Sports
Danbury Wrestlers Look to Recapture FCIAC Championship
The Hatters, advancing eight wrestlers to today's semifinals, is poised to recapture the FCIAC title after surrendering the crown for the first time in over two decades to Fairfield-Warde in 2010.
The Hatters made a strong push towards reclaiming their seat at the top of the FCIAC Friday, advancing eight wrestlers to the semifinals to take place today at New Canaan High School. At the start of today’s action, Danbury was trailing the Golden Eagles of Trumbull by one point in the tournament.
Sophomore Zach Tepper was featured in the first match of the tournament, squaring off against Brendan Sweeney of Wilton. Tepper handled this match with ease, jumping out to a 12-0 lead by the end of the second period before earning a pin in the third.
Tepper said that being featured in the tournament’s opening bout rattled his nerves a little bit, but that all went away with the referee’s opening whistle.
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“It was a little nerve-wracking, but I just went out there ready to wrestle,” Tepper said after his opening round match. “As soon as the match starts, you just get in the zone.”
After handling Sweeney, Tepper met Trumbull’s Brandon Liscinsky in the quarterfinals. Although Tepper dominated Liscinsky earlier this week in a dual meet at Danbury High School, the Golden Eagle got the better of him this time and defeated Tepper with a first period pin.
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“[Liscinsky] just put Zach to his back and it was over just like that,” Danbury Head Coach Ricky Shook said after the tournament’s action for the day concluded.
Freshman Kevin Jack excelled in the first tournament of his high school career, winning his opening bout over Jack Anderson of Fairfield-Warde via first period pin. Other Hatters to defeat their opening-round opponents with a pin in the first stanza included Luke Chavez (125), who was eliminated in the quarterfinals and Tyler Arsenault (140), who will wretle in the semifinals today.
Also wrestling in the semifinals today include the top seed in the 119-pound weight class, Hatters captain Dylan Bryant, who had to win just one match after receiving a first round bye.
The remaining Danbury wrestlers who will see semifinal action today are top-seeded Shane Jennings (130), Tommy Gaboardi (145), Ryan Peterson (152), Tyler Hancock (171), and Will Jack (189).
“I think all our guys have a shot [to get to the finals] but we’ll see,” Shook said. “If we get half of those guys in the finals, that’ll be good.”
