By Kim J. Harmon

A wrestling team can not lose guys like James Monroe (SWC Champion, CIAC Class L champion, CIAC State Open champion), Brian Tomasulo, Steve McCulloch and Paul Giarratano and not imagine taking a step or two backwards.

Right?

Actually - no.

Presently at 6-4 (4-1 in the South-West Conference), the Nighthawks appear to be just as strong as they were a year ago with those four guys and while that might seem to a miracle to some people, it’s pretty much what the current ‘Hawks expected all the time.

“If you had to sit down and compare us (weight class by weight class), I think we’re just as solid as we were last year,” said Nick Feola, who carried a 20-1 personal record at 130 pounds into his SWC match with Jonathan Law on Wednesday.

And there are a couple reasons why.

“We were able to fill up those weights with some good wrestlers,” said Steve Selezan, who carried a 21-1 personal record at 152 pounds into his match on Wednesday. “Mike Daniels, (Adam) Prokop, Sully, me, Maley – we’re all doing really well.”

While Maley – who earned three pins in Newtown’s quad meet with Fitch, Farmington and Bacon Academy on Saturday afternoon – will credit the impact of sophomores like Daniels and Prokop, Feola also points to the coaching staff.

“A big part comes with the coaching system that coach (Alan) Potter has brought in,” said Feola. “He has spent a lot of time to make this a better team – and he has. Then (assistants) Steve Ford and Mike Monroe, they have made me twice as good as I was last year.”

The ‘Hawks have spent the first half of the 1999-2000 season tearing SWC opponents up from 103 pounds right up to 152 pounds and pretty much salting the matches away by then. A close win over Bunnell (a huge early lead helped the ‘Hawks hold off the Bulldogs) was followed by easy wins over Foran, Pomperaug and Stratford.

Only Bethel, so far, was able to counter the Newtown attack and did so handily.

After missing a SWC_meet with Jonathan Law on Wednesday and a quad meet in Enfield last weekend due to team-wide disciplinary action, the ‘Hawks will return home next Wednesday to host the New Fairfield Rebels in an SWC match.

The Quad

The Nighthawks were 2-1 in their first quad-meet of the season, back in December, but their fortunes were reversed when they went 1-2 in their own quad meet on Saturday against Fitch of Groton, Farmington, and Bacon Academy.

In a loss to Fitch, Matt Sullivan (112 pounds), Feola (130 pounds), Selezan (152 pounds), and Tom Denninger (279 pounds) recorded the wins. Feola decisioned his opponent, 9-0, while Sullivan, Selezan and Denninger earned pins.

In a loss to Farmington, Sullivan earned another pin at 112 pounds for Newtown’s first individual win of the match. That was right before Hubina lost, 1-0, at 119 pounds on an escape. Maley and Feola earned pins at 125 and 130 pounds, respectively, and then Selezan came up with a 9-1 win at 152 pounds. The only other win was a forfeit at 279 pounds earned by Tom Denninger.

In a win over Bacon Academy, Jon Read started things off at 103 pounds with a first-period pin. Sullivan earned a forfeit at 112 pounds before Maley – who assured coach Potter of six points despite the impressive stature of his opponent – earned a first-period pin at 125 pounds. Chris Dinnota followed with an early pin at 130 pounds.

Then Feola, who bumped up to 135 pounds, used his so-called “hellattack” move to grab a pin with three seconds left in the first period. Daniels earned a forfeit at 140 pounds before Tyler Miles earned a pin at 145 pounds.

Selezan came back at 152 pounds, making it a clear sweep for the day with a little “head pop” move for the pin and Chris Symes earned a major decision, 11-1, at 171 pounds for Newtown’s last individual win of the afternoon. Angelo Bodetti (215 pounds) had the advantage in his match, but was disqualified on an illegal move and then Denninger (279 pounds) suffered his only loss of the afternoon.