H.S. wrestling preview / 2011-12

December 13, 2011 11:00 pm • Last Updated: December 13, 2011 11:17 pm

Reigning State Open and New England champion Brandon Walsh of Griswold, left, shown here defeating Cheney Tech's Forest Dolby in last year's State Open, is back to lead the Wolverines in defense of their Class S state title.

ECC Large

BACON ACADEMY

Coach: Michael Voiland (10th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Tommy Scott, Sr. Tyler Dufour, Jr. Matt McAllister, So. Howie Kilpatrick, So. Chris Elrod, So. Brendan Quinn.

Top newcomers: Fr. Connor O'Brien, Fr. Matt Dodge, Fr. Danny Maranda, Fr. Brandon Dufour, Fr. Ben Fowler.

Outlook: The Bobcats are coming off a season for the ages, one in which they won their third straight ECC title, second straight Class M crown and, most impressively, the State Open, ending Danbury's 10-year run. Now the questions become what they do for an encore and how do they replace a 12-member senior class, including Open champs Devin Covone and Aren Norman, that did so much for the program. Where there are holes, Voiland sees opportunities, and the large freshman and sophomore classes puts Bacon in a great position to be a tough team for the next few years.

EAST LYME

Coach: Ed Lorah (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Jake Kalleher, Sr. Alex Cusano, Sr. Joe Leonard, Sr. Evan Samul, Sr. Vinny Cancelmo, Sr. Nick Cancelmo, Jr. Kareem Small, Jr. Chris Aquino, So. Andrew Lorah.

Top newcomer: Sr. Tim Farina (285).

Outlook: There is reason for optimism at East Lyme, where Lorah welcomed 20 wrestlers, including a talented freshman class, and returns three wrestlers — Small, Kalleher and Cusano — who could contend for Class L state titles. Small placed third in Class L last year and Kalleher was sixth. Farina also returns after taking his junior year off. "We're still young, but we could be a spoiler," Lorah said. "With those three ... and if some others surprise ... we could be tough at the end."

FITCH

Coach: Mark Kosman (14th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Nick Perrotta, Sr. Conor Doyle, Sr. Andrew Nirandone, Sr. Skylar Fried, Sr. James Kelly, So. Sam Caramante, So. Iziah Venditti.

Top newcomers: Sr. Craig Manahan, Jr. Ashlie Wenzel, So. Brandon Baker, So. Matt Buechel, Fr. Bryan Brown, Fr. Scott Kydd.

Outlook: Numbers are up at Fitch, which has to endure the loss of Cameron Gonzalez, who was third in Class L. Kosman is hoping that the larger number of kids in the room will translate into a more competitive team.

LEDYARD

Coach: Steve Bilheimer (8th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Alex Manwaring, Sr. Josh Lawrence, Jr. Matt Jones, Jr. Brandon Finney, So. Calie Johnson.

Top newcomers: So. Jeff Csisar, Fr. Kyle Zeppieri.

Outlook: The Colonels got hot late in the season, finishing second in Class M, and look to carry over that momentum into this year, Bilheimer's second season back after a two-year hiatus. Jones won Class M at 112 last year, while Manwaring was a runner-up at 160 and Lawrence, Finney and Johnson were all placewinners. That core should allow Ledyard to stay competitive both in dual meets and the postseason.

NFA

Coach: Roy Wentworth (13th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Cody Murphy, Sr. Lukas Hage, Sr. Patrick Messick, Sr. Eric Dimalanta, Sr. Michael Estrada, Jr. James Tramontozzi, Jr. Dan Britos, Jr. Tyler Courter, Jr. John Crooks, So. Joey Ballestrini.

Top newcomers: Sr. Rigoberto Valdez, Sr. Josh Spring, Jr. Edgar Charles, Jr. Zach Verely.

Outlook: NFA got off to its best start in 12 years a season ago, winning 11 of its first 12 dual meets, and Wentworth is optimistic, having lost just five starters, including Nick Cipriano, who was an Open runner-up and sixth in New England. The Wildcats have a solid group and could make a run at the Large Division crown.

