Chris Blagmon wrestled at 160 pounds and won although he is 145 pounds. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

Luis Nodal wrestles at 170 pounds. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.​

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WRESTLING 2011-2012

Platt Tech/WH falls to Wolcott Tech
Team posts only three victories in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 19, 2012) – The Platt Tech/West Haven wrestling team lost to Wolcott Tech Thursday afternoon, 63-18. The Westies won only three matches in the loss. 
Anthony Sojka pinned Adam Baresi in 5 minutes, 40 seconds at 106 pounds, Joe Sojka won by pin at 120 pounds in 3:53 and Dan Izzo won by pin over Sam Willion in 2:49 at 126. 
Pete Stahl fell by pin at 113 pounds in 24 seconds, Kyle Straborny lost by pin at 138 pounds in 3:18 and Tremaine Turner fell by pin at 145 pounds in 1:28. 
Luis Nodal (160), Erik Lydiksen (182) and Tyler Sullivan (195) all fell by pin. Platt Tech/West Haven fell by forfeit at 132, 152, 170 and 220.   
Split Decisions

Westies lose to Vinal Tech but defeat
Ellis Tech
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 10, 2012) – The Platt Tech/West Haven wrestling team lost to Vinal Tech but defeated Ellis Tech Tuesday evening. 
Platt Tech/West Haven fell to Vinal Tech 39-36. The team had numerous forfeit victories as Anthony Sojka (106 pounds), Pete Stahl (113), Joe Sojka (120), Dan Izzo (126), Marcus Militrano (132) and Kyle Straborny (138) all won by forfeit. 
Chris Blagmon was defeated 11-6 at 145 pounds by Arthur Fleizer, Tremaine Turner was pinned by Vinal Tech’s Kendel Kegley in 3 minutes, 33 seconds an at 152 and Vinal Tech’s Steve Hall pinned Luis Nodal of Platt Tech/West Haven in 45 seconds at 160. 
Platt Tech/ West Haven’s Erik Lydiksen was pinned by Colin Flannery in 37 seconds at 182 and Tyler Sullivan was pinned in 15 seconds at 195. Vinal Tech won by forfeit at 170 and there was a double forfeit at 285. 
Platt Tech/West Haven rebounded to defeat Ellis Tech by 42 points. Anthony Sojka won by pin in 1:43 at 106, Stahl was pinned at 113 in 52 seconds, Blagmon won by pin at 145, Turner won by pin at 152 and Sullivan won by pin in 2:51 at 195. 
Joe Sojka (120), Izzo (126), Militrano (132), Straborny (138), Nodal (160) and Lydiksen (182) all won by forfeit. 

Split
Platt Tech/West Haven  falls to Derby, defeats Seymour
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 23, 2011) - Platt Tech/West Haven defeated Seymour 40-33. The team won seven events in the close match. 
Anthony Sojka pinned Stephen Betts at 113 pounds in 24 seconds, Danny Izzo won by major, 16-8, over Rudy Brennen at 132 and Chris Blagmon pinned Andrew Granese at 160 in 4 minutes, 15 seconds. 
Luis Nodal (170), Eric Lydiksen (195), Rody Cueva (220) and Tyler Sullivan (285) all won by forfeit. The teams saw a double forfeit at 182. 
Dave Madera was pinned by Xavier Vidal in 16 seconds at 120, Joe Sojka fell 6-4 to Brandon Staborny at 126 and Kyle Staborny lost in 36 seconds to a John Reily pin at 145. Billy Novak pinned Tremaine Turner in 1:11 at 152 and Peter Stahl was pinned by P.J. Barto in 13 seconds at 106. 

(December 21, 2011) – The Platt Tech/West Haven wrestling team traveled and fell to Derby 66-15. Luis Nodal picked up one of three Platt Tech/West Haven victories as he won by pin in 1 minute, 38 seconds at 170 pounds. 
Joe Sojka won by pin at 126 pounds in 5:10 and Danny Izzo won by a 4-2 decision at 132. Platt Tech/West Haven forfeited weight classes at 182 and 285. 
Tremaine Turner fell by pin at 152 in 16 seconds, Kyle Staborny fell by pin in 38 seconds at 160 and Eric Lydiksen did the same at 195 in 17 seconds. 
Rody Cueva lost by pin at 220 in 3:08, Peter Stahl lost by pin at 106 in 37 seconds and Anthony Sojka lost by pin at 113 in 3:11. Dave Madera lost by pin in 34 seconds at 120 and Chris Blagmon dropped a decision by pin at 138 in 1:32. 

Westie Power
Seven Westies on co-op wrestling team
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
West Haven and Platt Tech have been part of a co-op wrestling team since 2003. With wrestling being a sport which needs numbers, a small school such as Platt Tech combines with West Haven to fill the holes in the lineup. 
The Westies have seven members on the team. Those members include freshmen Marcus Militrano and Tyler Sullivan, sophomores Quiten Nivens and Eddie Lugo and juniors Chris Blagmon, Luis Nodal and Rody Cueva.
“Platt Tech-West Haven wrestling has been becoming well known as a powerhouse team,” coach Jeff Benitez said. “This year, we have the lowest numbers we have seen in years. We have a very young team as well with only one senior from Platt on the team.”
Benitez talked about his West Haven wrestlers.
“Marcus (Militrano) comes from a family of wrestlers and got his first win at the Shelton Tourney over the weekend. Chris (Blagmon) is a third-year wrestler. Chris keeps a calm head on and off the mat. Chris has the speed and strength to take down his opponents before they know what hit them.
“Quiten (Nivens) is a first-year wrestler who hit the ground running this year. It’s hard to believe this kid hasn’t wrestled before. He is a natural at the sport and I look forward into seeing what he can do this year.
“Luis is a second-year wrestler. He is quickly learning from his mistakes on the mat, perfecting his style in practice and putting it to good use on the mat. Eddie (Lugo) is another first-year wrestler. Eddie has a lot of heart. He pushes himself everyday. He is now injured and impatiently waiting to get back on the mat.
“Tyler has experience wrestling in a youth wrestling league. He suffered an injury during the football season that carried over into the wrestling season. He is cleared to begin practice next week. Rody Cueva is another first-year wrestler. Rody won his first match at the Shelton tourney over the weekend. He is very strong and where with his lack of experience his brute strength helps. His opponents have a hard time getting Rody down. Rody has a strong desire to get better at wrestling.”
In a 48-33 loss to East Hartford on December 14, 2011, Blagmon pinned Felix Lopez in 2 minutes, 32 seconds, Luis Nodal fell by pin to Anthony Frederico in 2:58, Cueva dropped a decision at 220 to Ammon Allen in 2:20 and Tyler Sulivan won by forfeit at 285. 
“We lost to East Hartford 48-33,” Benitez said. “East Hartford walked in with over twenty wrestlers looking at our small team. We came into the match light with wrestlers due to injuries. The team felt good about this first match. Even thought we lost it felt much like a win. Such a young team putting up a great fight. The wrestlers are ready for their next challenge.”
The team followed by wrestling in the Shelton Invitational Saturday. The Platt Tech/West Haven team finished eighth out of nineteen teams. 
At 132 pounds, Amity’s Dan Grober won by decision over Dan Izzo 6-0.