Youth Wrestlers Shine

In Upstate New York

The Newtown Youth Wrestling Association (NYWA) traveled to compete in the Whitehall Youth Wrestling Tournament this past weekend in Whitehall, NY. The three and a half hour ride was well worth the trip as 14 team members came home with trophies and medals. Highlighting the weekend trip were five first-place finishes in the 11 to 14 year old divisions.

William Henkel (third), Luca Manfredi (third) and Zach Robinson (second) led off in New York’s Division I (6 and under) with trophy-winning efforts. Under the eyes of a very enthusiastic crowd and on a very small mat, each wrestled well and the results showed. Finishing out the early session in Division III (9 and 10 year olds) was Gren Paynter who added to his season’s successes with a third-place finish.

The afternoon session saw the Division IV (11 and 12 year olds) and V (13 and 14 year olds) bring home ten trophies and medals for the Newtown team. Earning the top spots in their divisions were Michael Garner, Anthony Falbo, Luca Crudo, Andy Hubina, and James Leuci. Other NYWA team members who were rewarded for their hard work were Joseph Priano (second), Dylan Bartlett (fourth), Ed Lajoie (second), and James Brown (third).

Seventh-grader Chris Lajoie, after finding himself down 5-0 in the consolation championship, continued to push his opponent and scored three back points on two separate moves to win the match 6-5 and ensure himself a third-place finish.

Many of the NYWA wrestlers will participate in a youth tournament in Hauppauge, Long Island, and a record nine grapplers will go to the New England Youth Championships in Lowell, Mass.