FCIAC
DANBURY
Coach: Ricky Shook (9th Season)
2008 Record: 22-0
Captains: Charlie Costanzo, Jr., 119; Tucker Schaefer, Sr., 140; Humphrey Swift, Sr., HWT.
Key Returners: Brian Jennings, Jr., 103; J.D. Damici, Jr., 112; John Smith, Jr., 135; Dylan Hancock, Jr., 189.
Key Losses: Joe LaDuca, 215; Dean Smith, 152; Jon Goncalves, 145; George Madkour (125-lb).
Key Additions: Dylan Bryant, Fr., 103; Bryan Peterson, Fr., 130-lb; Tyler Arsneault, So., 135; Kevin Smith, Fr., 140; Thiago Goncalves, Sr., 145; Damian Winters, Jr., 171; Jeff Goncalves, 215.
Outlook: The history is known, the purpose is clear. Danbury just replaces champions with more champions and that is the outlook for 2008-2009.
This season Danbury will start three freshman on opening day and four more wrestlers are moving up to varsity positions. The Hatters remain confident that this is just another step for the team that prides itself on reloading and not rebuilding.
"This is one of those years that we reload," said Shook. "It is my biggest team we have ever had. We have 38 kids and only four seniors in the starting lineup. As long as we stay healthy we will be fine."
The Danbury in-state dual meet consecutive victory streak stands at 12 years and 245 victories. While it may be challenged, it is hard to imagine it not continuing. Despite the freshmen being only 2 years old when this streak started it is evident that everyone knows what is at stake.
"I think Fairfield Warde is second or third best team in the state overall," said Shook. "Their team is very good and I am worried about them. I am also worried about the Open with Bacon Academy and LL with South Windsor and Xavier. We are very young and untested. We will find out as the year goes on."
RIDGEFIELD
Coach: Gary Tiger (6th Season)
Captains: David Herron, Sr., 160; Robbie Sherwood, Sr., 119.
Key Returners: Colin Paulish, Jr., 125/130; Travis Tiger, So., 125/130; Matt Morris, Sr., 189.
Key Losses: Jordan Tiger 152, Matt Fallon 130, Alex Blank 125.
Key Additions: Joe Voves Fr., 103.
Outlook: Ridgefield hopes to rebuild and score behind the experience of Herron, Sherwood, Colin Paulish, Travis Tiger and Morris. However, Ridgefield will need to replace experience, as in the past two years the team has lost four wrestlers (Blank, Fallon, Jordan Tiger and Corey Paulish) with over 100 wins.
"We have a couple of kids who are returning wrestlers and some that are breaking into the lineup," said coach Gary Tiger. "It will be a bit of a sluggish year and a rebuilding year. We will be a better tournament team than a dual meet team as we have some holes. As the year goes on we will win more dual meets."
Ridgefield will need to plug holes at 112 and 275. With those two areas not yet settled, the Tigers face losing 6-12 points per match and that is a near impossible in the very competitive FCIAC. Look for Colin Paulish, who had 34 wins in 2007-2008, and Travis Tiger, who had 29 wins last year, to have a big seasons.
SWC
BETHEL
Coach: Bob Owen (24th Season)
2008 Record: 21-10
Captains: Andrew Ford, Jr., 152.
Key Returners: John Coschigano, Sr., 160; Brandon Lennox Sr., 171; Andrew Lischke, Sr., 135; John Rodriguez, Sr., 145; Brian Dunn, Jr., 103; Peter Gallagher, Jr., 189; James Thomsen Jr., 140; Taylor Wolff, Jr., 135; Bryan Lehner, So., 119.
Key Losses: Anthony Bonagura, 189; Mike Danise, HWT; George Fernandes, 125; Zack Hodza, 130.
Key Additions: Chris Valenti, So., HWT.
Outlook: Bethel's numbers are low this year with 16 or 17 on the team but the Wildcats expect to be a good tournament team with some upper-level wrestlers returning.
