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Berlin places second at Art Powers Duals

Posted by Roger Moss at Jan 18, 2009 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )
Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:51 PM EST

BERLIN – Though his team had just fallen to Daniel Hand in the championship match, Berlin wrestling coach Dave Tremblay was more than pleased with his team’s performance at the annual Art Powers Duals Saturday afternoon.

The Redcoats defeated Killingly (42-27), Maloney (40-28) and Waterford (35-28) to earn a berth in the championship round against Hand, who also went 3-0 in the round robin competition, topping Trumbull, RHAM and Platt.

"It’s a great day. This is a tough tournament. Platt was ranked, Hand was ranked, Waterford was ranked, we were ranked like 17th, and the other teams are tough. There was no easy match today," Tremblay said. "We lost to Waterford during the season by quite a bit, so to be able to come back and beat them shows that our kids are improving."

Hand, however, controlled the pace of the matchup from start to finish, scoring wins in the first three bouts to build up a 15-0 lead, which they would eventually turn into a 39-26 victory.

"[Hand’s] a good team, and they’re able to make moves which we can’t make," Tremblay said. "They have big numbers, they can adjust their lineup, and we’ve got to go with what we got, so sometimes we’re at a disadvantage there."

After a 5-1 decision gave the Redcoats their first points of the match, senior captain Kevin Moss brought Berlin to within six points by earning a dominant 17-2 decision.

Moss and junior Jack Banks were the only two Redcoats to win in all four matchups on the day.

Moss, who wrestles at 135 pounds, remains undefeated on the season for Berlin.

The win against Waterford served as the highlight of the day for Tremblay.

The Redcoats, who fell to Waterford 42-28 on Dec. 27, defeated one of the top 10 teams in the state this time around.

The victory was due in no small part to Jack Rudy victory in the final bout of the match, which clinched the slim win.

"That was a huge match," Tremblay said. "If he lost but didn’t get majored, we would have won by one [point]. If he got majored it would have been tied, and it would have gone down to most pins. So instead of having any guessing there, he won outright, and that’s good. ... He’s a senior, he works hard in practice, so that was a great win for him."

The 3-1 mark on Saturday improved Berlin’s season record to 11-3, a solid mark at this point in the season.

But Tremblay said the team needs to continue to improve individually to advance as a whole.

"They wrestled hard, they did what they had to do to win the match. We could work on our intensity level a little against teams like that. But they wrestled hard and did what they needed to do. We had some kids that were a little under the weather, but they fought through it," Tremblay said. "There’s still always room [for improvement]. There’s individual work we’ve got to work on. As a team overall, I’m happy with where we’re at, but individually we still have a lot to work on for our goals of a conference title and possibly state title."

Tremblay said the Redcoats have only won the annual tournament four times since its inception in the 1980s when it was simply called the Berlin Duals. But that number is more a factor of the high number of quality teams the tournament attracts each year, rather than struggles for Berlin.

The upcoming schedule doesn’t get much easier for Berlin, as the Redcoats next take part in the Eagle Classic next Saturday at East Catholic High School.

"Again, another big tournament," Tremblay said. "Mount Anthony is there, they’re ranked in New England. I think there a couple other teams that are ranked. South Windsor is ranked second and they’ll be there."

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Waterford Wrestling Tournament

Posted by Roger Moss at Jan 6, 2009 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Waterford High School (20 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT. )

Sunday, January 11, 2009 Limited to 400 wrestlers

Registered Luke Mangiafico and Nick Zuk

All wrestlers will be grouped by both age category and weight into 5-man brackets. Each wrestler will wrestle one-another giving each wrestler a total of 4 matches (round-robin format). There are many advantages to doing this. Medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place wrestlers.

Age Groups-

Age Categories, Start Times & Period Length: A minimum of 20 minutes must be allowed between wrestlers matches, unless agreed upon by the coaches for a shorter time.

Category Year of Birth SKIN Check-in

Bantam 2001-2002 7:45 – 8:30 9 AM 1-1-1 Yellow
Intermediates 1999-2000 7:45 – 8:30 9 AM 1-1-1 Blue
Novice 1997-1998 11:15 – 12:00 12:30 PM 1.5-1-1 Green
Middle School 1994-1996 11:15 – 12:00 12:30 PM 1.5-1-1 White

TECH FALLS will occur when a 12 point margin is achieved, this rule applies to all age groups

? Each Club’s director or designated person for that club will check in with the Tournament Director, inform the Director of any known NO SHOW wrestlers and pay for their team’s entry. Note: There are no refunds for no-shows – each club is responsible for full payment.

? All wrestlers must check in by the end of the Skin check-in time period to verify they do not have any contagious skin conditions. Wrestlers will not be admitted into the tournament if they are not checked in on time.

? It is the responsibility of the Club Directors, or the designated person for that club, to check with the head person running the skin check in area to see if any of their wrestlers have not checked in by 8:15am for the morning session and 11:45am for the afternoon session.

Notice:

Head gear Will be required for all age groups this is a USA Wrestling rule.

