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01/26/2020 11:00 PMWhen Mark Tolla and Lou Rivellini took over as coaches for the East Haven High School wrestling program in 2014, they had a specific goal in mind: Put the Yellowjackets back on the map in a big way. And, boy, did they ever. After East Haven went 1-19 in 2013, the two coaches knew that a culture change was needed in order to revitalize the team.
“Our responsibility was huge when we first took over in 2014. We had to turn around a program that was low in numbers,” said Tolla. “It had about 10 to 12 wrestlers. Lou and I recruited a bunch of kids, and we went 7-13 our first season. Since then, we haven’t had a losing season.”
East Haven reached new heights in Tolla’s first campaign as head coach in 2019. The Yellowjackets finished with a record of 20-5 during the regular season, marking the most victories for the program since 2000. On top of that, the Easties finished in third place at the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship and then took eighth place at the Class M State Championship with a school-record total of 121 points. By virtue of these achievements, Tolla was selected as the New Haven Register’s All-Area Coach of the Year.
As stellar as last season was for the Yellowjackets, Coach Tolla emphasized the importance of continue their success for years to come.
“We’ve gone to great lengths to develop our culture and fill in the gaps, so we won’t be a one-year wonder. Lou and I worked very hard to hopefully see that through to fruition,” Tolla said. “We have a youth program that we run in the fall and spring. We usually get about 30 to 50 kids. High school kids come in and assist us with it. We’re hoping to build a competitive youth team where we can get our younger kids 10 to 20 matches a year. We have a school-sponsored middle school team, which I’m hopeful to build as a bridge to the next level. By the time these kids come to high school, they’ll be ready to compete.”
East Haven has been just as competitive in the 2020 season, sporting an overall record of 13-5 on the campaign. Led by senior captains Alec DiVito (who wrestles in the 132-pound weight class), Tanner DiVito (138), and Fabricio Bugatti (160), along with junior captain Matt DiVito (126), the Easties are poised to make another strong run once the postseason begins.
“There have been several guys who have stepped up for us this season, and we’ve been really banged up,” Coach Tolla said. “The senior leadership on this team has been nothing short of sensational. Younger guys have been forced to step up into the varsity role, and the seniors have made a huge impact on them.”
Along with its 13 victories, East Haven has placed near the top of the standings in just about every tournament that it’s competed in this year. The Yellowjackets took third place at the CJ McCormack Tournament, placed fifth in the Danbury Holiday Tournament, and earned runner-up honors at the Killingly, Hand, and East Haven Duals.
“Developmentally, we’re right where we want to be. We have a core of five or six kids that have been carrying this team,” said Tolla. “We need to build some confidence. Hopefully, with the right coaching, these kids will peak at the right time.”
Last week, East Haven went up against crosstown rival Branford for a road meet and lost to the Hornets by the score of 42-30 on Jan. 22. The Yellowjackets won seven of the 14 matches in the contest. Junior Dominic Milano prevailed by pinfall just 26 seconds into his 106-pound bout, while sophomore Frank Papa won an 8-5 decision in the 113-pound bout. Matt DiVito earned a 22-7 win by decision in the 126-pound match, Alec DiVito triumphed by a 20-9 decision at 132 pounds, and Tanner DiVito claimed a 21-6 decision victory at 138 pounds. Junior Danny Clough won a 7-2 decision in the 170-pound bout, and fellow junior Gunner Horton was victorious via a 12-1 decision at 220 pounds.
Coach Tolla was also impressed with how senior Vincenzo Bunce wrestled while taking on one of Branford’s top grapplers, senior Cody McHenry, in the 195-pound matchup.
“Vincenzo almost pulled off a huge upset against one of the best wrestlers in the state at 195 pounds. He went against Cody McHenry and had him on his back early in the match,” Tolla said. “If he ended up beating him, that would have changed the complexity of the meet.”
With six dual-meets and two tournaments remaining in the regular season, Coach Tolla feels confident about what the Yellowjackets can accomplish the rest of the way this winter.
“I think we have an opportunity to win all the dual-meets that we have left on our regular-season schedule,” said Tolla. “I believe we’re a top-three team out of the 14 in the SCC. Class M is wide open this year. Branford is there. We know that they’re good, but we know we can compete with them. We have a chance to be in the mix in the end. What it all comes down to is the seeding. Individually, Dominic Milano can finish top three, all three DiVito brothers can place top three, and I think Fabricio is top four at the minimum.”
Milano and the DiVito brothers have already eclipsed 20 individual wins this season. Matt DiVito and Tanner DiVito are tied for the team’s best individual record with their respective marks of 22-3.
Coach Tolla said that he’s proud of his athletes for what they’ve accomplished these past few years. Tolla appreciates how hard his wrestlers have worked to turn the program around.
“We work hard. Going back six years now, these core of kids have bought into the vision that Lou and I brought in,” Tolla said. “The kids deserve all the credit. They’re the ones putting in the work. We are just here to guide them.”
East Haven features 27 wrestlers on its roster this season. The athletes on the team are senior captains Fabricio Bugatti, Alec DiVito, and Tanner DiVito; seniors Jesse Borchert, Vincenzo Bunce, and Hugo Ortiz; junior captain Matt DiVito; juniors Danny Clough, Gunner Horton, Tyler Kruse, Dominic Milano, and Richard Pethick; sophomores Zayuiri Castaneda, Isaac Florentino, Justin Hernandez, Mike Pagan, Frank Papa, Dylan Tavarez, and William Pera; and freshmen Christopher Devlin, Christopher Doheny, Noah Franchi, Ken Goodale, Oliver Kabel, Jeremiah Kane, Dylan Synder, Marchello Torres, and Jason Toth.