Formula for Ledyard wrestling is just right
New London — Ledyard senior Danny Contino was discussing the balance a team needs to win following the Colonels’ wrestling match Wednesday night.
“If you’re serious all of the time, then you’re going to burn yourself out,” Contino said. “If you have fun all of the time, then you’re not going to win. It all comes down to maintaining that homeostasis.”
Homeo-whatsit?
“Biology term,” Contino said with a smile.
However one wants to describe Ledyard’s formula, it’s working dang well for it thus far. It won the first nine matches against New London and 12 overall in a 53-12 rout in an Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I match.
"I didn’t think we’d pull this far away,” Ledyard coach Steve Bilheimer said. “(The Whalers have) got some tough kids, they’ve got some athletic kids, and they have kids that have really improved over the years.
“We won a lot of 50-50 positions on the mat. I think that really helped tonight.”
Ledyard, ranked 10th in the Norwich Bulletin coaches’ poll, is 10-2, 2-0 in the ECC. New London is 2-1, 1-1.
“I said we’re either going to win a close match or we’re going to get absolutely blown out,” New London coach Mike Gorton said. “I know they’re a better team and clearly they’re in better shape. Anyone who was here could see that. We’re a team where if we get momentum going and emotion going and everything gets flowing, some of those one-point matches can go the other way.
“It didn’t happen. We got creamed.”
Ledyard sprinted out to a 36-0 lead before New London 285-pounder Renel Michel broke it up with a pin.
Cole Dirico (132) and Mike Sullivan (182) both won by pin during the Colonels’ run. Collin Crader (170) and Theran Vanase (138) each won by technical fall. Adam Crawford (152), Tony Christians (195), Jake Millbach (160), Gavin Williamson (145), and Contino (215) won decisions.
Tyler Miller (113) won by pin after Michel’s win and Joey Millbach (106) prevailed by tech fall. Bo Ngyuen won a forfeit at 120.
“Our new freshman, Theran Vanase, has been doing amazing this year,” Contino said. “Mike Sullivan has been on a roll.”
Bilheimer said: “Cole Dirico has been looking good at 132. He’s coming on right now. I’m really happy with him right now. . … That’s the best match he’s wrestled.
“I was really happy with Jake Millbach and Danny Contino beating two of their best kids (Jacob Commander and Renelson Michel, respectively). And of course our freshman phenom, Theran Vanase, looked really good as well. I was really happy with a lot of guys, but those four stick out the most.”
Adam Garcia had New London’s other win. He came from behind to win by pin at 126.
“We’ve been a little sloppy with the drilling lately, a little lax,” Gorton said. “So this is a wake-up. We’re still nobody. So we’ve got a lot way to go.
“I don’t mind a kick in the butt as long as we learn from it.”
n.griffen@theday.com
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