In just its second year – under the direction of coaches Steve Ford and Chris Bray, with help from Newtown High School assistant Angelo Bodetti – the Newtown Youth Wrestling program is gaining momentum and developing into one of the premier regional youth programs.

Participation has grown steadily and performance at local meets and state tournament has consistently improved.

Wrestling is, perhaps, one of the most misunderstood sports, partly due to media focus on “professional” wrestling, which is nothing like traditional wrestling. The actual sport involves technique, strength and conditioning and develops character through discipline, respect and sportsmanship. Wrestling is also the oldest organized sport ever practiced, going back some 15,000 years. Many of America’s greatest leaders were also wrestlers – including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Wrestling is open to boys and girls of all sizes and competition is fairly matched based on age and weight. Coaches Ford and Bray bring years of competitive and coaching experience to the youth program, teaching the techniques as well as the discipline and work ethic required to be successful.

Coach Ford wrestling from the third grade all the way through his senior year at Newtown High School (coaching from 1992-2004) and trained at Rockport University for judo while competing and training for Cadet and Junior National freestyle tournaments.

Coach Bray wrestled at Brookfield High School and helped coach the Wolverine Club in Danbury with Coach Ford. Coach Bray also led the Danbury Middle School program when his youngest son, Jeff, was a wrestler there.

Coach Bodetti is a past Newtown High School wrestler and now assists head coach Al Potter, who lends strong support for the program and occasionally stops in to gauge progress, track prospects and offer support.

“I have tremendous respect for coaches Ford and Bray and the outstanding program they have developed for our youth,” said coach Potter. “I feel strongly this is just the type of personal development and feeder program that will allow Newtown to compete on a level with the most dominant state wrestling programs. I’ve already made commitments to some of these kids that I won’t retire until they come through the high school program.”

Newtown Youth Wrestling is part of the Connecticut Youth Wrestling League, competing regularly against area teams. Many of the Newtown kids also participate in state tournaments coordinated through USA Wrestling.

The program is gearing up for a new session, which begins on Monday, February 26. Enrollment – through the Parks and Recreation Department – is open to those in grades 2 through 8. Practices take place Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8 pm at Newtown High School.

Recent results:

Bristol Tournament – Edward Lovely took first place as Ethan Ross, Luca Crudo and Darjay Gyamcho all finished third.

Southington Tournament – Lovely was third again as Crudo and Justin Sheridan took home thirds.

Berlin Tournament – Lovely was second as Forest Speed and Andy “The Hammer” Hubina finished third.

Somers Tournament – Lovely and Cory Fisher finished third as Matthew Gonzalez, Sheridan and Ryan Wagner finished second. Anthony Falbo, Crudo, Speed and Nicholas Crudo finished third.

Madison Tournament – Lovely, Falbo and Hubina finished third as Luca Crudo finished third.

Western Connecticut League Championship – Douglas Brede finished third as Lovely, Hubina and Wagner finished second. Crudo, Gonzalez, Sheridan and Sam Wiener finished third.

Wethersfield Tournament – Lovely and Hubina finished first as Gonzalez took second and Wagner took third.