The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Breaking down the State Open
Where: Floyd Little Athletic Center, New Haven
When: Friday — Saturday (Finals scheduled for 5 p.m.)
Defending champion: Danbury
Contenders: Danbury, Warde, Xavier, Simsbury, Suffield/Windsor Locks, Foran, Killingly, HaddamKillingworth
WHAT TO WATCH
Coach Ricky Shook’s Danbury squad will be going for a fourth straight State Open and sixth in the last eight years. The Hatters placed seven in 2019 and will bring 11 who advanced from Class LL to the mat this weekend . ... Warde had five state finalists to challenge the Hatters in LL. Ten Mustangs placed and will compete this weekend . ... Xavier edged Simsbury by
2.5 points in Class L and placed 10 wrestlers in the top five. Simsbury placed 11. ... Suffield/Windsor Locks won its first-ever Class M title with three champions and eight placers . ... Foran didn’t have a finalist, but eight placewinners put the Lions within 5.5 points of first . ... Killingly won Class S with three champions and seven placers . ... Haddam-Killingworth had eight wrestlers place . ... Michael Rapuano
(Xavier), Ryan Jack (Danbury), Tyler Sung (New Canaan) and Carson LiCastri (Barlow) are returning Open champs.
WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Ryan Jack from Danbury captured his fourth straight Class LL championship with a win at 138 pounds. New Canaan’s Tyler Sung
(152) won for the third time. The Hatter’s Tyler Johnson (126), Trumbull’s Michael Longo (106) and Southington’s Billy Carr
(182) each won his second. Warde’s Cole Shaughnessy won at 152 and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler. Westhill’s Thomas Mazur (170) improved to 35-0 and was third in the Open a year ago..
Out of Class L, Xavier’s Michael Rapuano (113), the State Open champ at 106, is 42-4. Simsbury’s Ty Finn
(132) is 44-2 and won his second title. North Haven freshman Joe Iamunno
(126) remained unbeaten (26-0) and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler after winning the same honor at the SCC tourney.
Barlow’s 195-pound Carson LiCastri had his hand raised as the champion for the fourth time in Class M. Barlow’s Josh Brault (106) improved to 33-0 with his win. Branford’s 182-pounder Justin Osler is 32-0. Avon’s Christopher Gens
(36-0) won at 220. He was fifth at Open. Platt heavyweight champ Luke Fuerstenberg is 43-1.
Nonnewaug’s Jack Cronin (four pins) won the 182-pound title for his second title and was the Most Outstanding Wrestler in Class S. Gilbert’s Kyle Matthews at 152, his second, and Devin Matthews at 132 became the 18th brother team to win titles in the same season. East Haven’s Alec (132) and Tanner (138) DiVito also brothered-up in Class M. Killingly’s David Charron (126) won his second straight final and was a State Open runner-up at 106. Killingly freshman Kaden Ware improved to 46-1 with a win at 106. East Hampton’s Dylan Levesque (120) is another twotime champ.
INTRIGUING POTENTIAL MATCHUPS
Four weight classes have multiple champions.
At 106 pounds, Barlow’s
Josh Brault (4th at 2019 Open), Killingly’s Kaden Ware and Trumbull’s Michael Longo top the field. Danbury’s Tyler Johnson (5th at Open), Killingly’s
David Charron and North Haven’s Joe Iamunno lead the way at 126 pounds. At 182, Nonnewaug’s Jack Cronin, Branford’s Justin Osler and Southington’s
Billy Carr top the field. At 152, FCIAC rivals Tyler Sung (Open 145 champ) and Warde’s Cole Shaughnessy (3rd at 145) lead a strong group of contenders.