ALL WRESTLERS WITH BRACES ON THEIR TEETH MUST HAVE PROTECTIVE MOUTH GUARDS

Directions-

I-95 North to exit 82 - RT 85/Hartford Rd Waterford exit, at end of exit turn right, go to next light

and turn right onto Jefferson Ave. Go to next light and turn right onto Chester St. Chester St.

turns into Fog Plain Rd, Turn left onto Clark Ln. Follow to 2nd light turn right onto RT. 1, get in left

lane go to second light and bear left onto Rope Ferry Rd. Waterford High School is on the left.

I-95 South to exit 82 - RT 85/Hartford Rd Waterford exit, at end of exit turn left go to second light

and follow directions above starting with “turn right onto Jefferson Ave.”

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Travel Team Opens With Win

Posted by Roger Moss at Jan 2, 2009 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

The Berlin Minutemen Travel team opened its season at home against Cheshire on Friday, January 2 with a 41-33 win. Coached by former Berlin High Coach Jim Day and Terryville Head Coach Pete Veleas the Minutemen sealed the victory with an exciting overtime pin at 105 lbs. by Nick Mangiafico at 105 lbs over Torin Ravenburg at 4:23.

Then the travel team heated things up.  This new team is part of the new Mid-State Middle School Wrestling League. Anthony Myers won by forfeit at 70lbs., Joseph Petinelli pinned Eric Ravenburg in 2:21 at 75 lbs., Zachary Veleas pinned Jack McGee in 1:46 at 80lbs., Mike Patterson defeated Cole Johnson 7-2 at 85 lbs., Matt Cote pinned Lucas Swan in :54 seconds at 90 lbs., Sean Sullivan pinned CJ Deangelis in :19 seconds at 95 lbs.,  Richie Schlichting pinned Torin Ravenburg in 1:02 at 100 lbs., and in the final varsity match Ryan Ogden dropped a tough 6-0 decision  to Will Lamb.  Berlin forfeited six weight classes as they didn’t have anyone to compete in weights 119 to Heavyweight.

The night started with exhibition matches by several members of the advanced Minutemen team.  Matt Wojciechowski won 7-2, followed by Joshua Veleas’ pin at 1:30, Nick Arborio’s exciting 13-6 win and Calvin Johnson won 14-9.  James Mazzarella dropped a close 7-3 decision and Nick Mazza wrestled tough before losing.

The Minutemen travel to Wethersfield on Thursday, January 8th for their next match.  For details on upcoming matches you can go to www.berlinyouthwrestling .com.

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Middletown Kids Beginner’s - Canceled

Posted by Roger Moss at Dec 30, 2008 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

The tournament has been canceled due to a facility problem.  Coach Moss will be going to Waterford and Coach Myers will be going to Danbury.

*Keep in Mind: Many times these increase in number since athletes are indoors*

1)Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that results from direct contact with certain substances, like soap, cosmetics, jewelry or weeds, including poison ivy or poison oak. The result is a red, itchy rash isn't contagious or life threatening, but it can be very uncomfortable. Successful treatment for contact dermatitis is primarily identifying what's causing the rash. If the offending agent is avoided, the rash usually resolves in two to four weeks. Preventing contact dermatitis means avoiding coming into contact with those substances such as poison ivy or harsh soaps that may cause it.
·If a person comes in contact with an infected substance, rinse the skin with water and use a mild soap.
· Wear cotton or plastic gloves when doing housework to avoid contact with cleaners or solutions.
· Apply a barrier cream or gel to the skin to provide a protective layer.
· When washing uniforms and towels, rinse well. ( Do not pack clothes too tightly in the washer)
 
 
2)Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that develops in the moist areas between the toes and sometimes on other areas of the foot. Athlete's foot is caused by a group of mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. It is contagious and can be contracted through human to human contact, objects (for example, a mat, rug, pool, etc.) to human contact, and animal to human contact. Symptoms include: itching, stinging and burning between the toes or soles of the feet, itchy blisters, and/or cracking and peeling of skin.  
A person is at higher risk if:
· Gender is male
· Frequently wear damp socks or tight fitting shoes
· Sharing mats or rugs with others who have a fungal infection
·Frequently visit public areas where infection can spread (locker     rooms, weight rooms)
·A weakened immune system
There are several means of treatments:
·Over-the-counter: anti-fungal lotion, powder, spray or ointment will usually treat all cases.
·Consult a physician if the over-the-counter products do not resolve the infection.
·Put the anti-fungal powder in the shoes, change to clean socks daily, and keep feet dry at all times.
 
 
3)Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and part of the eye ball. The cause of pink eye is commonly a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction, or, in newborns, a completely opened tear duct. It is extremely contagious and can affect a whole team within days.
Symptoms include:
· Redness in one or both eyes
· Itchiness in one or both eyes
·A gritty feeling in one or both eyes
· A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night
· Tearing
·Sensitivity to light
Pink eye can be irritating, but is usually harmless to a person's sight and typically doesn't require extensive or emergency treatment. Like a common cold, an over-the-counter remedy can help to relieve some symptoms, but the virus just has to run its course.
Practicing good hygiene is the best way to control the spread of pink eye:
·Don't touch the eye with the hands.
·Wash hands thoroughly and frequently.
·Change towels and washcloths daily, don't share with others.
·Discard eye cosmetics.
·Don't share eye cosmetics or other personal eye-care items.
·If someone on the team has pink eye, the player should not be allowed to touch the equipment or participate in practice, in order to prevent spreading.
 
