As the wrestling season winds down, Newtown grapplers of all ages, from youth standouts to high school seniors, have been racking up championships. The Newtown Youth Wrestling Association (NYWA) and Newtown High School programs, alike, earn success each year at the local and state levels — and beyond, including New England and national championships.

Late in the regular season, the high school squad hosted the town’s youth program for Youth Wrestling Night — an annual tradition — prior to a match with Masuk of Monroe, giving the future NHS Nighthawks a chance to shine in the spotlight in front of fans before joining them in the stands, watching what is in store for their future on the mats.

“It’s exciting to watch them wrestle,” said seventh grader Camron Veneziano, who has created his own excitement while compiling wins during eight years of competition — including a national title last spring.

“It’s cool seeing what I can do and become,” added Cole Salce, an eighth grader who has wrestled for six years. Allen Gaudenzi, an eighth grader with eight years on the mats under his belt, noted that he likes to wrestle to win and, more specifically, dominate. That seems to be a common thread for many of the past and present NYWA competitors. All three of these youth standouts, in fact, have earned multiple state and New England titles, continuing a tradition throughout the years.

Newtown High juniors Jake Maddox and Antonio Arguello are among the program’s mainstays who have seen the youth program take off. They have been wrestling partners dating back to their early elementary school days, pushing each other to get better for the last 12 years. Maddox and Arguello both made it three-for-three at the South-West Conference Championships, dominating their weight divisions since freshman year, just as they did at the youth level, winning state and New England individual and team titles before they got to high school.

There were only 20 or so wrestlers in the youth feeder program back when he first strapped on the headgear, Maddox recalls. Now they are 135 strong, including 20 girls.

“It’s just insane to see the growth of the program,” said Maddox, adding that things certainly are looking up for the high school team for years to come. “I think it’s got a very strong future.”

Mike Long, a coach with the youth program, said wrestlers enjoy being part of the overall Newtown wrestling family. Hosting the youth grapplers is something the high school wrestlers also look forward to each winter.

“I really love it. I look forward to it — it’s one of the best things we do all year,” said Arguello, who went on to capture a State Open victory at the end of February.

The connection between the NYWA and high school wrestlers, with coaches — including NYWA Head Coach Curtis Urbina, who assists with the high school grapplers — overlapping, and high school athletes helping out at youth practices, is essential for the all around success of wrestling in town.

"Youth Wrestling Night is special because our younger athletes get to see where the road can lead. When the youth program and the high school program stay connected, it builds a culture. The kids see role models right in front of them, and the high school wrestlers remember where they started. That connection is what strengthens the entire program," Urbina said.

“It’s important for them to look forward to what we have going here and be anxious to be a part of it,” NHS Head Coach Chris Bray added.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.