ECC DIVISION I

East Lyme

Coach: Ed Lorah (9th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Jason Williams, Sr. Greg Stewart, Jr. Jaylyn Dampeer, So. Everett Minevich.

Outlook: The Vikings (2-23 a year ago) have better numbers this season, but Lorah said there are still not enough wrestlers to fill all weight classes. He must replace David Gill, who placed fifth in Class M at 138 last year, but Minevich, who placed fourth in Class M at 113 as a freshman, returns to give East Lyme a quality lightweight. "We'll concentrate on individual goals rather than team goals," said Lorah, adding he expects to some state place-winners again.

Fitch

Coach: Mark Kosman (19th season)

Key returnees: So. Christian Esposito (106), Jr. Jarod Kosman (113), Jr. Anthony Moore (120), So. Keith McDonald (152), Jr. Zach Letellier (170), Sr. Ryan Koehler (182), Sr. Kevin Berardi (225), Sr. Dave Magowan (170-182), So. Muhammad Faraj (195).

Top newcomers: Fr. Cameron Aldinger (138), Fr. Alfredo Baldoz (120), Fr. Ryan Brown (106), Fr. Nate Cote (126), Fr. David Ervin (126), Fr. Max Grossman (113), So. Brandon Hamilton (195), Fr. Finn Koehler (113), Fr. Sam Lambert (132), So. Ali Mansour (126), Jr. Trent Medeiros (152), Fr. Vincent Trento (160).

Outlook: Can the Falcons challenge perennial power Ledyard for the Division I title? Only time will tell, but Fitch has plenty of experience and depth, led by Jarod Kosman — last year's State Open runnerup at 106 — and seniors Berardi and Ryan Koehler. The Falcons, who were 9-22 in dual meets last year, have nine freshmen who have an opportunity to contribute to Fitch's success.

Ledyard

Coach: Steve Bilheimer (14th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Dan Contino (195), Sr. Jacob Millbach (152), Sr. Collin Crader (160), Sr. Bo Nguyen (113), Jr. Dakota Grover (182-195), So. Austin Roberton (138).

Top newcomers: Fr. Justin Kinney (182-195), So. Tyler Miller (120), Jr. Jacob Graziano (145).

Outlook: The Colonels, who placed second in Class M last season, graduated four state place-winners from a year ago, including Class M champion Daric Johnson at 220, but return five, including Class M champion and State Open runnerup Contino at 195. Ledyard, which went 22-5 and won the ECC Large Division, also drops down to Class S, which features ECC rival Windham, which has dominated the Class S meet this decade. If Bilheimer is able to develop some of his younger wrestlers during the season, look out for Ledyard again in the postseason.

NFA

Coach: Steve Nelson (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Tim Li (126), Jr. Laura D'Elia (145), Jr. Jacob Foster (106), So. Brandon Nieto (120), Jr. Katherine Meza (120), Sr. Alec Olesen (138), Jr. Chris Hebert (152), Jr. Lance Eastman (220).

Top newcomers: So. Destin Schwendeman (220), So. Kamren Snodgrass (195), So. Jayden Boursiquot (195), So. Gavin Lowe (113), So. Caexar Bellamy (145), Fr. Christian Gervais (160).

Outlook: Nelson takes over an inexperienced NFA team that graduated three Class LL place-winners, including 120-pound champion Matt Foster, from a team that went 6-7 in dual meets. "We are a young team this year with a lot potential but with a lot of room to grow and improve," Nelson said. The Wildcats must also develop some wrestlers in the upper weight classes.

New London

Coach: Mike Gorton (5th year)

Key returnees: So. Jacob Commander (160), Sr. Renelson Michel (220), Sr. Renel Michel (195), Sr. Hiram Soto (106), Sr. Augustine Cornish (275), Sr. Efrain Santiago (145), Sr. Christian Lozada (152).

Top newcomer: Fr. Clayton Smith (138).

Outlook: Optimism his high at New London, where a veteran senior class returns from a team what went 12-4 in dual meets, finished second in the ECC Large Division and placed fourth in the Class M state meet. They Must replace Alejandro Paulino, the Class M state champ at 132, but Commander and Renel Michel were place-winners at the state level and Gorton expects big things from Renel's identical twin brother Renelson, who missed last season due to injury. "It's going to be a slow start," Gorton said. "We have guys banged up and bruised from football season, but the coaching staff expects to see this group continue to make jumps and finish strong."

Division II

Waterford

Coach: Chris Gamble (17th year)

Key returnees: So. Logan Smith (106-120), Jr. Luther Wade (132-145), Sr. Josiah Callender (152-160).

Outlook: The Lancers must replace four experienced wrestlers, including three-time ECC and Class M champion Sam Lindblom, so Gamble expects Waterford (15-14 last season) to be a work-in-progress, especially during the early part of the season as a number of new wrestlers earn varsity experience. Smith, a Class M runnerup at 106 last season, is the most accomplishmented returnee.

Division III

Montville

Coach: Gary Wilcox (17th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Joel Morth (132), Sr. Nick Laracuente (160), Sr. Emanuel Diaz (182), Jr. Noah Caskey (126), Jr. Sam Kury (145), Jr. Ian Anderson (138), Jr. Nick Tibbetts (220), So. Jack Farley (120), So. Ezra Spreng (132), So. Sean Murallo (145), So. Zach Navarrette (152).

Top newcomers: So. Tyler Velazquez (106), So. Julian Valdes (120), So. Darrick Deaveau (285), Fr. Quinn Bond (106), Fr. Caleb Forehead (170), Fr. Cody Jones (195), Fr. Kolt MacCracken (220).

Outlook: Is this the year Montville finally catches Windham in the ECC and in Class S? The Whips have been a nemesis for the Indians, who went 24-4 overall but finished behind Windham in the ECC Small Division, ECC tournament and Class S state meet. But Wilcox returns a team with plenty of experience led by Morth, who won Outstanding Wrestler honors at the ECC tournament and followed that up by capturing the Class S state title and placing second in the State Open. Montville will rely on some newcomers to fill some weight classes, but it has quality throughout its lineup.

St. Bernard/Norwich Tech

Coach: Tom Dowler (5th year)

Key returnees: So. Dominic Cianicolo, So. Josh Brown, So. Douglas Redinger, Sr. Nick Roch, Sr. John Butler.

Top newcomers: Fr. Logan Star, Fr. Chris Santoro, Fr. Brandon Gilford, Fr. Roark Ryan, Fr. Robert Yuckniuk, Fr. Jeremy Foular, Jr. Anthony Pomerleau, Jr. Teddy Caliendo, Jr. Sida Dong, Jr. Jie Gau, So. Ziqi Lui, So. Xaiowea Lyu.

Outlook: The Saints are young, and must replace four-time state place-winner Matt Dowler, but this will be an intriguing season for Tom Dowler, who welcomes six freshmen to the program and a host of newcomers with a variety of martial arts backgrounds. SB/NT went 15-17 in dual meets a year ago.