 
4)Jock itch is a fungal infection that affects the skin of the inner thighs, buttocks and genitals. Jock itch causes an itchy, red, and often ring-shaped rash in the warm, moist areas of the body, burning sensations in the affected area(s), and flaking or cracking skin in the groin area. Although often uncomfortable and bothersome, jock itch is not usually serious.
Means of Treatment:
·Keeping the groin area clean and dry
·Apply topical antifungal medications
·See your doctor if you have a rash on your skin that doesn't improve within two weeks.
 
5)Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by tiny, eight-legged burrowing mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. The presence of the mite leads to intense itching in the area of its burrows. Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact in a family, contact sport, child care group, school class or nursing home. Because of the contagious nature of scabies, doctors often recommend treatment for entire families or contact groups to eliminate the mite.                                                                    
Scabies symptoms include: Itching, often severe and usually worse at night and thin, irregular burrow tracks made up of tiny blisters or bumps on the skin.
Scabies treatment involves eliminating the infestation: several creams and lotions are available; apply to the entire body, leaving on for at least eight hours.
 
 
6)Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and children. It usually appears as red sores on the face, especially around a child's nose and mouth.
Impetigo is seldom serious, and usually clears on its' own in two to three weeks.                                                                                  
The following are signs and symptoms of impetigo:
·Red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days and then form a yellowish-brown crust
·Itching
·Painless, fluid-filled blisters
·In the more serious form, painful fluid - or pus - filled sores that turn into deep ulcers
Impetigo can sometimes lead to complications; the physician may choose to treat impetigo with an antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics. All athletes should keep all sores covered and wash hands regularly.
 
 
7)Staph Most healthy people probably have some Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which are simply called staph and can be on the skin, nose, or throat. Most of the time, the bacteria cause no problems or relatively minor skin infections. But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria burrow deeper into the body, invading the bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs and heart.
Staph infections can range from minor skin problems to food poisoning, fatal pneumonia, surgical wound infections and endocarditis, a life-threatening inflammation of the heart lining. If the bacteria spread deeper into the body, they can cause fatal infections in the bloodstream, bones, heart lining or lungs. The symptoms vary, depending on which part of your body is affected, but most infections are accompanied by fever, chills and sweats. Staph is extremely contagious and spreads quickly in close contact situations such as locker rooms and contact sports. Many staph infections no longer respond to common antibiotics. Today only 10% of staph infections respond to Penicillin, the first effective antibiotic against staph, which has now led to the use of stronger and more toxic antibiotics. Protecting the body from staph infections can seem exhausting, given how widespread the bacteria have become.
These common-sense precautions can help lower the risk:
·Wash  hands at all times
·Keep wounds covered
·Give high-risk foods the cold shoulder
·Use of feminine toiletry products should be used as directed and disposed of properly
·Keep personal items personal
·Get tested
 
8)Herpes Gladiatorum (HG), caused by Herpes Simplex Type-1 virus (HSV-1), has received attention due to the speed of which it can spread and the long term consequences an athlete may have, even after finishing his/her career. The spreading of this virus is strictly skin-to-skin with the outbreaks developing on the head, face and neck. Usually a primary outbreak is seen as a raised, rash which forms into groupings of 6-10 vesicles. Sore throat, fever, swollen cervical lymph nodes are typical signs with a first time outbreak. Reoccurrence usually involves a smaller area with less systemic signs and for a short duration.
Once an outbreak occurs on a team, removing the athlete from competition or play is mandatory to minimize its spread. After being on antiviral medication, and provided no further signs of infection, he/she can return to play.
Guidelines for HSV-1 treatment and prevention
First time outbreak:
·Seek medical attention and oral antiviral treatment to expedite its clearance.
·Regardless if treated, there should be no contact until all lesions are healed with well-adhered scabs. No new vesicle formation and no swollen lymph nodes near area are involved.
·Consider being placed on prophylactic oral antiviral medication for remainder of a season and each subsequent season.
 
Recurring Outbreaks:
1.Seek medical attention and oral antiviral treatment to expedite its clearance.
2.Consult physician on the amount of hours after oral antiviral medication and along with no swollen lymph nodes near area involved.
3.If not treated with antiviral medication, no contact until all lesions are healed with well-adhered scabs. No new vesicle formation and no swollen lymph nodes near the area involved.
4.Consider being placed on prophylactic oral antiviral medication for remainder of a season and each subsequent season.
Any individual exposed to the outbreak 3 days prior to its development, should be isolated for direct contact with other athletes for 8 days. Examine them daily for the potential outbreak.

*** Be sure to check with the National Federation of High Schools for returning to play rules regarding viral, fungal and infectious out breaks.

 
Information provided by:
The Mayo Clinic