Printer Friendly Version - Wrestling Clinches First Ever Winning Season, Girls’ Ice Hockey Records a Win

Junior captains Tyler DiMauro (190 pounds) and Mike Moran (165 pounds) led the day for North Haven wrestling, finishing with identical 4-1 records to earn third place in their respective weight classes at the Rodney Smith Tournament on Jan. 27. Photo courtesy of Peter Tseperkas

North Haven wrestling competed with 12 other teams on Jan. 27 in the Rodney Smith Tournament at Suffield High School. Rodney Smith, an Olympic Bronze Medalist in Greco-Roman Wrestling and a Springfield, MA native, was on hand to give out medals at the awards ceremony.

North Haven had its best day ever to date at an individual tournament. The team finished in seventh place out of 13 teams, and was paced by seven placewinners. Last season, North Haven had one wrestler place in a tournament, so this was a huge improvement.

Leading the day for the Nighthawks were junior captains Mike Moran (165 pounds) and Tyler Dimauro (190 pounds). Both wrestlers finished with identical 4-1 records on the day to earn third place in their respective weight classes. Five other Nighthawks made it to the podium by finishing in fourth place in their weight class, including Hayden Minns (132 pounds), Jace Iamunno (150 pounds), Matt Kauhl (157 pounds), Johnny Williston (175 pounds), and Joe Carbone (285 pounds). Minns and Williston both posted four wins on their way to fourth place finishes, while Iamunno, Kauhl and Carbone each had three wins.

Many other wrestlers earned wins that contributed to the team score and seventh place finish for North Haven. This group included Anthony Purchio (106 pounds), Anthony Tseperkas (120 pounds), Luke Asbury (144 pounds), Emilio Crocco (165 pounds), Eli Ellis (175 pounds), and Nate Ruggiero (190 pounds).

On Jan. 31, the Nighthawks traveled to Daniel Hand and won 40-34. With only two matches left to go, this win guaranteed North Haven’s first ever winning season in its two-year history.

Junior Luke Asbury started the match off at 144 pounds with a win by major decision. Several wrestlers earned victories by forfeit for North Haven, including Nan Vaka (113 pounds), Minns (132 pounds), Ty Ellis (138 pounds) and Christian DeMaio (190 pounds).

Kauhl (157 pounds) pinned his opponent in the first period to earn the team an important six points. Several other wrestlers lost close decisions, but were crucial in the team victory. In wrestling, a pin/fall is worth six team points, while a decision is only three points. Moran (175 pounds), DiMauro (190 pounds), and Auriana Camano (106 pounds) each wrestled well in defeat, but more importantly, helped the team win by their close decisions. DiMauro wrestled up a weight class at 215 pounds, giving up close to 30 pounds in his match, and narrowly pulled off the win.

Sealing the victory for the Nighthawks was Carbone (285 pounds). Carbone wore his opponent down, building up an 11-1 lead at one point in the third period. With only 10 seconds remaining in the match, Carbone was able to pin his opponent to put the match out of reach for Hand.

The North Haven wrestling team topped St. Joe's 44-33 in its last home match of the year to improve to 15-10 on the season on Feb. 3.

Camano started the match off at 106 pounds with a pin for the Nighthawks. Vaka earned a forfeit victory for North Haven at 113 pounds, and Tseperkas (120 pounds) also came away with a victory by pin.

St. Joe's would answer back with four straight victories, before Iamunno stepped on the mat and faced one of the St. Joe's captains at 150 pounds. He was able to build up a lead with numerous takedowns, and won by a score of 15-7, or a major decision.

With the team score very close, the Nighthawks flexed their muscles in the upper weights by scoring three pins and a major decision. Moran (165 pounds) and Ellis (175 pounds) both earned victories by pin that helped North Haven regain the lead. DiMauro was dominant in a 14-1 victory at 190 pounds for the major decision, and DeMaio sealed the deal for the team win, with a pin at 215 pounds.

Amity/Cheshire/North Haven girls’ ice hockey traveled to face the Guilford Co-op on Jan. 30 and won 5-1. Cadence Fasano got the Blades on the board in the first period with an unassisted goal. In the second frame, Olivia Beach found the net on an assist by Maura Lebreck, and Fasano later knocked in her second score of the game, assisted by Lucy Dickenson. In the third period, Emelia Brandi scored an unassisted goal, and Fasano recorded a hat trick with her third score of the game, this time assisted by Lebreck. Ivy Massicotte manned the net, recording 15 saves.

North Haven fencing hosted Morgan on Jan. 31. The girls managed a 14-13 win, with women’s sabre pacing the team with a 6-3 win. Women's foil and epee both lost 4-5. The men suffered a 19-8 loss, with men’s foil and epee losing close 4-5 matches. Anita Sajan went 3-0 for women’s sabre, and Ben Pollio went 3-0 for men’s foil.