Minutemen Youth Wrestling

The Minutemen took on a squad from Southington just before February vacation witht the visiting team winning 56-32 in the Berlin High School wrestling room. Winning by fall for the Minutemen were Trevor Graham, Braden Shea and Matthew Wojciechowski. Winning by decision were; JP Gornault, Luke Mangiafico and Elijah Watson.  Coming up short on the night were Marcus Kelly-Johnson, Sean Nogiec, Tanner Sparks, Christian Fischer, Rory Mayer, Devon O'Leary, Matthew Bouchard, Casey Fischer, Connor Gileau and Graeden Boyer. Sadie Boyer topped teammate Ben Roe in an inter-squad match.

The Berlin Minutemen’s youngest wrestler’s season had its state tournament on Sunday, February 13^th at Bristol Central High School.  They had eight Mighty Mites and eight Bantam competing for a state title.  Two came out on top with Marcus Kelly-Johnson winning a Mighty Mite title and Trevor Graham winning a Bantam title.  There was one lone second place finisher in Matthew Koops at Mighty Mites.  Brining home a third place finish were Nicholas Koops and Jamie Urrunaga in the Mighty Mite Division. Two bantams Braden Shea and Tanner Sparks placed fourth on the day.

This tournament was different then most of the season tournaments as most brackets consisted of eight wrestlers and after losing twice you were eliminated from the tournament.  Wrestling tough on the day but coming up short of a medal were; Mighty Mites – Jack Urrunaga, Cayden Hill, Ryan Mracheck and Caleb Orde.  Bantams were; Isaac Cortes, Sadie Boyer, Rory Mayer, Braden Shea, Ben Roe and Michael Lukaszewski.

Coach Moss said, “ I am very proud of this group.  They have come a long way in one season for many of them and only their second for the rest.” He added, “these young boys and girls will have a long wrestling career ahead of them if they stick to it.  I can see some of this year’s Berlin High Freshman class in some of these kids to the likes of Matt Cote, Richie Schlighting and Ethan Grieder who all started either at this age or close.”

The older Minutemen hit the mats on Sunday, February 20^th for a State Qualifer.  There they must place in the top four to move on to the Kids State Championship on Sunday, February 27^th at Hillhouse High School in New Haven.

The Intermediate, Novice and Middle School Minutemen competed in the USAWCT State Qualifier on Sunday, February 20^th at Bristol Eastern High School.  The top four place finishers qualified for the State Tournament on Sunday, February 27^th at Hillhouse High School in New Haven.

In the Intermediate Division this started out well as JP Gorneault placed first in the 54 lb weight class and fellow teammate Christian Fischer placed 4^th.  Daniel Veleas placed second dropping a 4-3 decision in the final to Lee Mu’min-Walker from Canton.  Graeden Boyer placed 6^th in the 76 lb division and will be an alternate for the State Tournament.  Serge Duquette placed third at 81 lbs.  Elijah Watson placed 4^th at 65 lbs. 

In the Novice Division at 74 lbs two Minutemen faced off in the Consolation Finals as Joshua Veleas topped Nick Aborio 4-0 to finish in 3^rd and 4^th place.    Ryan Kolodziej placed fourth at the 92 lb class while Sahnserae Brownlee finished fifth at 97 lbs.   Niko Fusco finished in 3^rd place at 103 lbs., Michael Patterson topped Gabriel Schwartz to take first place in the 114 lb division,  Calvin Johnson placed third at 130 lbs. and Seth Pelletier finished first at 145 lbs.

Middle School Division started with Ronnie Watson finishing third with a pin against Tyler Burlinson fron New Fairfield.   Laura Cohen finished fourth at 110 lbs., Joseph Inturri dropped a heartbreaker in the semi-final and finished in fifth place.

Also competing on the day in Intermediate was Riley Hanson in the 58 lb division losing to eventual third place finisher George Rioseco from Ridgefield.  Nathan Orde drew a tough bracket at the 61 lb division.  Casey Fischer drew the top seed in her first match and Luke Mangiafico drew the third seed in the 68 lb weight division.  Both finished out of the medal round.  Novice Division included Andrew Martin at 70 lbs. In the Middle School Division Zachary Martin competed at 98 lbs and Jared Zima missed weight at 128 lbs and wrestled up at 136 lb. finishing just out of placing.

Coach Moss said, “We were in a tough qualifier with Danbury, Bethel, Bristol, New Fairfield and Ridgefield.  The team did well and we had a good group qualify for the State Tournament.  Last year we had one champion in Calvin Johnson who is wrestling in a new division this year but I think we have a few wrestlers that will be right in the hunt for a title this year.” He also added, “I just want to thank our coaches who worked with the team today and throughout the year.  They are Pete Veleas, Mark Mangiafico, Fred Orde, Phil Gorneault and Pete Hanson.”  Moss was the tournament director for the Qualifer and kept things moving along all day which didn’t allow him to coach during the tournament.

The Bobcat Brawl was held at South Windsor High School on Sunday February 6, 2011 with thirteen Minutemen participating.  In the Mighty Mite Division Caleb Orde took 2^nd place, Bantams Trevor Graham took 1^st place and Sadie Boyer and Connor Glieau both took fourth place. In the Intermediate Division, Daniel Veleas took 1^st place, Luke Mangiafico and Graeden Boyer both placed 2^nd and Nathan Orde placed 4^th.  In the Novice Division, Michael Patterson and Seth Pelletier took 1^st, Joshua Veleas placed 2^nd and Nicholas Arborio and Niko Fusco both placed 3^rd.

The Minutemen are preparing for the Kids State Qualifier on Sunday, February 20^th in Bristol where 28 wrestlers will try to place in the top four so they may compete in the Kids State Tournament on Sunday, February 27^th in New Haven.

Tonight 1/31/11 we will be practicing in the wrestling room at Berlin High.  If you enter the school near the flagpole and go down to the lower level the wrestling in to the left once you enter the building first door on your right.

 Also at 6 PM Mark Mangiafico and others will be going to the Knights to more supplies out to storage for now.  If you can help please show up there.

Coach Moss