By Doug La Rocque
The Berlin High School’s reentry into the sport of wrestling was a year marked by growing pains. When the season started with their first scrimmage at Hoosick Falls, they had nearly a full team and high hopes. By season’s end, they were down to just a few wrestlers, most having dropped out along the way. Now coach D.J. Connally and supporters are hoping to create a groundswell of support, between the Berlin and New Lebanon communities. [private]
Last year, students from New Lebanon were welcome to join the Berlin team, and some took advantage of it. This coming season, the team will officially be known as the Berlin-New Lebanon wrestling team, with their new uniforms depicting such. This past season all of the team’s home matches were held at the Berlin School. This coming year, Connally hopes to hold at least one home contest in New Lebanon.
The efforts to rebuild the team began this past weekend with a well-attended benefit breakfast and wrestling expo at the New Lebanon Fire Department. Coach Connally hopes the increased exposure and community support will create a strong foundation for the program to build on. He is also very hopeful of starting youth wrestling programs in both communities, to introduce the sport to younger athletes, building their interest and understanding in an endeavor that requires a great deal of personal discipline and commitment. While competing as a team, each wrestler is out on the mat by themselves against their opponent. Unlike many other high school sports, the only help you get from your teammates during competition, is their vocal support and encouragement from the sidelines.
This marks the second joint sports endeavor between the two neighboring school districts. Swimmers from both schools have been joined for a while now to form the New Lebanon-Berlin swim team. The cooperation between the districts is something that has the full support of Berlin School Board member Katie Snyder, who attended the affair to show her support. Snyder feels with the decreasing enrollment both districts are facing, these joint ventures might someday expand to more than just athletics.[/private]