By Kim J. Harmon

STRATFORD – Dan McIlrath and Edmund Breitling would have preferred to go out as champions, but the two seniors on the Newtown High School wrestling team fought to the end and earned second-place finishes at the South-West Conference tournament last weekend.

McIlrath (26-9) was stopped by Chris Fusco of New Fairfield in the finals of the 103-pound weight class while Breitling (26-9) was stopped by Doug Sutherland of Brookfield in the finals of the 189-pound weight class.

With those two second-place finishes, fourth-place efforts by Steve Giacolone (119) and Alex Read (171), and point-scoring efforts by Skye Perry (160), James Terhaar (135), Dan Kearns (125), Brandon Thomas (215) and Dan Schierloh (275), the Nighthawks (14-12 overall, 7-4 in the SWC) scored 81 points earned a fifth-place team finish.

“We knew this team would be hard pressed to duplicate last year’s 17-7 season and top three finish in SWCs,” said head coach Alan Potter. “We lost seven high-scoring seniors (from that team). But this team really showed a lot of heart, determination and real improvement. This is a year we can really build on for next season as we will only lose four seniors and will bring back 31 wrestlers … including 13 juniors.”

Six different wrestlers – McIlrath, Breitling, Giacolone, Jeff Bray, Skye Perry, and Read – boast more than 25 wins in 2003-04.

“It was great to see both senior captain’s in the finals and they showed the younger teammates what is takes to get to finals,” said coach Potter, “but we would have liked to have gotten more than four guys into the medal rounds.”

McIlrath – struggling with a high temperature – battled his way through the 103-pound weight class and reached the finals with a tough, overtime win over Mike Volpe of Brookfield. In the finals, though, McIlrath was caught on a barrel roll and dropped an 8-3 decision.

“I thought I could still make it to the finals,” said McIlrath, who did not square off against Fusco during the regular season, “and I felt good but the body was, ‘I hope I make it through the day.’ I knew (Fusco) was an outside shooter and I had to stay low, but I think he had a little more technique than me.”

Breitling pinned his way into the finals of the 189-pound weight class, but found himself squaring off against a guy he not only missed during the regular season (bumping up a weight to get some critical points), but a guy who went through the SWC season undefeated. The match was close well into the third period when Southerland caught Breitling in a roll and nailed down the pin at 3:56.

“I was confident enough that I would get as far as I did,” said Breitling, “and I was looking forward to facing (Southerland). I was really nervous because I knew he was good. He is a real strong guy and had a defense for everything I did.”

Giacolone and Read also took home medals for the ‘Hawks.

Giacolone defeated a couple of higher-seeded wrestlers before finally falling to Hodza of Bethel in the 119-pound consolation finals. Read earned his second SWC medal in a row (he was third at 152 in 2002-2003) and had to do it in a 171-pound weight class that featured three state and five SWC medalists in the field. Read (who earned his 18th pin of the year during the day) fell to Rich Meghan of Foran in the consolation finals.

The CIAC Class LL tournament will be held this weekend at Shelton High School and both McIlrath and Breitling are looking for more.

“However it comes out, it comes out,” said McIlrath. “It will be hard, but hopefully I’ll be able to catch a couple of people.”

TEAM SCORES

 

1. New Milford 196.50, 2. New Fairfield 194.50, 3. Bethel 178.50, 4. Bunnell 108.50, 5. Newtown 81, 6. Pomperaug 70.50, 7. Brookfield 59, 8. Masuk 55, 9. Foran 52, 10. Stratford 52, 11. Weston/Barlow 45.5, 12. Jonathon Law 20.

INDIVIDUALS

103 – Chris Fusco (NF) dec. Dan McIlrath (N) 8-3; Consolation – McKenna (P) maj. dec. Volpe (BR) 14-2. 112 – Nick Palermo (BE) tech. fall Will Sherman (NM) 16-0; Consolation – Kristie (F) dec. Dutton (NF) 5-2. 119 – Kevin Leggett (BU) dec. Joe Hall (NM) 14-7; Consolation – Hodza (BE) dec. Steve Giacolone (N) 4-0. 125 – Dylan Tuz (NM) dec. Kris Lance (BE) 7-3; Consolation – Meisel (WB) dec. Palmer (NF) 11-6. 130 – Peter Stefanatos (NM) dec. Nick Newell (JL) 7-6; Consolation – Kelly (NF) pin Rapice (S) 2:13; 135 – Shane Yachulke (NF) dec. Jared Czameski (F) 7-3; Consolation – Pisano (NM) dec Bavalocco (BU) 2-1. 140 – Robert James (NF) tech. fall Samuel Molina (M) 17-1; Consolation – Klein (NM) dec Shaban (P) 8-1. 145 – Scott Ivan (BE) won by injury default over James Ktorides (NF); Consolation – Annetta (P) dec. Lee (NM) 5-3 (OT). 152 – Chris Goodspeed (BE) pin John Samaha (NF) 2:44; Consolation – Caleca (P) dec. Gordon (S) 5-2. 160 – Ryan Quinn (NF) dec. Pat Knight (NM) 6-2; Consolation – Wax (BE) dec. MacIntosh (BU) 6-2. 171 – Nick Provenzano (M) dec. Dan Ford (BE) 7-6; Consolation – Meahan (F) dec. Alex Read (N) 4-0. 189 – Doug Sutherland (Br) pin Edmund Breitling (N) 3:56; Consolation – Sandler (WB) pin Kostek (BE) 2:05. 215 – Scott Sedgewick (BU) dec. David Ruth (NM) 4-1; Consolation – Cupo (NF) dec Beaudry (BR) 2-1 (2OT). 275 – Tom Ferrell (NM) pin Dennis Olmstead (BE) 4:44; Consolation – Mucherino (S) dec. Gotschall (BU) 5-2.

SEED RECORDS

LB       Wrestler                  W-L

103      Dan McIlrath           24-8

112      Jeff Lipnick              7-11

119      Steve Giacolone    20-11

125      Dan Kearns              15-8

130      Jeff Bray                25-10

135      James Terhaar     13-15

140      Joe Sgammato        7-18

145      Gary Andrews       12-13

152      Colin O’Connor       5-15

160      Skye Perry                23-9

171      Alex Read                 24-9

189      Edmund Breitling  24-8

215      Brandon Thomas    9-14

275      Dan Schierloh          7-13