The wrestling program started to make a comeback at Berlin Central last year but ran into several roadblocks.[private]This year the program is officially combined with New Lebanon Central to create one team, and the success of the merger is showing. Coach D.J. Connolly’s team opened its season with a loss to a strong program at Coxsackie-Athens. The team was led by pins from Nicholas Tripepi in the 132-pound weight class and Ilan Mikit in the 152-pound bracket.
A few nights later the team posted its first win of the year with a 48-36 decision over Taconic Hills. Connolly said his team was led by pins from two of his younger wrestlers, TJ Smith and Josh Bosso. Wins also came from Jesse Davis and Ilan Mikit. The modified team went undefeated on the night.
Last Saturday the Berlin-New Lebanon grapplers crossed the state line to Mt. Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, Massachusetts for their annual multi-team match.
They started the day off with a tough loss to Monument Mountain, before posting their second win of the year over Fair Haven. The team was inspired by a strong comeback from Nick Tripepi, who improved his record to 6-1. Jake Harrison, Joe Canam, Mike Hicks and Devon Johnson were able to pick up their first wins of the season. The squad rounded out the day with close losses to Southwick and Mt. Greylock.
Connolly said the team has started a wrestler of the week program, and the first recipients are Ilan Mikit and Matt Kluck.
The Mountaineers Boys Basketball teams picked up its second win of the year, with a 64-36 win over the Doane Stuart Thunder Chickens. Ryan Willis and Roark Slattery again led the way for Berlin. Willis recorded his first double-double on the year with 19 points and 20 rebounds. Slattery put up 21 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Ryan Gosse, Tyler Kellar, Josh Hendricks and Hunter Harrison rounded out the scoring for Berlin.
Things have not gone so well for the Lady Mountaineers this year, standing 0-3 on the season. They last dropped a 34-31 decision to Doane Stuart, with Jewel Pietrzak leading the way for Berlin with 8 points. They opened the season with losses to Emma Willard and Loudonville Christian. Coach Fleda Berschwinger is hopeful her young team will start to gel and put it all together. She said she was pleased by the effort against Doane Stuart and hopes it will continue as the season wears on. [/private]