Young NHS Grapplers Are Emerging

By Andy Hutchison

Alan Potter, Newtown High School’s wrestling coach, liked the looks of the depth and experience throughout his lineup at the start of the season. Nearly halfway through the campaign, Potter is even more impressed with the emergence of some of the lesser-experienced grapplers on his team.

Second-year team member Pat Zingaro, a sophomore who competes in the 135-pound weight class, is among those who have impressed the coach.

“He’s come on real strong, demonstrating the right attitude about winning. His aggressiveness is spilling over to the rest of the team,” Potter said.

At 119 pounds is Rebecca Castegner, who battled her way to her first varsity win, in her first season of varsity wrestling, by pinning Patrick Walker of Colchester of Vermont in 2:31 during the Southington meet a couple of weekends ago.

At 125, junior Sam Wiener, a second-year team member, has done well, and at 189, junior Aaron Nezvesky has also performed at a high level. Potter says Nezvesky has “turned the corner from a beginner wrestler to an intermediate wrestler,” adding, “and we’re looking forward to some big things from him for the rest of this year and next year.”

The junior varsity quad is developing quickly and Potter is looking forward to this year’s success carrying over into next season. The coach attributes the success among the younger grapplers to the development of the Over The Top youth wrestling program in town, which has enabled grapplers to come to the gymnasium on the first day of tryouts with mat experience under their belts.

Nick Crudo, only a sophomore, at 103 pounds, 145-pounder Cory Fisher, also a sophomore, and junior 130-pounder Ian McEvoy are among the younger grapplers who had already established themselves as strong varsity competitors even before this season.

All of those Nighthawks are among the many developing for the future while trying to win now along with the seniors, Brian Kuruc (160) and Dan Milot (171).

“We’re building for an exciting, exciting team next year, while being extremely competitive this year,” Potter said.