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Avon's Isaiah Adams controls South Windsor's Kyden Merlin during the 113-pound weight class final at the CIAC State Open wrestling championships in New Haven on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.
Dave Stewart
NEW HAVEN — The Xavier wrestling team has a saying on its wall: “Pressure is a privilege.”
That pressure tends to build when a team is winning as much as the Falcons have the past two seasons.
Top-ranked Xavier hit a championship trifecta for the second consecutive season, following SCC and CIAC Class L titles with a State Open crown Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.
The Falcons racked up 175.5 points while putting four wrestlers in the finals and winning two individual titles. They finished well ahead of runner-up New Fairfield, which scored 121.5, with Newtown third with 120. New Milford (96.5) and Danbury (90) rounded out the top five.
Xavier coach Mike Cunningham said his wrestlers were able to stay grounded despite carrying the bull’s eye of being the No. 1 team in the state.
“If we stay within ourselves, don’t worry about the outside rankings or any of that stuff and just do our jobs, we’ll do all right,” Cunningham said. “We committed to a really hard schedule, we traveled a lot and the team became tighter. We just focused on if we did what we’re supposed to do and let the schedule speak for itself, hopefully it gives us the opportunity to do this.”
Both of Xavier’s individual titles were won by sophomores.
Charles Weidman, a No. 3 seed, scored a 14-5 major decision over top-seeded Joshua Neiroda of Suffield/Windsor Locks in the 182-pound final, and Raekwon Shabazz, the top seed at 106 pounds, later won via technical fall 18-3 against RHAM’s Ben Fournier.
Only three teams had multiple champions, with New Fairfield and Killingly joining Xavier within two apiece.
New Fairfield sophomore Joe Mahoney repeated as a State Open champion when he won a 19-4 technical fall against NFA’s Jaiden James at 120 pounds, and senior Thomas Bock decisioned Fairfield Prep’s William Smith 4-0 at 145 pounds.
For Killingly, Jack Richardson defeated Newtown’s Luca Manfredi 6-1 in the 152-pound final. Kaden Ware remained unbeaten with a 4-0 shutout of Xavier’s Kyle Levesque at 132.
Chess moves
During the 2020 pandemic quarantine, Avon’s Isaiah Adams picked up a new pastime: Playing chess.
In fact, the senior finds some similarities between the board and the mat.
“Wrestling is a lot like chess and that’s why I love it so much,” Adams said. “You have to be thinking a few moves ahead, predicting what your opponent’s going to do and still making your moves off of that while being live in real time.”
In real time, Adams is now a two-time State Open champion after defending his title and winning the 113-pound crown with a pin of South Windsor’s Kyden Merlin at 5:54.
Adams controlled the match from start to finish, building leads of 5-1 after two periods and 7-1 in the third before ending it with six seconds remaining.
It’s the latest in a string of titles for the Harvard-bound Adams, who won Class M and CCC crowns the past two weeks. He was 4-0 with three pinfalls at the Open.
Winning the title as a senior was important to Adams.
“I’ve been working up to this moment for as long as I can remember,” Adams said. “At the beginning of the season, our coach asked us what our goals are and I said I wanted to be a two-time Open champ and from there, we just got to work. So this is a big moment for me.”
Making history
With a choice between competing in the CIAC girls wrestling tournament or against the boys in the State Open, Ledyard freshman Tatianna Irizzary opted for the latter, saying she had two goals.
“I want to win one match. After that wrestle to the best of my ability,” Irizzary said.
On Friday, she made history.
Irizzary became the first female wrestler to win a match at the State Open when she pinned Bristol Central’s Engher Disla Almonte in the consolation round of the 106-pound weight class. Irizzary led 7-0 after scoring five points on a take down and nearfall in the first period, and two on a second-period takedown before getting the pin.
She lost 7-3 to Griswold/Wheeler’s Seth Christie in the opening round and, after winning one match, was eliminated in a tough 5-3 decision to Maloney’s Logan Gagne.
Irizzary’s freshman campaign included another history-maker, when she became the first girl to win at the Bristol Central Invitational in January. She was also runner-up at the ECC tournament, and third in the Class M tournament.
Something for everyone
Among the 14 weight classes, 11 schools earned individual championships. Xavier, New Fairfield and Killingly had their two apiece and Avon had Adams’ win at 113.
At 160, New Milford senior Khalil Bourjeili was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the State Open after winning a 9-1 major decision over East Hartford’s Drayvn Roberts.
