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2011-12 NHSCA All-Academic team
2012 NHSCA
All-Academic team


Twenty-two state wrestlers earn NHSCA Academic All-American recognition
EASTON, PA, May 18 – Twenty-two wrestlers from Connecticut have been named to the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA)’s 19th annual Academic All-American team. A year ago, there were 19 Connecticut wrestlers who were named Academic All-Americans. Connecticut led with 24 athletes being recognized. The 120 athletes from around the country have an average grade point average of 3.77.

“The members of this year’s All-Academic Team define what it means to be a student-athlete today and we are extremely proud of honor these fine student athletes” NHSCA Executive Director Bob Ferraro Jr. said. “They are leaders both on the field and in the classroom, and the future leaders of tomorrow.” Each athlete will have their name displayed this year at the the National High School Sports Hall of Fame Museum.

Bacon Academy junior Matt McAllister (113) earned Academic All-American honors for the third straight year while Old Saybrook’s Eric Manuel (126), Griswold’s Brandon Walsh (138) and Dylan Martel (113), Newington’s Brian Amato (113) and Chris Chorzepa (170) and Old Saybrook’s David Colvin (132) were recognized for the second straight year.

Class of 2012 (seniors)
Joseph Battinelli (Stamford, CT): Three time state place finisher. He was 2nd in Class LL at 138 this year. Attended Stamford High where he was coached by his father, Michael Battinelli. Earned a 3.6 GPA and a 1120 SAT score. Will attend Hofstra University.
Brian Dobek (Derby CT): Three time state placewinner in the Class S tournament, including third in Class S at 145 this year. Attended Derby High School and was coached by Walter Jadach. Earned a 3.6 GPA and scored 970 on the SAT. Will attend Central Connecticut State University.
Brian Lister (Plainville CT): Three time state placewinner in the Connecticut State Wrestling Championships, including a 5th place finish at 126 in Class S this year. Compiled a career record of 101-60. Attended Plainville High School and was coached by Harvey Spence. Earned a 3.6 GPA and a 960 SAT score. Will attend college in the Fall.
Eric Manuel (Old Saybrook CT): A Class S champion at 126 pounds, Manuel won two medals at the State Open in his career. Attended Old Saybrook High School and wrestled for Coach Eric Manuel. Earned a 3.9 GPA and a 1350 SAT score. Earned Academic All-American honors for the second straight year.
Kristion Neysmith (Platt High, CT): He finished third at 160 in the Class M tournament this year and is a two-time placewinner. He is coached by Bryan McCarty. Compiled a career record of 93-40.   Earned 1040 SAT score and a 3.8 GPA. Will attend University of Connecticut.
Thomas Scott (Bacon Academy CT): He finished 3rd at 195 in the Class M tournament. He representing Bacon Academy and coached by Michael Voiland and Mike Morris. Earned a 3.5 GPA.
Eric Tucker (Masuk, CT): Tucker won the SWC and Class L tournament this year at 220 pounds and was lost the State Open title in 3 OT and the New England title in 2 OT, both times to Xavier’s Sean Marinan. Compiled a career record of 122-26. Earned a SAT score of 1090 and a GPA of 3.5.
Brandon Walsh (Griswold CT): Walsh, who won the Class S title (138 pounds) for the third time, won the State Open for the second straight year and finished third in New England. He placed in Class S four times. Placed 4th at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. Compiled a career record of 178-23. Earned a 3.4 GPA and a 1210 SAT score. An Academic All-American for the second straight year. Will attend American International College.

