As the season winds down, the Newtown High School wrestling team is battling Pomperaug, Bethel and Bunnell for second place in the South-West Conference behind front-runner New Milford. The Nighthawks (13-6, 7-2 in the SWC) will look to continue th
 As the season winds down, the Newtown High School wrestling team is battling Pomperaug, Bethel and Bunnell for second place in the South-West Conference behind front-runner New Milford. The Nighthawks (13-6, 7-2 in the SWC) will look to continue their winning ways in key matches to close out the regular season this week. The Hawks wrestled Bunnell Wednesday (the results of which were not available before The Bee sports section went to print). Newtown takes on Staples, Holy Cross, Fairfield Prep and Brien McMahon on Saturday at Staples High in Westport and concludes the season February 6 at Bethel.
The Nighthawks were edged 37-35 by Pomperaug on January 19 but came out with a 52-15 win over Fitch and a 58-21 triumph over Manchester in the four-team match. Newtown topped Stratford 47-25 on January 23 and came out with three wins and a loss in Saturdayâs meet. The Hawks lost to Shelton 57-19, but upended Platt Tech 53-17, Mausk 42-25, and Foran 63-10.
âWe were really looking forward to the Pomperaug match. While our wrestlers did very well we came up short. That match has motivated us to push hard for Bunnell and Bethel,â Newtown Coach Alan Potter said.
Against Pomperaug, Newtown earned the following wins: 119 â Dana VanBuskirk won by major decision over Will Sheehy 12-0; 125 John Gouveia won by decision over Rob Caleca 4-3; 130 â Mark Bonamici won by major decision over Brendan Quinn 13-3; 135 â Dane Deny won by major decision over Tyler Rudolph 14-2; 145 Chris Salvatore pin (5:12) Steven Rosa; 189 â Matt Kuruc pin (3:32) Alex Ciepy; 215 â Joel Minalgo won by forfeit; 285 â Thaddeus Adams won by forfeit.
 The defeat to Pomperaug was painful because of how close the match was, but the teamâs setback to Shelton was literally painful for 152-pound competitor Jagi Gymacho, who dislocated his elbow and ended up leaving the match, although only after valiantly trying to stick it out.
âJagi is one tough kid. When he knew his elbow was dislocated he popped it with his other hand then shook it back in place,â Potter said. âHe refused to give up and wrestled another minute or so before I stopped it. He was clearly unable to continue.â
Losing Gymacho, who had come out on top in wins over Fitch, Manchester, and Stratford before sustaining the injury, may have been bad news for the Hawks, but they havenât missed a beat in the 152-pound class thanks to depth on the bench.
âFortunately we had Stephen Gardner to step in. He was amazing, pinning his next three opponents,â Potter said.
Gardner picked up where Gymacho left off, besting his opponents from Platt Tech, Masuk, and Foran.
Results from Saturdayâs match:
Newtown vs Shelton
125 â John Gouveia (Newtown) pin (1:13) Sean Marrel
130 â Mark Bonamici (Newtown) maj dec Rickey Jordon 8-0
135 â Narj Spisto (Shelton) pin (4:52) Tyler Rudolph
140 â Geuoff Toal (Shelton) pin (3:06) Kris Kling
145 â Chris Salvatore (Newtown) dec Rob Rolker 4-0
152 â Will Poyascus (Shelton) won by injury
160 â James Margoles (Shelton) pin (5:17) Dan Milot
171 â Rob Geloziri (Shelton) pin (1:11) Dan Burns
189 â Pat Giller (Shelton) pin (:57) Matt Kuruc
215 â Joel Minalgo (Newtown) pin (3:46) Mike Frizinia
285 â Rich Wigglesworth (Shelton) pin (3:30) Thaddeus Adams
103 â Eric Rigoli (Shelton) pin (3:46) Ian McEvoy
112 â Jon Groth wins by forfeit
119 â Rob Ferante (Shelton) dec Dana VanBuskirk 4-0
Newtown vs Platt
130 â Mark Bonamici (Newtown) pin (1:53) Joe Vereland
135 â Tyler Rudolph (Newtown) dec Jeff Benor 12-5
140 â Buddy Kiefnor (Platt) pin (1:31) Kris Kling
145 â Chris Salvatore (Newtown) dec Ramiro DaSilva 7-3
152 â Stephen Gardner (Newtown) pin (1:10) Jaquell Jackson
160 â Dan Miltot (Newtown) pin (:52) Vitti Ben
171 â Rob Rusnak (Platt) pin (1:15) Dan Burns
185 â Matt Kuruc (Newtown) pin (1:30) Javon Robinson
215 â Joel Minalgo (Newtown) won by forfeit
285 â Thaddeus Adams (Newtown) pin (5:55) Sohaib Waai
103 â Ian McEvoy (Newtown) pin (:38) Lauren Stanishuski
112 â Gil Olivieia (Platt) won by forfeit
119 âDana VanBuskirk (Newtown) dec Tom Cierlegin 2-0
125 â John Gouveia (Newtown) pin (3:24) Chris Barnes
Newtown vs Masuk
135 â Ryan Kuska (Masuk) pin (4:43) Tyler Rudolph
140 â Zack Flashman (Masuk) pin (3:38) Kris Kling
145 â Ryan Mathews (Masuk) maj dec Chris Salvatore 12-0
152 â Stephen Gardner (Newtown) pin (2:38) Mark Butino
160 â Dan Milot (Newtown) pin (4:46) Kyle Haskins
171 â Steve Sederquest (Masuk) pin (1:59) Dan Burns
189 â Matt Kuruc (Newtown) pin (4:24) Cory Sheranick
215 â Cody Haskins (Masuk) dec. Joel Minalgo 4-8
285 â Thaddeus Adams (Newtown) pin (1:10) Dan Mihard
103 â Ian McEvoy (Newtown) won by forfeit
112 â Double Forfeit
119 â Dana VanBuskirk (Newtown) dec. Ken Duclos 7-0
125 â John Gouveia (Newtown) won by forfeit
130 â Mark Bonamici (Newtown) dec Nick Backarella 3-2
Newtown vs Foran
140 â Kris Kling (Newtown) pin (:33) Ryan Forster
145 â Chris Salvatore (Newtown) dec Andrew Kristie 4-2
152 â Stephen Gardner (Newtown) pin (1:09) Rob Deal
160 â Dan Milot (Newtown) pin (:38) Peter Amendola
171 â Casey Leslie (Foran) maj Dec. Dan Burns 8-0
189 â Matt Kuruc (Newtown) pin (:34) Steve Polito
215 â Joel Minalgo (Newtown) pin (1:14) Jake Woolmer
285 â Thaddeus Adams (Newtown) pin (1:22) Tyan Furlow
103 â Jake Miller (Foran) pin (3:18) Ian McEvoy
112 â Double Forfeit
119 â Dana VanBuskirk (Newtown) pin (1:15) Aaron Shwabacher
125 â John Gouveia (Newtown) won by forfeit
130 â Mark Bonamici (Newtown) pin (1:15) Steve Rudnick
135 â Tyler Rudolph (Newtown) pin (:35) Andrew Casey