MONROE, CT – It has been a couple years, and now high school wrestling is back. After the 2020-21 season was canceled due to the coronavirus, grapplers are set to compete once again.
Masuk High will kicked off their season Wednesday, Dec. 15, with a 6 p.m. visit to Bethel High. Masuk is home a week later for a Dec. 22 matchup with the Pomperaug Panthers, also at 6 p.m.
In addition to dual matches, the Panthers will participate in the Trumbull Duals, Fairfield Warde Invitational, and Shoreline Scuffle Wrestling Tournament in Branford.
Masuk is led by Coach Cody Hoskins. The roster, as listed in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) website, includes three seniors – Dan Dutkowski, Frank Samperi and Nathan Videira – and several underclassmen: Freshmen Billy Alvarado, Will Brewster, Maxton Busa, Evan DeLeo, Luke Longo, David Marciano, Sebastian Nicholas and Giana Silva; and sophomores James Dutkowsky and Donald Edward Medaris.
In 2020, New Milford won the South-West Conference title and Newtown was the runner-up.
The CIAC Winter Sports Guidance indicates that athletes in some sports will be required to wear masks for competitions prior to the holiday break, and continue to wear them other settings, from locker rooms to practices, after the break when the plan is for masks to come off for competition, for fully vaccinated athletes. Masks are not required for wrestlers at competitions prior to or after the break, regardless of vaccination status.
“Masks should not be worn in match or during practice while actively grappling; masks are required in all other settings (non-grappling practice, sidelines, bench, locker rooms, etc.),” according to the Winter Sports Guidance.
