Newtown Youth Wrestlers Shine in New Milford Tourney

(Submitted by the Newtown Youth Wrestling Association)

The Newtown Youth Wrestling Association (NYWA) competed in the recent New Milford Kickoff Classic with 27 wrestlers getting mat time between the elementary and middle school squads.  NYWA was well represented at the metals tables having garnered 23 metals overall. 

The morning session started with the elementary team showing quickness and strength. Gathering gold were William Henkel (4 pins), Sean Arnold and Shaine Luzietti. Gren Paynter placed with a silver, barely missing out on gold with a hard fought 4-3 defeat as his day's only loss.

Other silver metal winners were Zack Robinson, Evan Rooney and Sean Dauber. Steven Leuci, Steven White, and Ryan Straiton all came home with bronze metals for their efforts. 

The second session saw the middle school team fare even better as they highlighted their day with 6 gold metals. Highlighting the 1^st place finishers was Simon Preston (2 pins and a 13-0 tech fall) and Joseph Praino (3-0, 3 pins).

Also earning gold metals for the NYWA grapplers were Kevin Ross, Michael Garner, Anthony Falbo and James Leuci. Other middle school metal winners were Thomas Leuci, Edward Lovely, Steve Tramontozzi, Forest Speed and Erik Benson (Silver) and Dylan Bartlett and Andy Hubina (Bronze). 

The team continues to practice three nights a week and is preparing for their next tournament in Southington just after the New Year.