Fairfield Warde Mustangs Win Two More

By Tom Watkins

(Darien, CT; 12/30/08) - The Fairfield Warde Mustangs continued their hot start to the 2008/09 wrestling season with two decisive victories over FCIAC rivals Darien and Ridgefield.  The three team event was hosted by Darien High School.  The two wins raised the Warde dual meet record to 4-0, with all four wins against conference opponents.

            In the first match of the day, Warde defeated Ridgefield 76-6, winning all but one match against the Tigers.  Junior Luke Allen got the ball rolling at 152lb.  Allen led 7-2 with 1:01 remaining in the match when he caught his opponent for the pin.  His Mustang teammates followed suit with 12 victories, including pins by Alex Delaney (171lb) and Curtis Watkins (140lb), and a major decision by Junior Brandon McBreairty (8-0). During the run, Warde neutralized two highly ranked Ridgefield wrestlers.  Junior Ian McAllister (130lb) earned a 7-1 decision over Ridgefield’s Travis Tiger.  That win was followed by a 2nd period pin by Junior Bobby Rigilano over Colin Paulish.  Junior Ian Markowitz (145lb) added the exclamation point with a first period pin in the final match.

            The Mustangs dominated Darien in the second match of the day, beating the host Blue Wave 83-0. Warde secured victories in all 14 matches, including pins by Alex Delaney (171lb), Alfonzo Sneed (189), Nate Bass (HWT), Evan Fraser (119lb) Brandon McBreairty (125), Ian McAllister (130), Curtis Watkins (140lb), Ian Markowitz (145lb), and Luke Allen (152).  Bobby Rigilano added a victory by technical fall (15-0).

            The Darien win was notable in that it was the 200th dual meet victory for Coach Jason Shaughnessy.  Shaughnessy took over the Fairfield High program in 1998, and has built the program into one of the strongest in the state.  During his tenure, Shaughnessy has averaged over 20 wins per season.   The Mustangs were two-time runners-up in the Class LL state championship (2004-2005).  Following the high school split in 2004, Shaughnessy continued as the Fairfield Warde Coach and led the Mustangs to their first state championship, winning the Class L title in 2006.

            The Mustangs continue their season on Saturday, January 4 with a four team meet at Bethel High School (10:00am).  The Mustangs will step out of their conference schedule with tough competition, including matches against host Bethel (6th in Class M in 2008), New Milford (3rd in Class L in 2008) and Housatonic Regional.