(Bethel, CT 1/3/09)  The Fairfield Warde wrestling team improved their record to 7-0 with three victories in a four team meet hosted by Bethel High School.  In addition to beating the host Wildcats, Warde defeated Housatonic High and New Milford.

   The key match of the day pitted the Mustangs against the Green Wave from New Milford.  The matchup featured a battle of two top ten teams - Warde is currently ranked 7th in the State Coaches poll while New Milford is currently ranked #10.  The Mustangs outlasted New Milford 35-21, avenging an early season loss from the 2007/08 season.  The Mustangs took an early lead with a dominant performance from Curtis Watkins in a technical fall (20-4), followed by a victory by Ian Markowitz.  New Milford roared back to take the lead with 4 straight victories.  Matt McDonald managed to stop the bleeding in the 171lb bout.  Giving up 12 pounds to his opponent, McDonald managed to avoid pins on two occasions.  Though losing the match 8-3, McDonald saved the team valuable points and ignited the Mustangs.  Enzo Cardillo got the Mustangs back on track with a 7-3 victory followed by a hard fought win by Nate Bass in the heavyweight division.  In a strategic move, Warde  Coach Jason Shaughnessy elected to forfeit the 103lb match, bumping up Cameron Barnhard to 112lb.  The move paid off as Barnhard responded with a tough 4-0 win.  The Mustangs then ran the table with wins from Evan Fraser, Brandon McBriearty (3rd period pin to take the lead), Ian McAllister (pinfall vicory to clinch the team victory) and Bobby Rigilano.

The win over New Milford was preceded by a resounding 53-14 victory over Housatonic Regional High School.  Warde had 7 pins (Rigilano, Alex Delaney, Antony Anania, Bass, Barnhard and Mcallister) en route to the victory.  The match also featured an impressive win by Brandon McBriearty over highly ranked Dominic Ghi from Housatonic.

In the final match on the day, the Mustangs continued the roll with a 52-28 victory over Bethel High.

The undefeated Mustangs go on the road to face Staples High on Wednesday, January 7 @ 6:00pm.