New Haven - It helps when one of your workout partners, Luke Wiggins, is also a State Open finalist.And it doesn't hurt when your other workout partner, assistant coach Adam Karasevicz, is a former Division I collegiate wrestler.

And it doesn't hurt when your other workout partner, assistant coach Adam Karasevicz, is a former Division I collegiate wrestler.But what makes wrestling so unique is that for six minutes - and sometimes more - you have no help. It's a one-on-one confrontation at the highest level.

But what makes wrestling so unique is that for six minutes - and sometimes more - you have no help. It's a one-on-one confrontation at the highest level.For Waterford's Shane Battista, that's what made Sunday so special. He applied all of his lessons in practice with a determined effort on the mat that led to a 3-2 overtime victory over Tito Slaughter of the New Haven Co-operative program in the 189-pound final of the CIAC State Open wrestling tournament at the New Haven Athletic.

For Waterford's Shane Battista, that's what made Sunday so special. He applied all of his lessons in practice with a determined effort on the mat that led to a 3-2 overtime victory over Tito Slaughter of the New Haven Co-operative program in the 189-pound final of the CIAC State Open wrestling tournament at the New Haven Athletic.Battista wrestled the first match of the finals and, later in the day, another senior, Bacon Academy's P.J. Mickens, gave the region its second Open title with a 5-3 overtime victory over South Windsor's Jake Odell in the 145-pound final. Mickens is the first State Open champion in school history.

Battista wrestled the first match of the finals and, later in the day, another senior, Bacon Academy's P.J. Mickens, gave the region its second Open title with a 5-3 overtime victory over South Windsor's Jake Odell in the 145-pound final. Mickens is the first State Open champion in school history.Battista and Mickens wrestled two of the eight title matches that went to sudden death.

Battista and Mickens wrestled two of the eight title matches that went to sudden death.Battista (42-0) overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a pair of escapes, the last coming only 24 seconds into the third period, to force the overtime. Then after two overtime periods with no scoring, the senior was able to earn an escape point just before the buzzer sounded to end the third overtime, sending Slaughter, who attends Wilbur Cross, to his first defeat.

Battista (42-0) overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a pair of escapes, the last coming only 24 seconds into the third period, to force the overtime. Then after two overtime periods with no scoring, the senior was able to earn an escape point just before the buzzer sounded to end the third overtime, sending Slaughter, who attends Wilbur Cross, to his first defeat."With matches like this on big stage a lot of it comes down to mental toughness," said Battista, who avenged a 5-4 loss to Slaughter in last year's consolation round. "People are nervous and you don't want to make that big mistake that costs you two points. Early on I was nervous, but as the match went on I loosened up and really started to pick it up.

"With matches like this on big stage a lot of it comes down to mental toughness," said Battista, who avenged a 5-4 loss to Slaughter in last year's consolation round. "People are nervous and you don't want to make that big mistake that costs you two points. Early on I was nervous, but as the match went on I loosened up and really started to pick it up."That overtime really came down to physical endurance and mental toughness, and I wanted to win. When I was on top of him, I wasn't going to let him score, when I was on bottom of him I was going to get out.

"That overtime really came down to physical endurance and mental toughness, and I wanted to win. When I was on top of him, I wasn't going to let him score, when I was on bottom of him I was going to get out."Last year he was manhandling me and I let him knock me out of my game. This year I just tried to go out and be as aggressive as I could. You're not going to win the strength battle with everybody, but this shows that you never stop wrestling throughout that last whistle."

"Last year he was manhandling me and I let him knock me out of my game. This year I just tried to go out and be as aggressive as I could. You're not going to win the strength battle with everybody, but this shows that you never stop wrestling throughout that last whistle."Waterford coach Chris Gamble said Battista's "methodical" style is perfect for Open-style wrestling.

Waterford coach Chris Gamble said Battista's "methodical" style is perfect for Open-style wrestling."He never gets in a bad position," Gamble said. "He's never in four years of varsity wrestling been turned to his back. … That's unheard of and that's a credit to his positioning, which is what wrestling is all about."

"He never gets in a bad position," Gamble said. "He's never in four years of varsity wrestling been turned to his back. … That's unheard of and that's a credit to his positioning, which is what wrestling is all about."After leading Bacon to its first state title a week ago, Mickens said hi motivation this week was to become the Bobcats' first Open champ.

After leading Bacon to its first state title a week ago, Mickens said hi motivation this week was to become the Bobcats' first Open champ.He did it by using his 5-foot-10 frame and length to take down the previously unbeaten Odell with six seconds left in the first overtime.

He did it by using his 5-foot-10 frame and length to take down the previously unbeaten Odell with six seconds left in the first overtime."For 145, I'm one of the taller ones," said Mickens, who improved to 39-1. "But I think I have that perfect height where I'm not too tall so kids are just too strong and can overpower me. I like my body type.

"For 145, I'm one of the taller ones," said Mickens, who improved to 39-1. "But I think I have that perfect height where I'm not too tall so kids are just too strong and can overpower me. I like my body type."This was exciting. There's a lot riding on your shoulders when people are telling you you've got to be the first. I get my own banner and it will say State Open champion, P.J. Mickens. It will be a great feeling to come to that gym and see it."

"This was exciting. There's a lot riding on your shoulders when people are telling you you've got to be the first. I get my own banner and it will say State Open champion, P.J. Mickens. It will be a great feeling to come to that gym and see it."Wiggins wasn't as fortunate as his friend and teammate Battista, losing a 4-2 overtime decision to Shelton's Pat Gillen in the 215 final. Three other local wrestlers were also beaten in the finals. East Lyme's Ross Spencer was beaten by Middletown's Vic Ekpenyon, 14-2, at 112; Griswold sophomore Brandon Walsh lost to South Windsor's Joe Sargenti, 7-1, at 135; and Montville's Dustin Wilcox was pinned by Amity of Woodbridge's Alex Carpenter in 4:18 at 160.

Wiggins wasn't as fortunate as his friend and teammate Battista, losing a 4-2 overtime decision to Shelton's Pat Gillen in the 215 final. Three other local wrestlers were also beaten in the finals. East Lyme's Ross Spencer was beaten by Middletown's Vic Ekpenyon, 14-2, at 112; Griswold sophomore Brandon Walsh lost to South Windsor's Joe Sargenti, 7-1, at 135; and Montville's Dustin Wilcox was pinned by Amity of Woodbridge's Alex Carpenter in 4:18 at 160.All six wrestlers qualified for the New England championships beginning Friday, along with Ledyard's Shane Sullivan, who decisioned Bacon's Devin Covone 5-1 to finish third (Covone also qualified), the Colonels' Taylor Gunnels, who placed fourth at 135, and Bacon's Aren Norman, who placed fourth at 189.

All six wrestlers qualified for the New England championships beginning Friday, along with Ledyard's Shane Sullivan, who decisioned Bacon's Devin Covone 5-1 to finish third (Covone also qualified), the Colonels' Taylor Gunnels, who placed fourth at 135, and Bacon's Aren Norman, who placed fourth at 189.Danbury won it's 10th straight team title, defeating South Windsor.

Danbury won it's 10th straight team title, defeating South Windsor.