| Wrestling is building for the future in
many Northern Vermont Athletic Conference schools.
While several schools are having trouble getting a hold on enough qualified wrestlers to fill the 14 weight classes, area coaches say they are looking ahead. Expanded JV, junior high, and youth programs are peparing the stars of the future. Coaches agree, the team to beat is Mount Anthony Union in Bennington, the 10-time defending state champion and regional powerhouse. The Patriots, who have wrestlers for three full squads, draw more to their matches then the school's basketball games. Essex, Spaulding and Harwood appear to be the best of the rest for the state tournament in late February at MAU. The New England tournament will be held at Essex High School the first weekend in March. BURLINGTON is continuing to build its program, with seven wrestlers out for the team this winter. The team is led by two-time state champion Eric Genau. He won the 171-pound crown as a sophomore and hopes to retain his 189-pound crown this year. Also back is 140-pound sophomore Ricky Beaudin, while Phi Lam, a112-pound freshman leads four first-year wrestlers, coach Herman Moore said. COLCHESTER'S program has 17 boys, including 10 freshman, according to coach Rob Traquair. Among the three seniors is Matt King, who finished third in the heavyweight division last year. Also back are sophomore Cosmo St. John, who finished fourth in the 215-pound class last year, and Adam Gangemi, the sixth-place finisher at 152 pounds last year. |
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY
has just two seniors among its 14 boys. Senior captain Bill Charbonneau
should be a strong contender in the state tournament at 125. Junior
Denis White, who finished fourth at 112 last year, has moved up to 130,
while sophomore Adam Salvatori is at 140. Two freshman wrestlers,
Caleb Longe at 135 and Cole Charbonneau at 189, are expected to make a
mark.
ESSEX has several top returning wrestlers, including three juniors. Jacob Gray, the state runner-up in the 103-pound class and fourth in New England last year, has been lifting weights and is up to 119 pounds. Kris Ettlinger, the state runner-up in the 171 class, and Greg Harris, who was fourth in the state in the 215-class last year, are back. Veteran grappler Tim Albertson is the lone senior among 18 boys on Mike Baker's squad. HARWOOD has no seniors among 14 wrestlers. Coach Rich Rivers will be looking for some rookies to fill some key slots. Junior Luke Crowley, at 119 after finishing sixth at 112 last year, and junior Shawn Taft, fourth last year at 135, are returning. Also back are Ryan Keating, at 152, and Jay LaVanway, at 189, who finished fifth in their respective weight classes. MIDDLEBURY has a young team with nine of the 12 wrestlers freshman or sophomores. Veteran coach Hubie Wagner, who had trouble finding heavy wrestlers early in his career, said he now can't find anybody under 130 for the team. Top wrestlers include junior Regan Wedge, at 189, and sophomores Ben Birdsall, at 145, and Mark Taranto, at 152. The lone girl on the squad, Stef Lizotte, will wrestle at 160. |
MILTON has only four wrestlers
this winter, but each has experience. Junior Chris Verwey finished
fourth at 103 and has moved up to 112. Jason Plantier, sixth at 171,
has moved down to 160. Juniors Jimmy Aiken, at 171, and James Scnader,
at 189, are the other veterans.
MISSISQUOI VALLEY has an up-and-coming middle school program featuring a dozen competitors, coach Joe Fitzsimmons said. The varsity has 11 boys. Senior Todd Burns, who was fifth in the 119-class last year, has moved up to 125. Senior Allyn Fitzsimmons, who was fifth at 145 last year, is 4-0 this season. MOUNT ABRAHAM is dedicating its season to senior Paul Tripper, who had part of a leg amputated following a car accident in Jericho three weeks ago. Coach Bob Coleman is still rebuilding the varsity sport, which the school resumed five years ago. A combination of injuries and family matters whittled his roster to 10 wrestlers. Senior Travis Scribner, who wrestled at 125 last year, is weighing in at 135. Juniors Michael Allen and Troy Coleman are expected to be winners this year. Troy Coleman hopes to follow in the footsteps of his brother, two-time state champ Jesse Coleman, who is now an assistant coach at the Bristol school. MOUNT MANSFIELD is led by sophomore heavyweight Devon Bennett, 10-1 this season, and freshman Chad Beane, 10-2 at 152. Coach Harley Brown has a young team with 10 wrestlers, including six freshman and no seniors. The Cougars have been victims of attrition, with academic suspensions paring the roster. |
NORTH COUNTRY is led by two
seniors: John Labounty, who finished third in the state at 189 last
year, and Chris Girard, who finished third at 130. Among the newcomers
is freshman Joe Rodriquez Camp, who has some experience from Colorado.
RANDOLPH first-year coach Shaun Colbeth has only two upperclassmen among his 14 wrestlers. Matt Flint, a 160-pounder, leads the returning veterans, while Melissa LaPlante at 103 and Margaret Pinello at 119 hope to make their mark. Three-time state champion Phil Kerin leads SPAULDING. Up to 135 pounds, Kerin looks to become the third wrestler to win four state crowns. Sophomore Jeremiah Gingras, the 103-pound champion last year, has moved up to 112. The Crimson Tide, who were runners-up to Mount Anthony last year, also has Craig Gilman at 140 and Mike Berby at 160. ST. JOHNSBURY is anchored by a senior, two juniors and a transfer from Maine. Senior Mike Wisneski, who finished third in the state tournament last year, is 12-0 this year at 130. Junior David Spencer, who finished third in the state the past two years, is 11-0 this year at 189. Junior Dan Goyet, who finished fourth the past two years, is 11-2 at 135. Junior Nathan Thayer, who finished fifth in Maine at 145 last year, is a solid addition. VERGENNES is led by junior Scott Bissonette, who started as a 103-pound freshman, was third in the state last year at 112 and now moves into the 119-pound class - one of the toughest in the league. Senior newcomer Robert Meachum will be in the heavyweight division. Coach Steve Bissonette's team has 10 boys, including five freshman. |