First Annual CT State Freestyle Championships Big Success (With Photo Gallery)

From Casey Davern and Blair Tugman

The newly founded Shoreline Youth Wrestling Program partnered up with Team Tugman Wrestling(Madison Based Wrestling Club) recently to host Connecticut’s  First Annual State Freestyle Wrestling Championships at Polson Middle School in Madison.

The event was held to help raise funds for next year’s Shoreline Youth Wrestling Program.   

Shoreline Youth Wrestling has been established to serve as Madison’s youth wrestling feeder program. The goal of Shoreline Youth Wrestling is to help young wrestlers (between 5-12 years old) have fun while building self-confidence, getting into better shape, learning sportsmanship, and gaining knowledge of the basic fundamentals of the sport. 

Tournament draws more than 150 competitors

The tournament was a great success, with more than 150 competitors in six different age division battling it out for the chance to earn the first ever CT State Freestyle Championship Title!  This year the tournament was open to anyone that wanted to compete, no matter what state or country they were from. Competitors came to Madison from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Puerto Rico.

The quality of competition was very high, with competitors who included  Puerto Rican National Team Members, Mens US National Place Finishers, high school National Place Finishers, New England Champions and Place Finishers, and several State Champions and Place Finishers.  We even had 2010 D-I National Champion Max Askren (Missouri) in attendance, coaching his New York based club team.  

Not only did Shoreline Youth Wrestling raise money for their 2011-2012 program, funds also were raised for victims affected by the June 1 Springfield, MA tornado.

Thanks goes to Madison Public Schools, sponsors, volunteers

"We could not have raised all these funds for these two great causes without the help from Madison Public Schools system, sponsors and all the wonderful volunteers that helped to bring this tournament together," Tugman said.

Shoreline Youth Wrestling is a non-profit organization that will open its doors Dec. 1st 2011, in the Polson Middle School Wrestling room.  Shoreline Youth is open to any Madison youth interested in having fun, building self-confidence, getting in better shape, meeting new friends, being a part of a team, learning sportsmanship and the basic fundamentals of the sport of wrestling.  For more information on Shoreline Youth Wrestling please contact Blair Tugman at 203-314-3112.

Highlights of results for Team Tugman

Elementary Divison:

• Kyle Davern - 2nd Place (Madison)
• Ronin Marino - 2nd Place

 
Middle School Division: 

• Peter Elias - 2nd Place (Madison)

 
Cadet Division:(Freshman/Sophmore)

• 98lbs - Matt Elias - 1st Place (Madison)
• 140lbs - Jake Cevero - 2nd Place(Chesire)
• 140lbs - Nate Misbach - 3rd Place(Guilford)
• 145lbs - Jake Savoca  - 1st Place(Madison)
• 152lbs - Clay Callahan - 2nd Place(Milford)

 
Junior Divison:(Junior/Senior)

• 119lbs - Mark Fallia - 3rd Place(Shelton)
• 135lbs - Sean Kellet - 3rd Place(Shelton)
• 171lbs - Ryan Peterson - 1st Place(Danbury)
• 171lbs - Alex Cusano - 3rd Place(East Lyme)
• 189lbs B bracket - Tim Proctor - 2nd Place(Guilford)
• 189lbs B bracket - Ben Fauzio  - 3rd Place(Guilford)
• 189lbs A bracket - Aren Norman - 1st Place(Colchestor)

 
Open Division:(College and older)

• Robby Ferrante - 3rd Place(WNEC/Shelton HS)
• Aren Norman  - 1st Place(Colchestor)
• Kyle Lundberg - 2nd Place(Trinity College/Guilford HS)