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01/04/2017 11:00 PMThe Hand wrestling team has grappled its way to a 5-1 start while facing some stiff competition thus far this year. The Tigers are focusing on the fundamentals in the early phases of the regular season with an aim to be as prepared as possible for the postseason.
Last winter, Head Coach Mike Docker and the Tigers placed third at the SCC Championship and then finished in eighth place for the Class L State Championship. This season. Hand has posted victories against SCC foes Fairfield Prep, Law, and Amity, in addition to earning a pair of wins at the RHAM Duals. Hand now looks to keep growing and kick things into another gear during a pivotal month of January in which the team will face several premier opponents.
“Right now, we are focusing on the basics. We have a solid lineup and are looking to develop stars. But we have a bunch of hard-working guys giving their all,” said Coach Docker, whose team defeated Amity by a 54-12 final at home on Jan. 4. “We have to solidify the basics in order to win. We want to have more movement in our stances and more explosion from the bottom. We got a look at some good teams in the state at the Danbury Tournament [on Dec. 27], so we want to incorporate some of the things they do.”
At captain for Hand this year is a tandem of seniors in Zakery Santoemma, who wrestles in the 152-pound weight class; along with Christian Westphal, who wrestles 220. Coach Docker complimented both athletes for setting a great example of the hustle and attitude that are required to thrive on the mat.
“Zakery is a very tough competitor that holds both him and the team accountable for getting the work done at practice. His leadership in the room and in matches is exemplary. He knows the right things to say and expects a lot of the guys on the team. He is dependable and a vocal leader,” Docker said. “Christian has great leadership in the room and in matches and also holds the team accountable. Both of them lead by example and are hard-working kids.”
Complementing the Tigers’ two senior leaders are their fellow members of a well-rounded lineup that includes senior Mitch Kuperstein (170-pound weight class), juniors Mark Hartmann (120), Charlie Jenson (138), Adam Hendrick (160), Van Docker (195), and Mike Burchell (285); plus sophomores Kyle Davern (106) and Jared Puricelli (132).
In the recent Amity triumph, victories for the Tigers included Jenson (via forfeit), freshman Charles Wilson (145 weight class, via forfeit), junior Maxwell Liu (152, pin at 4:41), Hendrick (pin at 3:49), and sophomore Alec Dube (182, via forfeit). Hand also received victories from Docker (195, 13-6 decision), Westphal (pin at 2:43), Burchell (pin at 1:14), Davern (4-3 decision), and Hartmann (pin at 3:37).
The Tigers will certainly be battle-tested by the time the postseason rolls around. Hand has upcoming matches against defending SCC champion Foran on Wednesday, Jan. 18; formidable SCC rival Guilford on Tuesday, Jan. 24; and Xavier, which has won four of the last five SCC titles; on Tuesday, Jan. 31.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about Xavier, which will be a great match for us at the end of the year. They are traditionally tough for us, but we came close to beating them last year. They are strong the whole way through,” said Coach Docker. “Guilford and Foran both match up really well with us and have strong middleweights. They will be the three teams for us to beat this year.”
In terms of their postseason targets, the Tigers would love to better last year’s strong showing at the SCC Championship and, on the even bigger stage of states, they want to muscle their way toward the top and advance several athletes to the State Open.
“We want to place in the top five or better at states in Class L. We also want to get maybe six guys through to the State Open,” Docker said. “We want to hopefully win SCCs. It’s a lofty goal, but it’s still a goal.”
From the Sidelines
Michael Docker is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Tigers’ wrestling squad.
Hand’s assistant coaches for this year are John Rogers, along with volunteer assistants Dave D’Alessio, Wells Sakmar, TJ Katz, and Luke Massella.
The SCC Wrestling Championship is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11 at Wilbur Cross at 9 a.m. The Class L State Championship will be held on Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18 at Bristol Central.