Led by wins from senior captains Tyler Cunningham and Sean Marinan Jr., Xavier won its first ever State Open wrestling title at New Haven’s Floyd Little Athletic Center.
The Falcons finished with 132 points to top rivals Hand (121.5) and Danbury (118.5). Glastonbury and Bacon Academy rounded out the top five. Middletown placed ninth with 55 points.
The title was the team’s third in as many weeks. Xavier won the Southern Connecticut Conference crown over Hand on February 12th and the Class LL title last weekend.
“I am really happy for the kids, parents and coaches involved with our team,” said head coach Michael Cunningham. “Our wrestlers worked so hard and sacrificed so much for this championship.”
“I knew coming in we would have a strong showing and would probably finish in the top three. We just had to focus and leave everything out there on the mat. Luckily we didn’t leave too much room to spare.”
Tyler Cunningham, Michael Cunningham’s son, won the title at 150 pounds and Marinan, Xavier’s other finalist, was champion at 220.
Junior Elliot Antler placed third at 170, sophomore Will Chowanec fourth at 113 and senior Ryan Butler fifth at 145 for Xavier.
Cunningham, the Class LL champion at 160 pounds, defeated Ledyard’s Alex Manwaring 7-2 in the final to win his first Open title. Cunningham was third at 145 in last year’s State Open.
“This has been my life goal ever since I was a little kid,” said Cunningham to the New Haven Register.
Marinan took down Masuk’s Eric Tucker in a epic battle that spanned four overtimes. Tied at one going into the overtime period, each wrestler would add a point in the first three overtimes before Marinan escaped Tucker seven seconds into the fourth to capture individual title 3-2. Marinan, who was second last season, celebrated the victory by jumping into assistant coach Kyle St. George arms.
“This is amazing for me to go out like this,” Marinan stated to the Hartford Courant. “To go back-to-back with football and wrestling is so special….But with wrestling it’s different. [Xavier had] never won one before, so now all our numbers go up on the wall. We’re immortal now.”
The story for Middletown was again Devon Carillo. The senior won at 182, his second consecutive state title after winning at 171 last season. Carillo defeated Weaver’s Sheldon Rhoden 7-2 in the final.
Senior Andrew Carignan finished fourth at 120 for Middletown and junior Randy Hale was sixth at 160.
Showing posts with label middletown wrestling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label middletown wrestling. Show all posts
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Middletown Wrestler Devon Carrillo Captures Third Consecutive Class LL Championship
Another day, another championship.
All-American wrestler Devon Carrillo won his third consecutive Class LL state championship and his first at 182 pounds. Carrillo had taken the state title the previous two seasons at 171.
Carrillo’s dominance extended further than just his title. The senior defeated New Milford’s Doenia with a 24-second pin, and his four pins added up to just 7:45 seconds. Carrillo’s remarkable performance earned him awards for most outstanding wrestler and fastest fall at the meet.
“Devon is amazing wrestler,” Middletown Head Coach Mark Fong said. At this point we expect him to dominate. We never expect him to give up a point. He’s definitely the favorite for the New England championship and it would be great to see him win. It’s the one honor that has eluded him.”
Indeed, Carrillo is confident he will take the championship in both the State Open and New England championships at 182.
“Keep the same mentality,” Carrillo said to the Middletown Press in regards to continuing his success. “Nobody comes close to me, and just keep dominating everybody, and I’ll be good.”
As a team Middletown finished sixth overall with 118.5 points. Daniel Hand won the state title with 233 points, and New Milford finished second with 178.
The Blue Dragons had two wrestlers finish second. Senior Andrew Carrigan was runner-up at 120, and junior Randy Halle took second place at 160.
“I’m really excited about Randy,” Fong said. “He came in ranked 11th in his class and beat the second and third ranked wrestlers to win. It was a great performance.”
Though he was very pleased with the performance of certain wrestlers, Middletown’s Head Coach was nowhere near satisfied with ho his team performed overall.
“We did not perform as well as I was hoping to,” Fong stated. I thought we could finish in the top five but a lot of our wrestlers seemed like they were asleep. We did not wrestle-back well like we usually do. I can’t remember the last time we had no one place in consolation at this meet.”
The trio of Carrillo, Carrigan and Hale will represent Middletown at the State Open. That meet will take place this Friday and Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.
Friday, December 16, 2011
City Wrestling Teams Looking to Repeat Last Season's Success
XAVIER
Xavier is again expected to be one of the top wrestling teams in Class LL coming off of last year’s class championship. The Falcons return 11 wrestlers from that title team, which went on to finish sixth in the State Open.
