Over the past seven years, Al Potter watched as five different wrestlers under his tutelage at Newtown High School entered the exclusive 100-win club (there are only six members) and last Wednesday – after the Nighthawks bested Brookfield – he was able to join them.

Coach Potter came into the 2005-06 season with a 92-60 record with marks of 10-8, 12-6, 13-5 (finishing second in the South-West Conference), 14-12, 17-7 (finishing third in the SWC) and 12-10 in 2004-05. This season was supposed to be his down season, but coach Potter has so far led his charges to a 10-7 mark.

“I am proud of the our improvement and the way we have build this high school program,” coach Potter said. “I remember back to the first few seasons and we were lucky to have a full squad and today we have over 50 wrestlers on the team.”

James Monroe (147), Jon Read (136), Steve Selezan (122), Nick Feola (108) and Alex Read (103) all wrestled under coach Potter while Alex Read, Monroe, Selezan, Dan Maley and Adam Prokop all captured state championships (Monroe was also a State Open champion). Over the past seven years, 18 Newtown wrestlers have earned state medals while 40 have earned SWC medals.

“I have been fortunate to coach with great people like Steve Ford and Angelo Bodetti and also have the great support from so many parents,” said coach Potter. “But I am most proud of my wrestlers who have learned through this great sport hard work, discipline, commitment, teamwork and ability to overcome adversity to achieve personal and team success.”

Coach Potter learned those qualities himself while wrestling at Keene High School in Keene, New Hampshire, where he captained an undefeated state championship team under coach Dave Minitello. Coach Potter went on to wrestle at Plymouth State University.

“I think it’s great, too, seeing so many of my past wrestlers come back each season to help with each new team ... young men like James Monroe, Matt Sullivan, Dan Maley, Jon Read, Nick Feola, Angelo Bodetti, Adam Prokop Dan McIlrath, Edmund Brietling, Bobby Pattison, Alex Read and Brandon Thomas, to name just a few. Young boys and girls join the team as freshmen and leave as young men and women. I look forward to each year’s next group of kids to grow into young adults ready to take on life’s challenges helped by their experience in wrestling.”

Now with two more wins this past weekend at the Morgan Duals in Clinton, coach Potter is at 102 career wins … and counting.