Although wrestling is an individual sport, the Boy’s Wrestling Coach Paul Gallo says that the entire team plays a big part in how Freshman Justin Mastroianni and Sophomore Tyler Sung perform as individuals. “The kids can’t improve without a team pushing them to do better.” He said. “The guys will come and support Justin and Tyler at different matches that they aren’t participating in themselves”
Their wrestling journey began when Tyler was six and realized he enjoyed the competitiveness of the sport. “ I started before Justin and then my dad got him into it” said Tyler. Justin started the sport later when he was eight. “After that, we started traveling everywhere together to matches and here we are”
After placing number one in Nationals, Justin Mastroianni has broken records during his first season alone at New Canaan High School. Justin has stunned people with his talent and progress throughout the winter season. With winning FCIACs in the winter, on the weekend of March 23-25, 2018, Justin also took first place, in his weight class, at Nationals in Virginia Beach.
Justin won all 6 matches in his competition winning his last match by defeating Jagger Condomitti from Pennsylvania with a score of 1-0.
“Winning Nationals means a lot to me” says Justin. “It shows how my hard work and practice pays off” Justin is the first freshman of Connecticut to win Nationals.
But Justin isn’t the only player setting records, his teammate and friend, Tyler Sung, has also put the bar high at NCHS. This single season he won 49 matches for the school and only loosing 7. On top of that, Tyler placed 7th overall at Nationals in his weight class, with a score of 5-2.
Both the boys received All-American honors for their performances at the Nationals competition.
How do these athletes prepare to win their matches? Tyler and Justin have their own pre rituals before each game. “I just try focusing on what I have to do for the actual event and focusing on one match at a time” says Tyler. And Justin says, “I usually join in on the team warm up but I like to job back and forth, listen to my music, get in the zone to mentally prepare”.
Not only are these boys proud of themselves, but so is their coach. Coach Gallo is overjoyed to be a mentor to both of the athletes and watch their progress during practice and on the mat. “ It’s a really good feeling to see them accomplish their dreams” says Gallo. “They both had 49 wins and 7 losses this season which is phenomenal”.
The boys are thankful for Coach Gallo’s guidance throughout the winter season. “Gallo puts trusts in us to know that we know what we are doing at the mat” says Tyler. “He gives us everything we need to succeed which is all we can ask for”
And even though they aren’t in season, Coach Gallo continues to keep tabs on Justin and Tyler. “I try to stay involved in the team’s lives” says Gallo. “I check their grades, make sure they’re not skipping class, things like that.”