"We have six really good wrestlers and we are hoping to add more and build on the team as the year continues," said Owen. "We will be one of the top teams in the SWC."
Ford, Lischke, Gallagher, Lennox, Dunn and Valenti are expected to lead in dual meet competition. Ford, the reigning SWC champion who lost a close battle in the State Open finals last year to Dean Smith of Danbury, has to be among the favorites for post-season accolades.
BROOKFIELD
Coach: Curtis Urbina (2nd Season)
2008 Record: 9-18
Captains: Joe Levine, 125, Sr.; Kelly McGorty, 160, Sr.; Alex Neal, 130, So.
Key Returners: Shea McGorty, 152, So.; Jeremy Gralla, 152, So.; David Weinstock, 112, So.; Mark Koh, 112/119, So.
Key Losses: Mike McKeever 189.
Key Additions: Mike Delvalle, So., 140; Jack McKeever, 103, Fr.; Joel Wamser, 171, Fr.
Outlook: The large freshman class from 2007-2008 should start to yield dividends in 2008-2009.
"We are looking very positive," said Urbina. "We have good guys returning to lead for us. We will continue with the family tradition with Jack McKeever and Joel Wamser. We have some kids coming in from good feeder program that are used to being on the mat."
While development of youth will be key, Brookfield losses the service of McKeever who won the SWC title and placed in the state at 189. However, the Bobcats will receive the experience of Delvalle, a sophomore who placed last year in the states for Immaculate.
"The SWC is not going to be as one-team dominant as it has been in previous years and we have high expectations," added Urbina.
IMMACULATE
Coach: Brian Hayes (4th Season)
Captains: Connor Policastro, 171, Sr.
Key Returners: Dennis Christe, 125, Jr.; Gavin Buckley, 130, Jr.; Joe Frank 119, Sr.
Key Losses: Dan Curtis, 125; Paul Secola, 152; Andy Secola 160; John Fitzgerald, 145.
Key Additions: Austin Jordano, 103, Fr.; Chris Deisenroth 140, Fr.; Mike Frizzell, 189, Jr.
Outlook: In only its fourth year, Immaculate continues to build its program. With no feeder program, the Mustangs don't have the luxury to rebuild, but they still have high expectations. Last year, the Mustangs finished second in the Patriot Division and the hopes are to take the top spot when all is said in done in 2009.
"We look pretty good," said coach Brian Hayes. "We lost a lot of kids but we have a lot of kids that were JV that are stepping up. We have 20 kids and this is the first time we might fill all the weight classes. The last couple of years we forfeited two to four weight classes every match."
The extra depth will only help Immaculate develop into an SWC contender as the Mustangs lost several close matches on numbers last season.
"New Milford might be the only team we don't have a chance to beat," said Hayes. "The rest of the teams we have a good chance against. Last year we lost by two points to Pomperaug and two points to Newtown. If we didn't have the forfeits we would have won."
JOEL BARLOW
Coach: Bryan Donnelly (4th Season)
2008 Record: 1-21
Captains: Matt Bellantoni, 130, Sr.; Jamie McSherry, 171, Jr. Key Returners: Matthew Walsh, 152, Jr.; Brandon Dominguez, 189, So.
Key Losses: Rob Fiore, 145.
Key Additions: Tom Starkey, 140, Fr.
Outlook: Barlow continues to develop and will do so without the service of Fiore, who was the 145-pound SWC champion who graduated in June. Meanwhile, a roster of mostly underclassmen will earn their letters in the grueling SWC.
"We are a young team," said Donnelly. "We are 90 percent freshmen and we are at the beginning of a new program and this looks promising to build upon."
"I can't say anything for predictions on wins," Donnelly added. "We won't fill the roster again so we will give up some forfeits. However, individually we will be doing well."
Individual accomplishments are expected from Bellantoni, McSherry, Walsh and Domniguez who bring experience to a roster that is full of new wrestlers.
NEW FAIRFIELD
Coach: Greg Heinzer (3rd Season)
2008 Record: 4-15
Captains: Mike Frick, 140, Sr.; Jesse Broderick, 140, Jr.
