Breaking down the 2020 Connecticut Wrestling State Open

Westhill's Thomas Mazur works to flip over Norwich's Theran Vanase during Class LL state championships in Trumbull on Saturday. — 1of26
Westhill’s Thomas Mazur works to flip over Norwich’s Theran Vanase during Class LL state championships in Trumbull on Saturday.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

2of26
Danbury's Tyler Johnson takes down Glastonbury's Parker Sutton during Class LL state championship wrestling finals action in Trumbull, Conn., on Saturday Feb. 22, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

3of26

4of26
Wrestling action between Josh Brault of Joel Barlow and Daniel Taggart of Suffield/Windsor Locks during the final round of the CIAC Class M 2020 Wrestling Championship at Guilford High School, Saturday, February 22 2020.
David G Whitham

5of26
David Justin Osler of Branford high reacts after pinning Jackson Harshberger of Waterford during the final round of the CIAC Class M 2020 Wrestling Championship at Guilford High School, Saturday, February 22 2020.
David G Whitham

6of26

7of26
Wrestling action between Christopher Gens of Avon and Adam Frame of Brookfield during the final round of the CIAC Class M 2020 Wrestling Championship at Guilford High School, Saturday, February 22 2020.
David G Whitham

8of26
Wrestling action between Minsok Lee of Branford high and Luke Fuerstenberg of Platt during the final round of the CIAC Class M 2020 Wrestling Championship at Guilford High School, Saturday, February 22 2020.
David G Whitham

9of26

10of26
Nonnewaug's Jack Cronin and Joel Barlow's Carson LiCastri wrestle in the finals for the 182-pound weight class in the Connecticut State Open championships, Saturday, February 23, 2019, at the Floyd Little Athletic Center, New Haven, Conn.
H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

11of26
Wrestling action between James Rondini of Platt and Alec DeVito of East Haven high during the final round of the CIAC Class M 2020 Wrestling Championship at Guilford High School, Saturday, February 22 2020.
David G Whitham

12of26

13of26
Wrestling action between Tanner DeVito of East Haven High and Devin Anderson of New Fairfield High during the final round of the CIAC Class M 2020 Wrestling Championship at Guilford High School, Saturday, February 22 2020.
David G Whitham

14of26
Trumbull's Michael Longo flips Ridgefield's Alexander Blaha during Class LL state championship wrestling finals action in Trumbull, Conn., on Saturday Feb. 22, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

15of26

16of26
Danbury's Tyrell Jones is picked up by Southington's William Carr during Class LL state championship wrestling finals action in Trumbull, Conn., on Saturday Feb. 22, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

Fairfield Warde's Cole Shaughnessy, bottom, wrestles Tyler Sung of New Canaan in a 220-pound bout during the FCIAC championships on Feb. 15 in New Canaan. — 17of26
Fairfield Warde’s Cole Shaughnessy, bottom, wrestles Tyler Sung of New Canaan in a 220-pound bout during the FCIAC championships on Feb. 15 in New Canaan.
Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

18of26

19of26
Stamford High School wrestler Ryan Gover wrestles Ryan Jack of Danbury in the 138 lbs bout during the FCIAC wrestling championships Saturday, February 15, 2020, at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn.
Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Xavier's Michael Rapuano, right, and Guilford's John Fernandes wrestle during the final round of the SCC championships at Mercy High School on Feb. 15. — 20of26
Xavier’s Michael Rapuano, right, and Guilford’s John Fernandes wrestle during the final round of the SCC championships at Mercy High School on Feb. 15.
David G Whitham

21of26

22of26
Simsbury Thomas Finn leaps into the arms of his coaches after defeating New Milford's Peter Coniglio in the 132 pound weight class finals of the CIAC Class L Wrestling tournament on Feb. 22, 2020 at Bristol Central High School in Bristol, Connecticut.
Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media

Wrestling action between North Haven high's Joe Iamunno and Colin Loria of Xavier High during the final round of the SCC 2020 Wrestling Championship at Mercy High School on 15. — 23of26
Wrestling action between North Haven high’s Joe Iamunno and Colin Loria of Xavier High during the final round of the SCC 2020 Wrestling Championship at Mercy High School on 15.
David G Whitham /

24of26

25of26
Wrestling action between Carson LiCastri of Joel Barlow and Jadian Mackenzie of New London during the final round of the CIAC Class M 2020 Wrestling Championship at Guilford High School, Saturday, February 22 2020.
David G Whitham

26of26

VITALS

Where: Floyd Little Athletic Center, New Haven

When: Friday — Saturday (Finals scheduled for 5 p.m.)

