Newtown Youth Wrestling Scores Big On And Off Mats

In a busy and highly successful weekend for the Newtown Youth Wrestling Association, the club held it’s second annual Money for Mats candy drive on January 15 and the following day, Sunday, competed in the Danbury Kids Wrestling Tournament.                     

The Candy Drive raised a total in excess of $1,500, as teams of young wrestlers, supervised by a parent, sold candy items in four locations throughout Newtown. The drive was organized by Tina Henckel, one of the wrestling mothers, as a fundraiser to help offset the cost of recently-purchased wrestling mats and  or future equipment needs.

The boys set up donation locations outside of Newtown Hardware, Stop & Shop, Newtown Deli, and Newtown Youth Academy. These establishments kindly allowed the young wrestlers to sell candy to passing customers throughout the morning and early afternoon. Braving the bitter cold, the boys were able to raise much more money than was expected — grapplers at a few locations collecting more than $400.

The success continued the next day, as the young grapplers brought home a total of 24 medals at the Danbury Kids Wrestling Tournament held at the Police Activity League Center in Danbury. The event is a round-robin competition open to wrestlers from the age of four through Middle School age. This event drew hundreds of contestants from throughout Connecticut, as well as, neighboring states.

 In the Mighty Mite Division for the youngest of wrestlers, William Henckel and Michael Carpenter were awarded gold medals for their outstanding efforts in the morning session. Zach Robinson took the silver and Luca Manfredi the bronze. In the next age division, the Bantam, Steven Leuci won gold and Ben Watson the bronze. In the Intermediate Division, for those boys ages eight and nine, gold medal efforts went to three boys on the team: newcomer, Luke Wellman, and veterans Sean Arnold and Shaine Luzietti.  The silver was awarded to Evan Rooney and Ryan Straiton.

The afternoon session witnessed action by the Novice Division, those wrestlers born in 1999 or 2000. The winner’s table was crowded with wrestlers from Newtown as Thomas Leuci, Dylan Bartlett, and Anthony Falbo all received gold medals. Silver medals were won by Michael Garner, Erik Benson, and first-year wrestler, Simon Preston; and bronze went to Ed Lovely. In the Middle School Division, the oldest of the youth wrestlers distinguished themselves on the mat in heated contests. Gold was captured by Kevin Ross, Luca Crudo, and James Leuci, and silver medals were won by Joseph Praino, Forrest Speed, and Ed Lajoie.