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03/23/2022 12:00 AMThe Haddam-Killingworth wrestling team put together an epic season by winning its first state championship this winter. One of the biggest reasons why the Cougars made history on the mat was the performance of senior captain Nick Glynn in the 160-pound weight class.
Nick took the title in the 160-pound division when H-K finished first at Class S State Championship meet. For Nick, there was no better way to cap of his high school career than helping his team claim state gold.
“My favorite moment as a wrestler was when I became a state champ this season. My hand got raised, and I finally accomplished my goal,” says Nick. “I finally got to see all of the work paying off—the late nights and the early morning sessions, waking up every morning with a clear vision of my goals—and I got to live through that vision.”
As the No. 1 seed in his bracket, Nick earned a decision victory and two pinfall wins to capture the 160-pound crown at the Class S State Championship. Nick solidified the title by pinning Ryker Bahre of Canton at the 1:57 mark in the final.
“Going into the state championship match, I was very excited and a little bit nervous,” Nick says. “As I walked out on to the mat, I felt completely locked in, lacking emotions, as I just became entirely focused on the match. I got tunnel vision, and it felt like any other match. I wrestled Ryker earlier in the season and won by decision, so I felt confident, but I wanted to stay humble.”
After prevailing in the Class S meet, Nick went on to notch two victories for H-K while competing among Connecticut’s elite grapplers at the State Open Championship. Nick won his first match on a pin and then lost a decision in the quarterfinals. Nick then went to the consolation rounds, where he earned a victory via pinfall and then took a defeat on a decision in his next bout.
“Wrestling at the State Opens was very fun. I have been there before, and competition is very high, and I felt that I could compete with the very best in the Open,” says Nick. “I was very focused on my nutrition and what I was consuming, and that helped me have a lot of success.”
Nick maintained a strict workout regiment during the season and throughout the offseason. Nick focused a lot on cardio and lifting in order to maintain his strength and endurance. Nick also heeded the advice of H-K Head Coach Nick Adler and Assistant Coach Ken Markwat, whom he credits for much of his success.
“Coach Nick and Coach Ken are both amazing, very knowledgeable guys that care so much about me and the rest of the team. I could talk to the both of them for hours. They are some of my closest friends,” Nick says. “To improve my game, I constantly stay active and working. You have to keep the mentality that there are no days off, and there really isn’t when you are training to accomplish a goal.”
On the heels of a historic season, Nick believes the H-K wrestling team to return to glory next year. Nick feels proud about everything that the Cougars accomplished in 2022.
“I expect that next year the H-K wrestling program will continue to get better and make huge strides forward, like this program has done every year under coach Nick and Ken,” says Nick. “Overall, I am extremely satisfied with how this season went as a team. We finished as state champs and, individually, I became one, as well. I couldn’t have asked for a better year to end on.”
Aside from wrestling, Nick is a member of the football and baseball teams at Haddam-Killingworth. Nick also takes great pride in his academics and has a 3.5 grade-point average. After finishing his Cougars’ career with a championship campaign, Nick is considering wrestling at the next level.
“I am a natural-born leader, and I take great pride in being a leader and a captain in sports and in life,” Nick says. “I’ve yet to decide on a school yet for college, but I am definitely thinking about wrestling in college. It’s certainly not off the table.”