NEW HAVEN, Feb. 28, 2009 — Less than three months ago, Danbury’s Tucker Schaefer became the first runner in school history to win the state championship in cross country. On Saturday, he became the first athlete in state history to win a State Open crown in wrestling and cross country to help Danbury win its ninth straight State Open championship.
Junior teammate Charlie Costanzo (119) won his second straight Open title while Brian Jennings (112) won his first.
Danbury had three champions and eight medalists to earn 131 points, well ahead of second place South Windsor with 82½ points for its best-ever showing in the tournament. Xavier had its best finish in the tournament by taking third with 68 points. Southington (55½) and Bethel (51½) rounded out the top five.
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2009 CIAC State Open
At New Haven
Team scores: 1. Danbury, 131; 2. South Windsor, 82½; 3. Xavier-Middletown, 68; 4. Southington, 55½; 5. Bethel, 51½; 6. Shelton, 47; 7. St. Bernard-Montville, 46; 8. East Lyme, 45½; 9. Ledyard, 44; 10. Middletown, 41
Individual results
103 — Final – Ross Spencer, East Lyme pin Robert Lonergan, Jonathan Law, 2:54
112 — Final – Brian Jennings, Danbury dec. Jed Cervero, Cheshire, 6-4, OT
119 — Final – Charlie Costanzo, Danbury dec. Eric Orrell, Farmington, 7-1
125 — Final – Rob Ferrante, Shelton dec. Brandon Thuotte, Killingly, 3-2
130 — Final – Andrew Lischke, Bethel dec. Tom Ayala, East Haven, 6-4, OT
135 — Final – Joe Sargenti, South Windsor dec. Kevin Moss, Berlin, 11-5
140 — Final – Tom Abbate, Xavier, dec. Jesse Broderick, New Fairfield, 10-4
145 — Final – Tucker Schaefer, Danbury dec. Caleb Morth, Ledyard, 8-0
152 — Final – Andrew Ford, Bethel dec. Brian Onofrio, Hand, 7-2
160 — Final – Kyle Lundberg, Guilford dec. Mike Monson, Southington, 4-3
171 — Final – Tim Vollaro, Somers dec. Patrick Sawyer, NFA, 11-3
189 — Final – Lucas Bowman, St. Bernard dec. Dillon Ritchie, Southington, 7-5
215 — Final – Lawton Arnold, Simsbury tech fall. P.J. Gillen, Shelton, 16-0
285 — Final – Seth Rothberg, South Windsor dec. Tim Chambers, Bristol Central, 3-1
Most Outstanding Wrestler: Ross Spencer, East Lyme
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103 — Final – Ross Spencer, East Lyme pin Robert Lonergan, Jonathan Law, 2:54
112 — Final – Brian Jennings, Danbury dec. Jed Cervero, Cheshire, 6-4, OT
125 — Final – Rob Ferrante, Shelton dec. Brandon Thuotte, Killingly, 3-2
130 — Final – Andrew Lischke, Bethel dec. Tom Ayala, East Haven, 6-4, OT
140 — Final – Tom Abbate, Xavier, dec. Jesse Broderick, New Fairfield, 10-4
152 — Final – Andrew Ford, Bethel dec. Brian Onofrio, Hand, 7-2
160 — Final – Kyle Lundberg, Guilford dec. Mike Monson, Southington, 4-3
171 — Final – Tim Vollaro, Somers dec. Patrick Sawyer, NFA, 11-3
189 — Final – Lucas Bowman, St. Bernard dec. Dillon Ritchie, Southington, 7-5
215 — Final – Lawton Arnold, Simsbury tech fall. P.J. Gillen, Shelton, 16-0
Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of Connecticut Wrestling Online. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.