Grapplers Look To Pin The Best This Season

By Andy Hutchison

Expectations are high in the Newtown High School wrestling room this winter. The Nighthawks return most of last year’s postseason point-getters, and are working hard as they strive to win the conference crown.

“The entire team is looking strong. With the hard work that they’re putting in, everyone’s going to be dangerous,” Assistant Coach Dan McIlrath said.

The team’s captains are seniors Ian McEvoy, who will wrestle in the 135-pound weight class, Joe Pieretti at 145, and Will Northrop at 160. Other key grapplers include juniors Nick Crudo at 112 and Cory Fisher at 171, and seniors: Aaron Nezvesky at 189, Sam Weiner at 125, and Matt Swigart at 130.

Head Coach Alan Potter’s Nighthawks lost 160-pounder Brian Kuruc and 171-competitor Dan Milot to graduation, and will miss their contributions, but have plenty of talent back in the fold. The coaching staff is thrilled with the prospects for success in the early going. “We have people to fill the spots so we’re doing well,” McIlrath said.

NHS placed fourth in the South-West Conference championships last year, and anticipate good competition from perennial power New Milford, along with always tough Brookfield and Masuk of Monroe.

“We want to win the SWCs. We’ve got a lot of guys coming back,” Northrop said.

“It’s really going to take having our full lineup — having everyone healthy,” McEvoy added.

One way the Hawks will try to stay healthy is through the direction of first-year assistant and former NHS grappler Kurt Kling (Class of 2002). Kling, who served in the Air Force, took a program called CrossFit from his military days and is putting it to use with the Hawk wrestlers. Kling describes the program as a combination of gymnastics, Olympic weight lifting, and endurance training. He says it’s for “overall fitness — not just for the wrestling room, but for everyday events … from lifting boxes at work to being on the wrestling mat.”

The Nighthawks placed 18th in the Class LL state championships last year. Crudo was fifth in the 103-pound weight division, and Pieretti was sixth at 140.

Following this year’s season-opening match with Stratford, at home on December 15 (after The Bee sports section went to press), the Nighthawks will participate in the Guilford Tournament on December 18. They will not return home until after the New Year — for a January 12 clash with Bunnell of Stratford. The SWC postseason is not until mid-February, but the Hawks are already thinking about getting there and coming out on top.

“I think our team’s determined, so we’re going to do it,” Pieretti said.