By Kim J. Harmon

W

ithout a doubt, the Nighthawks had a lot of individual success during the 1999-2000 season – two South-West Conference championships (out of four wrestlers who reached the finals) and one CIAC Class L state championship.

A lot of individual success.

But the one thing that eluded the ‘Hawks – and the one thing they may have wanted most of all – was the SWC team championship that went to Bethel High School. Newtown finished sixth overall at the SWC tournament after going 8-9 overall, 6-3 in the conference during the dual meet season.

The ‘Hawks expect about the same level of individual success this year – maybe even more.

But the team thing – that could change this year.

The two SWC champions (Dan Maley and Steve Selezan) and the CIAC Class L champion (Nick Feola, who was runnerup in his weight at the SWCs) are all back, all stronger, and all much more determined than they were a year ago. Maley, Selezan, Feola and Matt Sullivan were all in the SWC finals last year and all expect to be there again.

“This team is going to be gooood,” said coach Alan Potter. “We didn’t have any seniors last year, so we pretty much have everyone back.”

It starts with tri-captains – Feola, Selezan and Sullivan, who combined for something like 120 wins last year. In fact, both Feola and Selezan are well on their way to winning their 100th career matches this season.

“There are kids here who we have been working on for three years now,” said coach Potter. “A lot of time and a lot of effort has been put into this program.”

Other returning wrestlers include Jon Read (who improved tremendously and was key to getting the ‘Hawks off the quick starts last year), Maley (who won his SWC title with a surprise two-point turnaround in the final seconds of the match), Ross Alpert, Chris Symes, Adam Prokop, Mike Daniels, Adam Esarey, and Angelo Bodetti.

The ‘Hawks may have been a little weak in the heavy weights last year, but more often than not it didn’t matter. When Selezan was done wrestling at 152 pounds, the match was usually over. That’s because guys like Read, Sullivan, Maley and Feola got the ‘Hawks off to blisteringly hot starts.

This year, with most of the wrestlers in the midst of fine-tuning their weights and some of the newcomers still being evaluating, it is a little hard to determine who will be wrestling where.

But it is not hard to determine how badly the ‘Hawks want this.

“The team worked hard in the off-season,” said coach Potter. “We went to camp again and put a lot of effort into training.”

When the wrestlers returned to practice last week, they found a new assistant coach had joined the program - Steven Ford, a former national high school finalist who has been helping out area wrestling teams for several years.

“I’m so excited to have him help me,” said coach Potter. “It’s a big job, a lot of work, and he is going to make a big difference with this team.”

Schedule

December 14th, at Bunnell, 7 pm; 16th, at Guilford Tournament, 9 am; 20th, versus Foran, 6 pm; 30th, at Danbury Tournament, 9 am.

January 4th, at Stratford, 7 pm; 6th, at Bristol Central Tournament, 9 am; 10th, at Bethel, 6 pm; 13th, at Farmington, Fitch and Bacon Academy, 12 noon; 17th, versus Jonathan Law, 6 pm; 20th, at Stamford, Fitch and Amity, 12 noon; 24th, at New Fairfield, 6 pm; 27th, versus Newington, Conard and Enfield, 12 noon; 31st, versus New Milford, 6 pm.

February 3rd, at New Fairfield Duels, 9 am; 5th, versus Pomperaug, 6 pm; 7th, at Weston, Masuk, Joel Barlow, 7 pm.

The South-West Conference Tournament will be held Saturday, February 10, at Newtown amnd the CIAC Class L state Tournament will be held on Friday and Saturday, February 16 and 17.