Newtown Wrestlers Score Upset In Guilford Tourney

Alan Potter’s NHS wrestling team hoisted a trophy for the first time in more than a decade this past weekend with an exciting come-from-behind win at the annual Guilford Tournament. It ushered in what could be a fine season on the mat.

Coach Potter called the tournament title an “outstanding moment filled with lots of pleasant surprise.”

In beating powerhouse Brunswick, Fairfield-Ward, and six other Connecticut schools, Newtown proved to itself and its opponents that this might just be the year. And nobody — save for Potter and his wrestlers — saw it coming, which is fine by this talented and deep bunch.

“Nobody is talking about Newtown doing much this year. It appears they are in for a surprise,” joked Potter, now in his tenth season. Make no mistake, Newtown has had some good teams and some outstanding individuals, but this squad is as well rounded as they get.

On Saturday, the Nighthawks put five wrestlers into the finals, while Brunswick sent six. Brunswick also held a 14-point advantage, putting itself into the driver’s seat. But the Nighthawks took home the hardware as four of its finalist came up victorious.

Captain Dana VanBuskirk lost a tough 3-0 decision in the 119-pound weight class, but John Gouveia picked up his teammate by pinning his opponent at 125 pounds. At 130 pounds, Mark Bonamici won a critical match by pinning his Brunswick opponent. Then captain Jagi Gyamacho used his acrobatic skills to defeat another Brunswick wrestler at 152 pounds. Wrestling above his normal 215-pound class, captain Joel Minalgo pinned his opponent at the highest weight class of 285 pounds.

Brunswick, a perennial winner at the Guilford Tournament, lost every final match. Thaddus Adams of Newtown sealed the deal by taking third in the consolation finals.

In the early going, Newtown pinned every opponent, placing nine different wrestlers in the semifinals and four in the wrestlebacks. It was Newtown’s first win at Guilford in ten years.

The final point standings were Newtown (195 points), Brunswick (187.5 points), Fairfield Ward (182 points), followed by Brien McMahon, Wilton, Greens Farms, Hopkington, and East Haven, whose point totals were not available at press time.

“This is my tenth season as coach and this could be our best team,” Potter noted. “At Guilford, these kids were pinning people left and right. It was great to see. After coming close so many times I knew that we had a shot at the win if the kids stepped up.”

Newtown also got key wins from freshmen Ian McEvoy (103 pounds), Joe Pieretti (112 pounds) and sophomore Dan Milot.

In addition, the junior varsity squad placed third at the Trumbull JV Tournament.

Newtown was looking forward to starting its dual meet season opening up with Joe Barlow in Redding Wednesday night. See next week’s Bee for details.