Key Losses: Max Blum, Jake Cerezna, Andre Kerner.
Key Additions: Corey Lens, So., 130.
Outlook: New Fairfield might have one of the best wrestlers in the state in Frick who was the 2008 Class M champion and State Open runner-up at 130 pounds. However, beyond Frick, co-captain Jesse Broderick and sophomore Corey Lens, who is returning from injury, it will be another rebuilding year for the Rebels.
"We're a really young team this year," said Heizner "We had some injuries and we have only two seniors and two juniors.
"I have nine underclassmen and we are getting some numbers up from the middle school so the future is good," Heizner added. "The kids are talented and they are working hard. We are filling most of the weight classes and that is an improvement. We also have some kids looking for a big February."
NEW MILFORD
Coach: Chris Piel (1st Season)
Captains: Luke Andrade, 135, Sr.; Tim Gribbon, 171, Sr.
Key Returners: Matt Saraceno, 152, Sr.; Justin Duffany 130, Sr.; Nick Amorando, 112, So.; Karl Bradshaw, 160, So.; Alexander Thalassinos, 103, So.
Key Losses: Mike Bellagamba, Cody Griswold, Anthony Amorando, Tim Bradel.
Key Additions: Andrew Golden, 125; John Burns, HWT; Brian Richman, 171; Mohammed Islam, 112; Sean Russell, 135.
Outlook: Piel, who spent the last three years as an assistant, takes over for Daryl Daniels, and will need to start his tenure with some rebuilding. The Green Wave lost two wrestlers, Bellagamba and Griswold, who placed in the State Open and an SWC champion in Amorando.
"We believe that good things will come from hard work and mental toughness," said Piel. "The team takes pride in being in the best physical condition possible and we strive to improve and surpass last year's accomplishments.
"We have set goals and one is to win a sixth consecutive SWC tournament championship and another is to win the 26th annual New Milford Wrestling Tournament," he added.
NEWTOWN
Coach: Bob Potter (11th Season)
2008 Record: 20-6
Captains: John Gouveia, 130, Sr.
Key Returners: Ian McEvoy, 119, So.; Joe Pieretti, 125, So.
Key Losses: Lost 12 seniors
Outlook: What a difference a year makes. Last year, Newtown challenged the upper echelon of the SWC, while this year they will rely on a handful of returners and the expertise of Gouveia.
"It's a rebuilding year this year for us after losing 12 seniors," said coach Bob Potter. "We have a whole new group of kids and we will be on the way up as the seasons develops. We will have a lightweight at 189 and having trouble filling 215. It will be a rough year to start."
While Newtown develops wrestlers to fill holes, their three lightweights, Gouveia, McEvoy and Pieretti are expected to contribute.
POMPERAUG
Coach: Mike O'Keefe
2008 Record: 25-5
Key Returners: Rob Caleca, 135, Sr.; John Meade, 145, Sr.; Steve Rosa, 152, Sr.; Will Marquis, 160, Sr.; Reese Denu 140, Sr.; Mike Piccolo, 189, Jr.; Brenden Quinn, 130, Jr.; Alex Cieply, 171, So.
Key Losses: Steele Verzello, Matt Marino, Glenn Powell, Reed Hall and Tom, James, and Pat Porzillo.
Key Additions: Rob Isaccs, 189, Jr.; John Nord, Jr. 125, So.
Outlook: Pomperaug needs to replace seven key members from the 2007-2008 squad. The Panthers originally looked to be a top level squad lost four to graduation but might be harder hit by the loss of the Porzillo brothers, who moved.
"The loss of some key personnel will have its effect on the lineup," said coach Mike O'Keefe. "We should be able to fill most if not all the weights. We are both a small and young squad this year with 50 percent first-year wrestlers."
Pomperaug will look to Caleca, the defending Class M state champion at 125, to lead the team. The Panthers will also need to see leadership and scoring from the seniors -- Denu, Meade, Marquis and Rosa.