Danbury Wrestlers Crush Staples

The visiting Wreckers of Staples High School were no match for the Hatters, who won all but one bout en route to a 68-3 clobbering at Danbury High School Thursday.

Danbury sophomore Zack Tepper started the day off for the Hatters with a first period pin at the 112-pound weight class over Alex Kogsted.  The bout was never a contest, as Tepper was leading 10-0 before the pin, gaining seemingly effortless points thanks to several near-fall counts.

Other Hatter victories by pin were turned in by Steven Beckham (119), Anthony Cote (135), Ryan Peterson (152), and Jevon Pegues (285). 

Danbury junior captain Dylan Bryant won by technical fall against Mike O’Day.  Bryant winning matches is nothing new for the Hatters, but this victory was notable because he was bumped up two weight classes.  Although Bryant usually wrestles at the 119-slot, he was bumped up to the 130-pound weight class and still dominated his opponent.

After the match, Bryant confirmed that the difference in weight was never an issue for him. 

“Our 130 wanted to bump up, and we didn’t have anyone to cover it,” he said after the match.  “I just said I’d do it.  I don’t care, it doesn’t effect me at all.”

Danbury’s bid for an evening of perfection was spoiled by Staples’ Chris Giunta, who won a thrilling 2-1 victory over Hatter Eddie Garcia at the 215-pound weight class.  After a scoreless first period, Garcia started the second stanza on top of referee’s position.  A quick reversal from Giunta gave him a 2-0 lead that he rode into the third period. 

Garcia started the final period of action on the bottom half of referee’s position, and was able to escape Giunta’s grasp for a single point. However, he was unable to get a good shot on the Staples wrestler for the rest of the match, and lost 2-1.

With the overall team victory, Danbury improves to 13-1 on the season.  They’ll travel to New Milford on Monday, for a much-anticipated chance to exact revenge on a Green Wave squad that defeated the Hatters last year. 

Danbury Head Coach Ricky Shook said the match should be an exciting one.  “Neither of us have you know, that big stud,” he said after the match.  “It’s a team effort, it’s going to be a team thing.  The match can come down to one point here or there, just like it did last year.  It’ll be interesting.”

The teams will square off at 6 p.m. at New Milford High School.

COMPLETE RESULTS

112: Zack Tepper (D) pin Alex Kogsted (S) 2:49

119: Steven Beckham (D) pin Alex Brown (S) 4:24

125: Luke Chavez (D) dec. Jeremy Sherman (S) 7-1

130: Dylan Bryant (D) tech. fall Mike O’Day (S) 16-0

135: Anthony Cote (D) pin Brad Menchaca (S) 4:41

140: Tyler Arsenault (D) tech. fall Michael Sila (S) 16-1

145: Tommy Gaboardi (D) dec. Andrew Washington (S) 10-3

152: Ryan Peterson (D) pin Stephan Patterson (S) 3:05

160: Mike Angotta (D) by forfeit

171: Tyler Hancock (D) by forfeit

189: Will Jack (D) maj. dec. Mikey Washington (S) 14-4

215: Chris Giunta (S) dec. Eddie Garcia (D) 2-1

285: Jevon Pegues (D) pin Henry Betar (S) 1:59

103: Kevin Jack (D) by forfeit