Wrestling Team Has Experience Throughout Weight Classes

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s wrestling team has talent and experience throughout most of the 14 weight classes, giving Coach Alan Potter a good feeling that his grapplers will have a collectively successful campaign. 

“The team looks very promising. We have experienced wrestlers ten of 14 spots,” said Potter, adding that seven of those ten are highly experienced grapplers. “This year the kids have grown a lot physically and mentally and they’re spread out weight wise — so we’re filling out more of the weight classes.”

John Gouveia, CJ Donahue, and David Bray were among the notable graduates who will leave shoes to fill, but with so much varsity-level experience back on the mats, Potter is optimistic that his team will be a contender in the South-West Conference.

“Our goal is to dominate the SWCs,” the coach said. “It’s always difficult to get past New Milford, however, with this group of wrestlers and some dedication we have a good chance of being in the top of SWCs.”

Potter and assistant coaches Chris Symes, Chris Iorio, and Dan Mcilarth will try to lead the Nighthawks to the top of the SWC a season after the Hawks placed sixth in the conference.

Tough competition should come from, in addition to New Milford, Pomperaug of Southbury, Bethel, and Masuk of Monroe, Potter anticipates. Newtown was 17th in the Class LL state championships last winter.

At 103 pounds is sophomore Nick Crudo who, as a freshman, weighed 93 pounds and gave up a fair amount of weight. A product of Newtown’s Over The Top (OTT) Wrestling program, he has grown and put on a little weight, which bodes well for his improved success, Potter said.

It was unknown who would step into the 112 and 119 weight classes as preseason continued earlier this week.

At 125 is junior Sam Weiner, a second-year NHS wrestler. At 130 is junior Ian McEvoy, a third-year wrestler. At 135 is sophomore Patrick Zingaro, whom Potter says is greatly improved from a year ago. At 140 is junior Joe Pieretti, a third- year grappler. “Losing for Joe is not an option,” Potter said.

Cory Fisher, another OTT wrestler, in his second year on the varsity team, will wrestle in the 145 class. At 152 is junior Will Northrup, a third-year grappler.

The senior captains fill the slots at 160 and 171. At 160 is senior captain and four-year wrestler Brian Kuruc. At 171 is Dan Milot, also a fourth-year grappler at NHS.

At 189, junior Aaron Nezvesky and senior Kevin Carney are vying for mat time. The 215 weight class is not filled to start the year. Sophomore Mac Morlock, a second-year NHS wrestler, will compete in the heavyweight division.

Although wrestling is perceived to be an individual sport, Potter says his grapplers are solidifying as a team early on the season and he is pleased with the effort from the start.

The Nighthawks, after opening at home against Pomperaug on Wednesday (after The Bee sports section went to press), will participate in the Guilford tourney on Saturday.