Attention Connecticut Middle School  Wrestlers!  

Connecticut wants to develop as many CT youth wrestlers as possible, and have the best Team CT possible. Team Connecticut is for wrestlers born 1994, 1995, 1996. and 1997, enrolled in eighth grade or below.  As such, this year I am running Team Connecticut and I will run it a bit differently than in the past.  To encourage as many wrestlers as possible to participate, we are designating eight (8!) alternate ‘primary training’ locations.  

We have invitations to 3 high-quality out of state dual meets:

Tyrant Duals                                 Wilmington Del                       12/28

McDonough Duals                       Owings Mills Md                    1/31

National Challenge Duals         Wildwood NJ                       2/13-14-15

We will also take an Elementary team (6^th grade and below)

to Wildwood with sufficient interest

These will be the primary Team CT events.  We will also be aware of many other opportunities for team members to go to individual tournaments out of state.  More on that later.  

Wrestlers who want to join Team CT can designate an alternate location and can train there under whatever agreement they have with the local coach. They are also welcome to come to NE Elite any time, 5 nights a week (Mon –Thur 6-8 pm, Sun 4-6 pm) between now until Feb 28^th, with no charge.  Wrestlers who designate NE Elite as their prime location will train there.

We believe this provides ‘local’ opportunities and the chance for the entire state to participate.  We’ll have a few ‘common’ location practices, probably at Wesleyan.  Wrestle-off’s will be held as required, with USAWCT refs and as much notice as possible.    

            Applications and waiver forms are attached, and a USA card is required. The cost for each wrestler is $75, made payable to ‘USAWCT’. For this you get:  

o   choice of primary training location form approved list (see below)

o   access to wrestle at NE Elite for free any night now until Feb 28^th

o   team gear (T shirt and Shorts) to keep

o   singlet for events (can be purchased)

o   entry fee paid into three high quality out of state dual tournaments

o   opportunity to wrestle in three high quality dual tournaments

o   access to various coaches at ‘joint’ common location practices       

o   access to numerous out of state events via contacts, ridesharing, etc.

            If there are hardship cases we can deal with that on a case by case basis;   that should not stop anyone from participating. 

            If you think you are ready for this level of competition, we encourage you to discuss with your coach, and signup!  

            Complete the application and waiver forms and either mail them to the address on the application, give it to your coach to mail, or bring it to your first practice.

            Approved alternate locations – these coaches are aware of 2008-2009 Team Connecticut and can answer your questions:

Danbury                         Jeff Jennings               alanejennings@sbcglobal.net

Team Tugman                Blair Tugman              wrestle20@hotmail.com

Windham (Silverbacks)    Pete DeCarli/R.Calixto  rafac126@sbcglobal.net

Colchester                      Gordon Elrod               gordon.elrod@us.ing.com

Stamford                      Mike Battinelli           mbatt6@aol.com

Fairfield (Fairfield Pal)              Jason Shaugnhessy      coachjay@charter.net

Pomfret (Team Pomfret)           Ron LaBeef                  LaBeefr@promfret.school.org

Southington (Atlas North) Paul Musso                  pjmusso@cox.net

Everyone welcome at:

Enfield (NE Elite)            Ralph Powers               newaauusa@hotmail.com

While we will focus on the duals, we’ll make team members aware of many individual tournaments, if they aren’t already, and ‘unofficially’ go to individual tournaments; this is generally about carpooling.  We’ll encourage coaches going to these events to coach the Team CT kids there, as needed, and coordinate information, so everyone knows who is going to what.  If these were overnight trips we’ll ensure a responsible adult has accepted responsibility for the kids going.  Bottom line, no official Team CT individual events, but we’ll encourage our wrestlers to wrestle out of state, certainly will have parents and coaches going to these events,  and we’ll encourage wrestlers to extend their season past youth New Englands.

tentative schedule of ‘team’ events:

(remember you are practicing at your chosen location in addition to this – the wrestle-offs and the events themselves are the most important dates)

Team CT Practice                                NorthEast Elite                       Fri       12/12

Wrestle-offs for Tyrant Duals               NorthEast Elite                       Sat       12/13

Tyrant Duals                                       Wilmington Del                        Sun      12/28

Practice                                                NorthEast Elite                       Fri         1/9

Practice                                                     (TBD)                                  Tue        1/13

Practice                                                     (TBD)                                  Fri         1/23

Wrestle-offs for McDonough                       (TBD)                                  Sat         1/24

Practice                                                     (TBD)                                  Tue         1/27

McDonough Duals                                Owings Mill Md                       Sat         1/31

Wrestleoffs for Wildwood                           (TBD)                                 Sat         2/7

Practice                                                      (TBD)                                 Tue        2/10

National Challenge Duals                    Wildwood NJ                           F/S/S   2/13-15                                                                       

                                                Sincerely,

                                                                        Ralph Powers