It's been quite a comeback season for Bourjeili. As a freshman, he won a 138-pound Class L title and was fifth at the State Open, but his sophomore season was cancelled due to the pandemic and he missed his junior season following shoulder surgery. This year, he is undefeated with SWC, Class L and now State Open championships.
At 195 pounds, Norwalk’s Brendan Gilchrist defeated Sammy Montovani for the second straight week, this time 6-4. Gilchrist is unbeaten, and Montovani has just two losses, both to Gilchrist.
At 220, Stratford’s James Duhancik, a runner-up last year, claimed the title by pinning Fitch’s Naszier Matthews in 5:16; and at 285, Danbury’s Nuh Ajdinoski won a 3-1 decision over Fairfield Prep’s Malachi Mercer-Robinson.
East Hartford’s Jaeckez Mendez was a 5-2 winner over Xavier’s Anthony Basile at 138 pounds; and at 170, Newtown’s Fisher Stites defeated Norwalk’s Ryan Gilchrist 3-2.
To the last second
The most dramatic moment of the finals belonged to Warde’s Dominick Spadaro, who scored four points on a takedown and a nearfall in the final 10 seconds to come from behind and win the 126-pound title bout 8-3 over New Fairfield’s Vincent Tripaldi.
When the match ended, Spadaro pointed to the Warde fans in the crowd in celebration.
Coach Jason Shaughnessy said the key to Spadaro’s win was composure.
“He’s been in high-level matches and wrestles high-level kids and he knows how to stay composed and what it’s like to win big matches,” Shaugnessy said. “He stayed relaxed and when the opportunities arose he attacked it. Fortunately, in the last 10 seconds, the opportunity arose.”
It’s the second straight week in which Spadaro earned a dramatic win in a championship match. At the Class LL tournament in Trumbull on Feb. 18, the sophomore scored on a takedown in OT to defeat Norwalk’s Phoenix Gardella 6-4. And that came one week after Gardella defeated Spadaro in OT in the FCIAC final.
After starting the season 0-2 in overtime matches, Spadaro said he’s grown more relaxed in those tight situations.
“As the season progressed, I started feeling more comfortable there,” Spadaro said. “I was staying calm and not rushing. It works out well and I get my takedowns.”
David.Stewart@hearstmediact.com; @dstewartsports
2023 CIAC STATE OPEN WRESTLING
Team Results
1 Xavier 175.5, 2 New Fairfield 121.5, 3 Newtown 120, 4 New Milford 96.5, 5 Danbury 90, 6 Norwalk 85.5, 7 East Hartford 77, 8 Killingly 76.5, 9 Warde 65. 10 (tie) Avon and Simsbury 61.5, 12 RHAM 60, 13 Stratford 55, 14 Fairfield Prep 53, 15 Haddam-Killingworth 52, 16 Southington 51, 17 (tie) Branford and Trumbull 47, 19 East Lyme/Norwich Tech 46.5, 20 NFA 45, 21 Ridgefield 45, 22 Plainville 40.5, 23 (tie) Ludlowe, South Windsor and Windham 39, 26 Suffield/Windsor Locks 33, 27 (tie) Montville and Platt, 29 (tie) Glastonbury and New London 27, 31 (tie) Berlin, Enfield and New Canaan 26, 34 Hall 25, 35 Fitch 24, 36 East Haven 22, 37 Lyman Memorial/Windham Tech 21.5, 38 Lewis Mills 20, 39 Amity 19.5, 40 (tie) Brookfield/Shepaug, Caton, Foran and Manchester 18, 44 (tie) Bethel and Cheshire 17, 46 (tie) Daniel Hand and Portland 15, 48 Ellis Tech 14, 49 (tie) Brien McMahon and Guilford 13, 51 Weston 12, 52 (tie) Bristol Central and Gilbert 11, 54 Farmington 10, 55 (tie) Bacon Academy, New Britain and St. Joseph 9, 58 Terryville/Thomaston 8.5, 59 (tie) Griswold/Wheeler and Middletown 8, 61 (tie) EO Smith, Greenwich, Morgan, New Haven, North Branford and Stafford 7, 67 (tie) Bunnell, Derby/Oxford/Holy Cross, Old Lyme and Windsor 6, 71 (tie) Newington, Rocky Hill, Somers and Waterford 5, 75 (tie) Bristol Eastern, Conard, Joel Barlow, Maloney and Sheehan 4, 80 Cromwell 3.5, 81 (tie) Ledyard, Masuk and Staples 3, 84 (tie) Notre Dame-West Haven and Pomperaug 2.