WATERFORD

Coach: Chris Gamble (12th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Joelle Nieves, Sr. Colin O'Brien, Sr. Tom Millaras, Sr. Collin McCarthy, Jr. Matt Tulba, So. Brentt Smith.

Top newcomers: So. Jimmy Roscover, So. J.J. Crowley.

Outlook: The 2009 Class M champs return four ECC and Class M placewinners, and have a number of solid underclassmen, leading to a good mix. Gamble said the goals are the same - to be competitive at both the conference and state level. Waterford will host its annual Lancer Invite on Saturday, but due to ongoing construction at the school, the vent will be held at Windham this year.

ECC Medium

LYMAN MEMORIAL/WINDHAM TECH

Coach: Rob Czaplicki (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. David Johnston, Sr. Cody Lohbusch, Jr. Kyle Wing, Jr. Mischak Potter Rivera, Jr. Darick Orange, So. Jona Swett.

Outlook: Lyman had a bit of a renaissance last year, with Class M champion Jake Alderman, the program's first since 2002. Numbers aren't great, but the Bulldogs have some versatility.

GRISWOLD

Coach: Dana Cooke (10th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Brandon Walsh, Sr. Aaron Wing, Sr. Dustin Falco, Sr. Cody Daley, Jr. Dylan Martel, Jr. Aaron Walmsley, Jr. Kyle Dombrowski.

Top newcomers: Sr. Jem Sraman, Jr. Ryan Lewicki, Jr. Jermaine Frazer, Jr. Sam Finley, So. Harrison Bernard, Fr. Zach Cassidy, Fr. Nick Mattera.

Outlook: The Wolverines won the Class S state title a year ago and with four returning state finalists (Walsh, Martel, Falco and Wing), there's no reason why Griswold can't repeat. Walsh won ECC, Class S, State Open and New England titles a year ago and was The Day's Wrestler of the Year. One thing that has eluded this group is an ECC division title, so that is a major motivator this winter.

MONTVILLE

Coach: Gary Wilcox (14th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Dan Kurasz, Jr. Joe Rainville, Sr. Kyler Fricke, So. Steve Rodgers, Sr. Ryan Hewitt, Sr. John Rodgeers, So. Patrick Bogan, So. Jake Schmaltz, Jr. Shane Longo, Sr. Devin Bedard, Jr. Mackenzie Mahn, So. Brent Pollitowicz, Jr. Ryan Murtha.

Top newcomers: Fr. Tom Wynoski, Fr. Zach Collins, Fr. Ian Cansescia, Fr. Zach Flynn.

Outlook: The Indians, as always, return some veteran talent. Kurasz and Murtha were Class M placewinners last year and Wilcox expects Montville to contend for the Medium Division title and make some noise in the state meet. "My outlook is to have a successful season and grow younger talent for the future," Wilcox said.

NEW LONDON

Coach: Jeff Fox (1st year)

Key returnees: Jr. Sri Lewis, Jr. Nick Rasmussen, Jr. Greg Kohler, So. Bryan Gonzalez, So. Carlos Mejia, So. Cody Adams.

Top newcomers: Sr. Marcus Delgado, Sr. Juan Cruz, Jr. Grant Pezzolesi, So. David Medina, Fr. Mike Commander.

Outlook: Fox replaces Efrain Dominguez, who spent six years trying to revitalize the program. Fox has a new staff and is hoping to return the Whalers to their former status. The returners will be looking to improve on last year's season.

ST. BERNARD

Coach: Jon Torres (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Bobby Daly, Sr. Zander Johnson, Jr. Victor Calle, So. Jake Newsome.

Outlook: Torres becomes the fifth coach at the school in as many years, and the former two-time state champ from Windham inherits a young team. Daly was a Class S placewinner, and Torres said he's excited to see what he and Calle can do. The majority of the roster is sophomores, so Torres and the program have some time to grow.

Bacon Academy's Matt McAllister, top, works the legs of East Lyme's Kareem Small during last year's ECC championship match at 103 pounds. Both wrestlers return this season.