Xavier lost three top seniors from last year’s squad but returns a trio of weight-class champions. Will Chowanec was the Class LL champion at 103 pounds as a freshman, junior Elliot Antler was the LL champ at 160 pounds and senior Tyler Cunningham bested the competition at LL’s at 145 pounds. Senior Sean Marinan Jr. took second place at the State Open at 215 pounds.
The Falcons are taking on a very challenging schedule this season. The team participates in the Guilford Invitational after just one match and prestigious events such as the Easton Duals in Pennsylvania and the New Milford Tournament.
“We have excellent depth at every weight class,” Head Coach Michael Cunningham said. “We should absolutely be one of the top three teams in Class LL.”
MIDDLETOWN
Middletown was 18-10 last year and placed fifth in the Class L meet and eight in the State Open. The Blue Dragons can exceed that record this season. But according to Head Coach Mark Fong, that won’t happen unless his inexperienced wrestlers improve quickly.
“Right now we’re a little better than average,” he said. “We’re inexperienced in a lot of areas. The key to our success will be the development of our young guys.”
Much of the inexperience of Middletown’s 25 wrestlers can be found in their background as football players. Two of the more promising converts are sophomore Sam Rivera, who will wrestle as a heavyweight, and junior D.J. Green, who will wrestle at 152 pounds.
The Blue Dragons can put their trust superstar senior Devon Carrillo. Carillo, who is wrestling at 184 pounds, is a Class L and State Open Champion and finished third in New England and seventh in national competition last winter.
“Devon is an experienced wrestler with a ton of athletic ability, but what makes him even more special is that he’s not cocky or arrogant at all,” Fong stated. “He had spent the season focusing on the younger kids and teaching them how to get better.”
Other key wrestlers besides Carillo will be senior Andrew Carrignan (120 pounds), Johnny Carrero (126) and Adam Colavito (113).
“We have strong seniors who are going to produce,” Fong said. “If our younger wrestlers produce we can have a better record than last year and place higher in the state tournament.”
Middletown was victorious in its season opener Wednesday at home, defeating Conard 36-35. Devon Carillo, Adam Colavito, Andrew Carrignan, Johnny Carrero, Nathan Roy, Michael Tewksbury and Cody Carillo all earned points for the Blue Dragons.
Middletown will next take part in the Berlin Invitational at Berlin High School this Saturday.
Xavier is again expected to be one of the top wrestling teams in Class LL coming off of last year’s class championship. The Falcons return 11 wrestlers from that title team, which went on to finish sixth in the State Open.
Xavier lost three top seniors from last year’s squad but returns a trio of weight-class champions. Will Chowanec was the Class LL champion at 103 pounds as a freshman, junior Elliot Antler was the LL champ at 160 pounds and senior Tyler Cunningham bested the competition at LL’s at 145 pounds. Senior Sean Marinan Jr. took second place at the State Open at 215 pounds.
The Falcons are taking on a very challenging schedule this season. The team participates in the Guilford Invitational after just one match and prestigious events such as the Easton Duals in Pennsylvania and the New Milford Tournament.
“We have excellent depth at every weight class,” Head Coach Michael Cunningham said. “We should absolutely be one of the top three teams in Class LL.”
MIDDLETOWN
Middletown was 18-10 last year and placed fifth in the Class L meet and eight in the State Open. The Blue Dragons can exceed that record this season. But according to Head Coach Mark Fong, that won’t happen unless his inexperienced wrestlers improve quickly.
“Right now we’re a little better than average,” he said. “We’re inexperienced in a lot of areas. The key to our success will be the development of our young guys.”
Much of the inexperience of Middletown’s 25 wrestlers can be found in their background as football players. Two of the more promising converts are sophomore Sam Rivera, who will wrestle as a heavyweight, and junior D.J. Green, who will wrestle at 152 pounds.
The Blue Dragons can put their trust superstar senior Devon Carrillo. Carillo, who is wrestling at 184 pounds, is a Class L and State Open Champion and finished third in New England and seventh in national competition last winter.
“Devon is an experienced wrestler with a ton of athletic ability, but what makes him even more special is that he’s not cocky or arrogant at all,” Fong stated. “He had spent the season focusing on the younger kids and teaching them how to get better.”
Other key wrestlers besides Carillo will be senior Andrew Carrignan (120 pounds), Johnny Carrero (126) and Adam Colavito (113).
“We have strong seniors who are going to produce,” Fong said. “If our younger wrestlers produce we can have a better record than last year and place higher in the state tournament.”
Middletown was victorious in its season opener Wednesday at home, defeating Conard 36-35. Devon Carillo, Adam Colavito, Andrew Carrignan, Johnny Carrero, Nathan Roy, Michael Tewksbury and Cody Carillo all earned points for the Blue Dragons.
Middletown will next take part in the Berlin Invitational at Berlin High School this Saturday.
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