Fourth annual Hall of Fame benefit tournament held in Danbury

E.J. Vass of Hudson Valley Wrestling Association controls Zach Dixon of KT Kidz in an Elementary Division match at the Hall of Fame Wrestling Tournament Sunday in Danbury. More tournament photos

DANBURY, November 17, 2019 – Connecticut Wrestling, Inc., held their fourth annual Hall of Fame benefit wrestling tournament Sunday at the Police Athletic League in Danbury.

Proceeds from the tournament help support scholarships awarded by the Connecticut chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame each year to deserving high school students to continue their education. Some tournament proceeds also help the chapter host their annual Hall of Fame induction banquet.

Dozens of young boys and girls competed along with high school age wrestlers from across Connecticut. Most completed in round robin groups of four although there were some high school classes with enough wrestlers to fill a bracket.

Andy Grabinski of Southside Wrestling Club tries to turn Bryce Jackobs of Danbury in a high school division match at 113 pounds at the Hall of Fame wrestling tournament Sunday in Danbury. More tournament photos

Bristol’s Mason Lishness (132) won at the tournament for the second time in three years. Emmanuel Gusta of Empire Wrestling, Ava Guilmette of Bristol’s Ascension club and Ridgefield Youth Wrestling’s Cole DeSiano each won two first place medals in the elementary division and in the middle school division. Guilmette won eight matches on the day, Gusta won six matches while DeSiano won five.

Results

2019 CWI Hall of Fame tournament

2018 CWI Hall of Fame tournament

2017 CWI Hall of Fame tournament

2016 CWI Hall of Fame tournament

Two young wrestlers battle during Sunday’s Hall of Fame wrestling tournament in Danbury. More tournament photos

2019 winners
Elementary Division
Chase Reynolds, New Milford, 3-0
Daniel Candullo, Newtown Youth Wrestling, 3-0
Ryder Zychek, Southside Wrestling Club, 3-0
William Soto Hudson, Valley Wrestling Association, 3-0
Cole Desiano, Ridgefield Youth Wrestling, 3-0
Jaxsen Bailey, KT Kidz, 3-0
E.J. Vass, Southside Wrestling Club, 3-0
Emmanuel Gusfa, Empire, 3-0
Ava Guilmette, Ascension-Bristol, 4-0
Vincent Rivera, Ascension-Bristol, 2-0

Middle School
Cole Desiano , Ridgefield Youth Wrestling, 2-0
Emmanuel Gusfa, Empire, 3-0
Jack Gedney, Fishey, 3-0
George Johnson, GPS, 3-0
Hubert Szymko, Southside Wrestling Club, 3-0
Dominick Spadaro, Southside Wrestling Club, 4-0
Ava Guilmette, Ascension-Bristol, 4-0
Joseph Stoerzinger, Newtown Youth Wrestling, 4-0
Jacob Gonzales, Southside Wrestling Club, 4-0
Jackson Heslow, Ascension-Bristol, 5-0
Freddy Nunez, Danbury, 3-1
Braden McDermott, Southside Wrestling Club, 2-0
Jack McGrath, Southside Wrestling Club, 2-0

High school
106: Luca Manfredi, Newtown, 2-0
113: Matthew Carroza, Empire, 3-0
114: Will Hamilton, Ascension, 3-0
126: Liam Knight, Danbury, 3-0
132: Mason Lishness, Ascension, 3-0
138: Joseph Mattei, VHW, 3-0
142: James Rondini, KT Kidz, 4-0
144: Darius Mangiafico, Team Tugman, 3-0
146: Thomas Howell, Marvelwood, 3-0
160: Liam Keylock, Team Tugman, 3-0
170: Steve Vournazos, Newtown, 4-0
195: Richie Morrell, New Milford, 3-0
285: Nicholas St. Peter, Ascension, 2-0

Open Division
Danny Ventura, Fox Lane, 3-0