Competitors in the Newtown Youth Wrestling Association (NYWA) had a stellar showing in the The 6U and 8U USA Wrestling Connecticut State Championship at Trumbull High School on February 23. The event was postponed one week due to icy conditions.

The Newtown program showed up with 33 wrestlers and placed 19 — seven more than last year with only four more wrestlers in attendance. On top of that NYWA doubled its number of champions to six.

“The fact that we brought 33 kids to a postponed tournament at these age groups is a huge testament to our program,” said NYWA President Nick Veneziano, adding that program officials and coaches are proud of all of those who competed.

State Champions are Eli Fox, William Stetson, Dean Macaluso, Hugo Borgerding, Joey Bartolic, and Lincoln Giannetta. Runners-up: Eric Prosio, Everett Worster, Joey Guagliano, Nico Figueiredo, and Teague Oddo. Third place: Beckham Ritacco, Kamden Kling, Cian Donoghue, and Emmie Ibbitson. Fourth place: Maks Visners, Christian Olteanu, Matthew Braunagel, and Michael Laake.

“This past championship was a testament to the incredible dedication, hard work, and culture we’ve built within our program. The success we achieved didn’t happen overnight — it took relentless effort from our athletes, unwavering commitment from our coaches, and a culture that emphasizes growth, resilience, and excellence,” Head Coach Curtis Urbina said.

“We’re also excited to welcome new athletes into our program, further strengthening our foundation for the future. Our coaching staff continues to be instrumental in developing not just skilled competitors but also strong individuals who embody our values,” Urbina said. “This achievement is a reflection of our entire community’s commitment, and we’re just getting started.”

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.