Danbury (2-0) is positioned in its usual spot atop the state coaches' poll and New Milford (1-0) is ranked second. Today's meet is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. with Danbury and New Milford set to wrestle around 7 p.m. in a non-league match according to Danbury coach Ricky Shook.
The Hatters have finished No. 1 in the state poll for 10 consecutive years and are the heavy favorites to dominate the state once again.
It appears to be another year of Danbury being in its own league and the rest of the state admiring its domination. The Green Wave will have a difficult time handing Danbury it's first loss to a state opponent since Greenwich in 1986. The Hatters streak of state victims sits at 205 consecutive wins.
"It's a good match," said Danbury coach Ricky Shook. "I think New Milford will win the L's this year. They are a solid team. We also have a lot of wrestlers on both teams that are friends. "
New Milford is led by seniors Anthony Amorando (119), Mike Bellagamba (160) and Cody Griswold (189). The Hatters are led by senior captains George Madkour (125), John Goncalves (145) and Dean Smith (152).
Danbury will wrestle a Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference match against Westhill today, but will not wrestle against South-West Conference foe Pomperaug.
Danbury will have to stay focused and not look ahead to what many wrestling fans consider the highlight of the regular season Friday when it will play host to Mt. Anthony Union of Bennington, Vt. The annual meet is being called the "Battle of New England Holiday Wrestling Classic" and will be held at Western Connecticut State University's O'Neill Center for the first time. The meet is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
"We need to stay focused on Wednesday's meet," Shook said. "We can't look ahead."