Class of 2013 (juniors)
Brian Amato (Newington CT): Wrestling at 113 pounds, Amato was 2nd in Class L, lost the State Open title by a point and finished third in New England. Attends Newington High School and wrestles for Marco Tirillo. Compiled a career record of 114-16 to date. Earned a 3.6 GPA and a 1110 SAT score. A NHSCA Academic All-American for the 2nd straight year.
Chris Chorzepa (Newington CT): Wrestling at 170 pounds, Chorzepa won the Class L title, the State Open crown and his first New England championship. Attends Newington High School and is coached by Marco Tirillo. Has compiled a career record of 119-17 to date. Has earned a 3.9 GPA and a ACT score of 31. Second year in a row earning NHSCA Academic All-Amercian honors.
Benjamin Durst (Simsbury CT): Wrestling at 113 pounds, Durst was third in Class LL and won four matches at the State Open to finish fifth. Has compiled a career record of 105-17 to date. Attends Simsbury High School and is coached by Ernie Goodwin. Earned a 4.2 GPA and a 1340 SAT score.
Christian Kaljulaid (Simsbury CT): A first-year wrestler, Kaljulaid was second at 285 pounds in Class LL. Attends Simsbury High School and is coached by Ernie Goodwin. Earned a 3.8 GPA and a 1180 SAT score.
CJ Luth (Foran, CT): Wrestling at 126 pounds, Luth won the state title in the Class M tournament and followed that up with three wins each at the State Open and New England tournaments. He was fourth at the Open. Compiled a career record of 110-18 to date. Attends Joseph A Foran High School and is coached by Frank Peters. Earned a 3.4 GPA.
Dylan Martel (Griswold CT): Wrestling at 113 pounds, Martel won a Class S championship for the second straight year. He has earned medals at the Class S tournament three times. Has compiled a career record to date of 98-34. Attends Griswold High School and is coached by Dana Cooke. Earned a 3.8 GPA. Named Academic All-American for 2nd straight year.
Matthew McAllister (Bacon Academy CT): Wrestling at 113 pounds, McAllister won a tournament medal for the third time, finishing second in Class M. Compiled a career record of 82-23 to date. Attends Bacon Academy and is coached by Michael Voiland and Mike Morris. Earned a 3.83 GPA. Earned Academic All-American honors from the NHSCA for the third straight season.
Lucas Muntz (Conard-West Hartford CT): Wrestling at 152 pounds, Muntz won his first Class L title this year and his first 32 matches. Muntz won the State Open title as a sophomore. Compiled a career record of 120-14 to date. Attends Conard High School and is coached b Chris Glowacki. Earned a 3.6 GPA and a SAT score of 1170.
Matthew Nicolari (Derby CT): Wrestling at 160 pounds, Nicolari was fifth in Class S. Attends Derby High School and is coached by Walter Jadach. Earned a 3.4 GPA and is currently ranked #11 in his class.
Nicholas Paolino (Granby CT): Wrestling at 126 pounds, Paolino was sixth at the Class S tournament. Attends Granby Memorial High School where he is coached by Todd Crisostomo. Earned a 3.8 GPA and a 1350 SAT score. Currently is ranked #20 in his class. Plans to study engineering upon graduation.
Patrick Sawicki (Bacon Academy CT): Wrestling at 220 pounds, Sawicki finished second at the Class M tournament. Compiled a career record of 50-11 to date. Attends Bacon Academy where he is coached by Michael Voiland and Mike Morris. Earned a 3.7 GPA.

Class of 2014 (sophomore)
David Colvin (Old Saybrook CT): Wrestling at 132 pounds, Colvin won his first Class S title this year. Attends Old Saybrook High School and is coached by Eric Manuel.   Earned a 3.9 GPA. A NHSCA Academic All-American for the second straight year.
Howard Kilpatrick (Bacon Academy CT): Wrestling at 126 pounds, Kilpatrick finished second in the Class M tournament. Attends Bacon Academy where he is coached by Michael Voiland and Mike Morris. Earned a 3.8 GPA.
Joshua Russell (Derby CT): Wrestling at 113 pounds, Russell finished fourth in the Class S tournament and won a medal for the second year in a row. Attends Derby High School where he is coached by Walter Jadach. Earned a 4.0 GPA and is currently ranked #2 in his class.