Ridgefield wins first CIAC wrestling title with Class LL crown; Shelton's Galke most outstanding wrestler
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TRUMBULL - Ridgefield wrestling coach Joe Regan worked four long years to get his team to the mountain top. After he finally achieved what he set out to do, it took a while for it to sink in.
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After collecting the CIAC championship plaque, he and his team huddled together and reflected on the success earned from hard work they achieved in the present and how more hard work can achieve even more in the future.
Ridgefield won its first Class LL championship Saturday at the Trumbull High School gymnasium in front of a packed crowd.
"I'm definitely happy. We worked really hard to get one of these titles," Regan said. "It's taken four years, but we got one."
Carrozza makes school history
Ridgefield senior John Carrozza broke the school record for wins following his victory against Aden Lucero of Stamford in the championship round for 144 pounds.
Carrozza had faced Lucero last week in the FCIAC tournament finals, and he could tell that Lucero was more prepared for Saturday's bout.
"I could tell he watched some [film of me], and he knows what my go-tos are," Carrozza said.
Lucero put up a fight, but Carrozza was able to secure a pin at 1:51 to collect his 165th victory, breaking the 15-year record held by Corey Paulish.
Carrozza had been in touch with Paulish, and the former Ridgefield alumni said that he was rooting for him to break the record.
"I shot him a text the other week and told him that I was coming close to breaking the record," Carrozza said. "He was super happy for me and said, ‘I wouldn't want anyone but you to break it.'"
Desiano, Meyers add Ridgefield wins
Sophomore Cole Desiano and junior Dylan Meyers also earned individual championships for Ridgefield. Desiano won the 113-pound weight class and Meyers won the 132-pound weight class.
"[This tournament] means everything," Desiano said. "We've been working for this since youth…it means everything to us."
Meyers said that the team really wanted to win the state tournament after finishing as runner-up to Fairfield Warde at the FCIAC championship last week.
"We wanted that one," Meyers said. "We [also lost some wrestlers to injuries] that definitely could have helped us in this tournament, but we put it all together and we got the championship."
Galke wins heavyweight, named outstanding wrestler
Shelton senior Chase Galke won the 285-pound weight class by pin at at 53 seconds against Colin Falla of Greenwich.
It was not a cakewalk for Galke. Falla almost had Galke in a chinlock at one point, but the Shelton heavyweight was able to use his strength to fight out of it.
"I just had to fight [out of trouble] and get in that mindset," Galke said. "It's a combat sport, so you have to fight."
His coach Bill Maloney said that Galke basically "bench-pressed" Falla off him to secure the victory.
Galke placed third place in the 215-pound weight class last year. This year, his goal was to win, and he did just that.
"My goal for this season was to place first, and that's what I got, so I'm very very grateful," Galke said.
Donaldson, Lanzilli in an epic overtime showdown
Carter Lanzilli contributed to Ridgefield's championship victory with a silver medal in the 120-pound weight class, but Staples' Gavin Donaldson came up victorious in the bout that lasted more than three periods.
Donaldson said that it was his hardest fought match of the entire season, and he thanked his coaches for helping him with his conditioning.
"Going into the third period, I was just confident," Donaldson said. "I knew that I was going to keep my pace, so I think that's just what got me the win."
After the win, Donaldson, along with his coaches Jordan Miron and William Switzer were elated with the victory.
"I'm super proud of Gavin," head coach Miron said. "All the work that he's done all year. I know he trains really hard in the offseason. To see him progress from where he started at the beginning of the season to claiming a state title was truly magnificent and something we are proud to be a part of."
Class LL Wrestling Championships
Team results: 1. Ridgefield, 209; 2. Danbury, 176; 3. Southington, 173; 4. Trumbull, 168.5; 5. New Britain, 159; 6. Glastonbury, 149; 7. Shelton, 141.5; 8. Staples, 141; 9. Greenwich, 116; 10. Manchester, 102; 11. Stamford, 100.5; 12. South Windsor, 83; 13. Gilbert/Torrington, 71; 14. Norwich Free Academy, 65.5; 15. Enfield, 64.5; 16. Pomperaug, 63; 17. Fairfield Prep, 62; 18. Westhill, 51.5; 19. West Haven, 39; 20. Fitch/Stonington, 36; 21. New Haven, 28.5; 22. Bridgeport Co-op, 27.5; 23. Norwalk, 20; 24. Brien McMahon, 9; 25. East Hartford, 5.5.
This article originally published at Ridgefield wins first CIAC wrestling title with Class LL crown; Shelton's Galke most outstanding wrestler.