Jack Ludtke
Reporter
In this, the last Armchair Athlete of the 2011 calendar year, our subject is the new wrestling season. The wrestling team’s 2010-2011 year was full of ups and downs to say the least. Projected in the preseason to continue their dominance from a 22-3 2009-2010 campaign, last year’s squad went 7-14 with fewer FCIAC State award recipients. However, there were some signs of hope last year, as a strong underclass combined with a surprise FCIAC bid has set them up for some high expectations for the upcoming year.
The biggest loss by far this year for the Rams is the loss of last year’s co-captain Brian Khzouz. Khzouz cemented his place last year as one of the most dominant wrestlers in Rams history, going 27 -1 and notching his one hundredth win, an achievement that is only shared by three other students in the schools 50+ years of wrestling tradition. Although he lost in the finals of the L 145-lb championships, Khzouz was also named to 1st Team FCIAC, 1st Team All-State, and Academic All-State, capping off a successful season in style. The team will miss his and the other seniors’ productivity, including that of last year’s co-captain Joveto DeCavalho. These seniors were large parts of any of the team’s success last year, and desperately needs to be replaced this year.
Fortunately, this year’s bunch of underclassmen look like they may be ready to take up some of this lost productivity. Connor Buck, Jonathan Simmons, and Kenny Phillipson especially will be counted on to shoulder much of this burden, along with established talents Kevin Hall and senior captain Dylan Leeming. All of these guys are likely to either stay dominant or improve, but look especially for Phillipson to improve. A surprise impact player from last season, Phillipson quietly worked his way to a winning record, and “surprised everyone” according to Khzouz. He has shown that he is able and willing to ascend quickly in the ring, and this author is predicting a big season for the sophomore.
Coach Paul Gallo is back to head up this team, as he has for many years. Gallo, who notched his 250th coaching victory a few seasons ago, has been a fixture on the team for years, using his dedication to the sport to inspire wrestlers to achieve more. He, along with assistant coaches, look to improve upon last year’s record and develop the young talent that is new to the team this year.
All in all, this year’s wrestling team has high expectations. They kick off their season this year at Pomperaug (9 a.m. on Saturday, December 17). This will be a challenge for the Rams, as they have not been to the school in a few years, which means most on the team has never faced the wrestlers they will see in the match. This will also be a crucial testing ground for new members of the team, as this will be their first official match in a competitive atmosphere. Bottom Line: If the Rams start off strong and utilize their underclass sufficiently, they might be able to peruse that important FCIAC bid.
Tune in next time for a special report on the upcoming and much anticipated season of YMCA Basketball. Til next time.
-Armchair Athlete
