Minutemen Youth Wrestling

The Berlin Minutemen Travel Team competed in the league tournament on Sunday, February 8th at Southington High School. Teams were represented by Southington, Wethersfield, Cheshire, Newington, Berlin, Hartford, Plainville and Meriden.  This is the first year for the league to help promote better wrestling for middle school students.  The Minutemen finished second to Newington in the team standings.

The Minutemen sent seven wrestlers of the nine that entered into the finals. 

In a round robin bracket Joseph Pettinelli wrestling at 75 lbs placed second losing to Brendan Zotti of Newington. 

Zachary Veleas wrestling at 80 lbs met  Mark Bargelski in an exciting match, Zachary fell behind after the first period 5-4, both wrestles scored in the second period to make it 7-6. In the third period Bargelski chose bottom and reversed Zachary for a 9-6 lead, Zachary quickly escaped to make the score 9-7 and then took his opponent down with 30 seconds to go to tie it up.  In the overtime period Veleas shot a takedown to secure the victory 11-9.

Next up was Matthew Cote at 90 lbs.  He faced Christian Zotti of Newington who was a tough opponent beating Cote by Technical Fall 13-0.

Sean Sullivan wrestling at 95 lbs faced Solomon from Southington who he had beat the week before in a rematch with Solomon beating Sean by pin.

Richie Schlitching faced Brian Amato of Newington.  After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Schlitching was riding Amato when he escaped took him down and pinned him late in the 2nd period.

At 105 lbs. Nick Mangiafico took Nick Lamb of Cheshire into the second period before pinning him to become Berlin's second champion.

Jordan Zima wrestling at 119 lbs ran into a tough Chris Chorzepa from Newington keeping the score close after the first period before falling behind and dropping a 15-5 final to settle for second place.

The final Minuteman wrestling in to become a champion was Ricky Mullins at 126 lbs against Cheshire's Josh Hurihan.  After the wrestlers ended the first period scoreless it looked like the match would go the distance and be close to the end. Mullins chose bottom quickly escaped and then took his opponent down to his back for the pin.

Wrestling at 70 lbs for Berlin was Joshua Veleas who placed 3rd and Ryan Ogden wrestling at 112 lbs who placed 4th on the day.