Minutemen Youth Wrestling

By KEN LIPSHEZ, Staff Writer February 06, 2003 BERLIN -- Berlin High wrestling coach Jim Day whooped it up as he caught his ecstatic 112-pounder Mike Crowe in his arms. Day knew the Redcoats would need every break they could get against third-ranked RHAM in order to maintain their supremacy in the Northwest Conference. Those who faced uphill battles against the Sachems’ top guns would have to stay off their backs. Those who had the chance to win by fall needed to. The No. 10 Redcoats would require every point they could muster, and then some. Crowe provided the extra impetus. Trailing 11-3, the wiry freshman suddenly pinned Scott Warren Wednesday to lead the Redcoats to a stunning 39-29 victory over RHAM to clinch no worse than a tie for another NWC crown. Berlin (19-5, 5-0) needs to avoid a pitfall against Rocky Hill next Wednesday to gain outright ownership of its 17th NWC championship in 19 years. RHAM (20-2, 4-1), participating in its first NWC season after transferring from the Charter Oak Conference, sits one game back with a match against Plainville pending. "This is two Wednesday night wins in a row where the kids just willed themselves to victory," Day said. The Redcoats turned back upset-minded Plainville the week before. "We refused to give up falls when they were wrestling vastly superior opponents," Day said. Said RHAM coach Kevin Kanaitis: "We had no heart today. We weren’t into it. Berlin was ready, we weren’t." Warren, who won a major decision over Crowe in their first meeting this season, was on the verge of a similar verdict that would have given the Sachem four team points. Crowe began the third period in the top slot and made the most of it. He hooked a cradle, held on for dear life and transferred just enough of his weight to touch Warren’s shoulders to the mat at 4:41. Day had the upset he needed. Berlin, the beneficiary of forfeits at 215 (Dave Sataline) and 275 (undefeated John Russo) to begin the match, held an 18-4 lead through four bouts. "I got all tensed up, I put him to his back and I knew I had him," said Crowe, now 19-12 on the season. "He stepped up with his right leg and he opened up the cradle for me. "We weren’t going to let RHAM win. It was our house." The fall gave Berlin six points that provided a monumental 10-point swing. Berlin’s 125-pounder Chris Santerre had been to his back in the first period against Mike Karpman but Santerre sank a headlock and pinned in 2:52 to increase the lead to 24-8. If Day urged his wrestlers to maintain hand control once, he must have screamed the words 100 times. Among those who listened and executed was Eric McCurdy, who prevented New England placewinner Greg Dussol from winning by fall. McCurdy strained to stay off his back, frustrating Dussol and holding RHAM to three team points. "All their technique on top is rotated by being able to gain a lot with their hands," Day said. "If you’re controlling one of their hands, a lot of their offense is taken away. We worked on that the past two days in practice. ..It isn’t a technique we use a lot but the kids responded real well. "What (McCurdy) did was absolutely wonderful." Hand control also paid dividends for Nick Catalano, who held Brock Littlefield to a decision at 140. B.J. Madey yielded a major decision to powerful Trevor Brown, two points better than giving up a pin. Berlin 171-pounder Nick DiSalvo recorded a takedown with three seconds left to decision Dave Czarnecki 7-6. Berlin’s rapidly improving Jim Solek pinned Jack Flanagan in 35 seconds at 152. C.J. McCormack upped his record to 27-3 with a decisive first-period pin at 135. Ken Lipshez can be reached at Klipshez@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, ext. 222. Berlin 39, RHAM 29 103 -- Trevor Olmstead (R) dec. T.J. Farr 14-0; 112 -- Mike Crowe (B) pin Scott Warren 4:41; 119 -- Nick Raiola (R) dec. Dan Madey 9-0; 125 -- Chris Santerre (B) pin Mike Karpman 2:52; 130 -- Trevor Brown (R) dec. B.J. Madey 10-0; 135 -- C.J. McCormack (B) pin Eric Thoren 1:09; 140 -- Brock Littlefield (R) dec. Nick Catalano 8-3; 145 -- Ian Coyne (R) tech fall Tim O’Connor 15-0; 152 -- Jim Solek (B) pin Jack Flanagan :35; 160 -- Greg Dussol (R) dec. Eric McCurdy 13-6; 171 -- Nick DiSalvo (B) dec. Dave Czarnecki 7-6; 189 -- Kevin Davis (R) pin Matt Powell 1:58; 215 -- Dave Sataline (B) won by forfeit; 275 -- John Russo (B) won by forfeit. Records -- Berlin 19-5, 5-0 NWC; RHAM 20-2, 4-1.