Warde’s Charles Kane 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 second year in a row, Newtown was recognized as the team of the year. Seven senior athletes received Academic All-State honors and coaches and assistant coaches were recognized as well. Click on the link for more information including the banquet program with all of the winner’s names.
Jack takes 5th to earn All-American honors
ST. LOUIS, MO., March 21 - He started the 2015 NCAA championships unseeded and a relative unknown in the wrestling community. But after four upsets over seeded wrestlers, N.C. State freshman Kevin Jack of Danbury came away with a fifth place finish at the 2015 NCAA Division I wrestling championships and All-American honors in his first year of collegiate wrestling.
Two other Connecticut wrestlers participated in the tournament. Granby’s Dominick Malone of Northwestern (133) wrestled for the third year. He went 1-2 in the event with an 11-0 win over Ian Nickell of Cal State Bakersfield in the first round of consolations. Brookfield’s Jack McKeever (184) of Binghamton went 0-2 in his NCAA tournament debut.
Three state wrestlers qualify for NCAA tourney
Three Connecticut wrestlers have qualified to wrestle in the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in St. Louis on March 19-21. Danbury freshman Kevin Jack of North Carolina State (141), Granby junior Dominic Malone of Northwestern (133) and Brookfield junior Jack McKeever (184) of Binghamton University have secured invitations to the national tournament. Click on the following link for the details and our weekly collegiate roundup.
Three state wrestlers win New England titles
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass., March 7 -- In a bright and airy North Andover High gymnasium Saturday, three Connecticut wrestlers won New England championships, 10 wrestlers made the finals and two of the top three teams in New England were from the Nutmeg State.
Southington’s Zach Murillo (106) won the first New England title in his school history, Fairfield Warde’s Charles Kane (138) won a championship and completed an undefeated season while Danbury senior Juan Garcia (182) soothed some of the sting from a New England finals loss a year ago with his first New England title.
Vermont’s Mount Anthony Union from Bennington won their third straight New England title and their ninth overall with 122½ points. Newtown, with two finalists, was second with 84 points and Fairfield Warde, with just three wrestlers in the tournament, was third with 69 points. It was the best finish in the tournament for both teams.
51st New England tournament starts Friday in North Andover, MA
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The New England wrestling championships return to North Andover, Mass., for the first time since 2005 beginning Friday at 5:15 p.m. Wrestling resumes Saturday morning with the quarterfinals at 9 a.m. , the championship semifinals at 1 p.m. and the finals at 5:15 p.m. Suffield/Windsor Locks/East Granby’s Khamri Thomas (195) is a defending champion. Only 10 Connecticut wrestlers have won two or more New England titles.
Monday, March 2
Newtown voted No. 1 in final coaches poll
In a season in which four teams got to share the No. 1 spot in the state coaches poll, there is a unanimous No. 1 at the end of the season. For the first time, State Open champion Newtown was voted as the top team in the Norwich Bulletin’s coaches poll. All 12 coaches who voted selected Newtown (12-3). Danbury finished second with New Milford, Fairfield Warde and Xavier rounding out the top five. During the season, Danbury, Fairfield Warde, Xavier and Newtown each shared time at No. 1.
Saturday, February 28
Newtown wins Open title
With two individual champions including outstanding wrestler Anthony Falbo (170) and six medalists, Newtown won its first-ever State Open championship with a 46½ win over Danbury Saturday in New Haven. Suffield/Windsor Locks/East Granby’s Khamri Thomas (195) became the 15th wrestler in state history to win three State Open titles while Falbo, Danbury’s Juan Garcia and New Milford’s Kyle Linder won their second straight Open crowns. Fairfield Warde’s Tim and Charles Kane became the fourth brothers to win Open titles in the same year. More coming Sunday on the State Open.
Saturday, February 21
Brunswick wins NEISWA title
At the NEISWA New England tournament in Marion, Mass., Brunswick of Greenwich was the top school from Connecticut taking sixth. The Bruins had two finalists and six placewinners. Hotchkiss’ John Martisch (285) won while Avon Old Farms’ Stephen Thibault (132) and Brunswick’s Jon Errico (138) and Joe Fervil (285) each finished second.
Tuesday, February 17
Brunswick dominates Greenwich with pins
With nine pins and 10 victories, Brunswick School (21-1) won the town wrestling crown with a dominating 57-12 win over Greenwich High. The match came two days after the Bruins won their second straight Western New England tournament title.
State tournament brackets and seeds
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