After Strong Season, Four OHS Wrestlers Poised for State Open

Four wrestlers are looking to pin their way into the high school’s record books.

The wrestlers – senior captains Ben Blue Jr., Joe Carbonaro and Paul Chavez, along with sophomore Steve Persson - will represent the Wolverines at the state open wrestling tournament this weekend in New Haven.

The athletes earned a trip to the state open by placing in the top six last weekend at the Class S state tournament. Persson became Oxford's first Class S wrestling champion by winning the 145 pound weight class. He is seeded fourth of 24 in his weight class at the open tournament.

Each weight class has 24 competitors at the open. Carbonaro is ranked seventh at 220 lbs., Blue is ranked ninth at 160 lbs. and Chavez is ranked 16th at 132 lbs. They will wrestle tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) at the Floyd Little Athletic Center on the campus of Hillhouse High School.

For Carbonaro, who was all state in football, this marks the second time he will compete at a state open. Last year, he became Oxford's first wrestler to qualify for the prestigious tournament.

When Oxford Patch caught up with the four wrestlers this week, all of them talked more about the team's success rather than their own. And, they seem to be putting this experience into perspective.

"We're just trying to enjoy it because it's the last week," Carbonaro said.

Chavez said the team wanted to finish better than fifth at the South-West Conference championship meet, where it finished this year.

"It wasn't exactly the season we wanted, but we're proud of what we've done," he said.

The Wolverines finished 10-1 in the SWC and secured its second straight SWC Patriot Division Championship. Oxford also had four competitors place at the SWC championship, including Blue, who was Oxford's first SWC champion in its short history.

All three of the senior state open competitors realize this will be the last time they wrestle. None plan to wrestle in college but all will attend. Blue will head to Central Connecticut State University in the fall, while Carbonaro will go to UConn. Chavez plans to attend Marist College in Pougkeepsie, N.Y.

Persson has two more years of high school wrestling and hopes to continue to make his mark on a statewide level this weekend. Next year, he said, he hopes to continue the great legacy left behind by the senior captains.

"They set the bar high," he said. "They work hard every practice and go out with a good attitude, win or lose."

Head Coach Ben Blue Sr. - Ben Blue Jr. is his son - said he, too, is pleased with the seniors and is sad to see them leave.

"These kids are kind of our trailblazers, and Steve (Persson) is going to carry the torch," said Blue, who has coached the team for each of its five years and plans to continue next year. "They have done everything I've asked them to do."

He pointed out their successes, saying that Chavez was the first wrestler to reach 100 career wins in Oxford history. Carbonaro was the first OHS wrestler to make a Class S final last year and the first wrestler to attend the state open from Oxford. And, he said, Blue Jr. was the first tournament champion in school history.

"So, this is not new to these guys," he said, calling his team of 29 a bunch of great guys. 

Asked about the wrestlers' chances this weekend, Blue was optimistic. 

"Anything can happen," he said. "These guys work real hard and they're good wrestlers. Anything can happen."