Individual Results
106 LBS
1st: Raekwon Shabazz (Xavier) TF Ben Fournier (RHAM), 18-3 4:47
3rd: Jack Gedney (Lewis Mills*) DEC Cristian Pote (Danbury), 2-0
5th: Alex Oberc (New Milford) DEC Zachary Brzoska Trumbull, CT (St Joseph), 4-1
113 LBS
1st: Isaiah Adams (Avon) F Kyden Merlin (South Windsor), 5:54
3rd: Braylon Gonzalez (Xavier) MD Kenna Gioffre (Newtown), 9-1
5th: Mason Arborio (Berlin) DEC Jack Batista-fletcher (East Haven), 11-5
120 LBS
1st: Joe Mahoney (New Fairfield) TF Jaiden James (Norwich Free Academy), 19-4 6:00
3rd: Dominic Barrella (Ridgefield) F Reese Titus (Canton), 2:31
5th: Jerry Hill (Bethel) F Nick Savarese (Simsbury), 2:52
126 LBS
1st: Dominick Spadaro (Fairfield Warde) DEC Vincent Tripaldi (New Fairfield), 8-5
3rd: Phoenix Gardella (Norwalk) F Jared Mangiafico (Southington), 2:24
5th: Griffin Devivo (Simsbury) DEC Cael Loria (Xavier), 3-1
132 LBS
1st: Kaden Ware (Killingly) DEC Kyle Levesque (Xavier), 4-0
3rd: Colton Thorpe (Southington) DEC Danny Carrozza (Brookfield/Shepaug), 6-4
5th: Evan Schibi (Gilbert) DEC Dylan Sherman (Fairfield Ludlowe), 5-1
138 LBS
1st: Jaeckez Mendez (East Hartford) DEC Anthony Basile (Xavier), 5-2
3rd: James Linder jr (Montville) DEC Victor Petkov (Ridgefield), 8-2
5th: Joseph Kennedy (Plainville) DEC Josh Howard (Southington), 5-4
145 LBS
1st: Thomas Bock (New Fairfield) DEC William Smith (Fairfield Prep), 4-0
3rd: Jonah Weber (Avon) DEC Marc Maurath (Newtown), 7-4
5th: Maximus Morse (Xavier) F Zavier Hernandez (Brien McMahon), 3:19
152 LBS
1st: Jack Richardson (Killingly) DEC Luca Manfredi (Newtown), 6-1
3rd: Jeremy Devine (RHAM) DEC Donell Young (Fairfield Ludlowe), 8-5
5th: Caiden Talento (Platt) DEC Thomas Brunelli (Norwich Free Academy), 3-2
160 LBS
1st: Khalil Bourjelli (New Milford) MD Drayvn Roberts (East Hartford), 9-1
3rd: Lincoln Carlson (East Lyme/Norwich Tech) DEC Cavin Napoletano (Haddam-Killingworth), 9-5\
5th: Teddy Goetz (New Canaan) DEC Rome Smith (Cheshire), 5-3
170 LBS
1st: Fisher Stites (Newtown) DEC Ryan Gilchrist (Norwalk), 3-2
3rd: Jacob Martone (Haddam-Killingworth) F Chad Mairano (Simsbury), 4:23
5th: Ahmed Hernandez (Platt) FOR Cameron Sammarco (Lyman Mem/Windham Tech), 0-0
182 LBS
1st: Charles Weidman (Xavier) MD Joshua Nieroda (Suffield/Windsor Locks), 14-5
3rd: Brayden Soleau (East Lyme/Norwich Tech) MD Cole Snider (Branford), 11-1
5th: Dominic Iaquinto (Danbury) MD Andrew Johnson (Portland), 12-1
195 LBS
1st: Brendan Gilchrist (Norwalk) DEC Sammy Montovani (East Hartford), 6-4
3rd: Jake Kszywanos (Stratford) DEC Malachi Fowler (Windham), 4-3
5th: Aethan Munden (Trumbull) F Michael Marques (RHAM), 3:00
220 LBS
1st: James Duhancik (Stratford) F Naszier Matthews (Fitch), 5:16
3rd: Nehemias Pettway (Fairfield Warde) DEC Jhonnyel Ramirez (Danbury), 5-2
5th: Yael Garcia-rodriguez (Windham) DEC Drew Schwartz (Branford), 5-2
285 LBS
1st: Nuh Ajdinoski (Danbury) DEC Malachi Mercer-Robinson (Fairfield Prep), 3-1
3rd: Doug Traynor (New Fairfield) F Keonta Crawford (Enfield), 4:40
5th: Jeff Quirion la oz (Plainville) F Jon Dasilva (Newtown), 2:53