Defending champion: Danbury

Contenders: Danbury, Warde, Xavier, Simsbury, Suffield/Windsor Locks, Foran, Killingly, Haddam-Killingworth.

WATCH LIVE — NFHS NETWORK (Boys Finals, Saturday) | Girls Finals (Saturday)

LIVE BRACKETS / UPDATES (Via FloWrestling)

WHAT TO WATCH

Coach Ricky Shook’s Danbury squad will be going for a fourth straight State Open and sixth in the last eight years. The Hatters placed seven in 2019 and will bring 11 who advanced from Class LL to the mat this weekend. … Warde had five state finalists to challenge the Hatters in LL. Ten Mustangs placed and will compete this weekend. … Xavier edged Simsbury by 2.5 points in Class L and placed 10 wrestlers in the top five. Simsbury placed 11. … Suffield/Windsor Locks won its first-ever Class M title with three champions and eight placers. … Foran didn’t have a finalist, but eight place-winners put the Lions within 5.5 points of first. … Killingly won Class S with three champions and seven placers. … Haddam-Killingworth had eight wrestlers place. … Michael Rapuano (Xavier), Ryan Jack (Danbury), Tyler Sung (New Canaan) and Carson LiCastri (Barlow) are returning Open champs.

WRESTLERS TO WATCH

Ryan Jack from Danbury captured his fourth straight Class LL championship with a win at 138 pounds. New Canaan’s Tyler Sung (152) won for the third time. The Hatter’s Tyler Johnson (126), Trumbull’s Michael Longo (106) and Southington’s Billy Carr (182) each won his second. Warde’s Cole Shaughnessy won at 152 and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler. Westhill’s Thomas Mazur (170) improved to 35-0 and was third in the Open a year ago..

Out of Class L, Xavier’s Michael Rapuano (113), the State Open champ at 106, is 42-4. Simsbury’s Ty Finn (132) is 44-2 and won his second title. North Haven freshman Joe Iamunno (126) remained unbeaten (26-0) and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler after winning the same honor at the SCC tourney.

Barlow’s 195-pound Carson LiCastri had his hand raised as the champion for the fourth time in Class M. Barlow’s Josh Brault (106) improved to 33-0 with his win. Branford’s 182-pounder Justin Osler is 32-0. Avon’s Christopher Gens (36-0) won at 220. He was fifth at Open. Platt heavyweight champ Luke Fuerstenberg is 43-1.

Nonnewaug’s Jack Cronin (four pins) won the 182-pound title for his second title and was the Most Outstanding Wrestler in Class S. Gilbert’s Kyle Matthews at 152, his second, and Devin Matthews at 132 became the 18th brother team to win titles in the same season. East Haven’s Alec (132) and Tanner (138) DiVito also brothered-up in Class M. Killingly’s David Charron (126) won his second straight final and was a State Open runner-up at 106. Killingly freshman Kaden Ware improved to 46-1 with a win at 106. East Hampton’s Dylan Levesque (120) is another two-time champ.

INTRIGUING POTENTIAL MATCHUPS

Four weight classes have multiple champions.

At 106 pounds, Barlow’s Josh Brault (4th at 2019 Open), Killingly’s Kaden Ware and Trumbull’s Michael Longo top the field. Danbury’s Tyler Johnson (5th at Open), Killingly’s David Charron and North Haven’s Joe Iamunno lead the way at 126 pounds. At 182, Nonnewaug’s Jack Cronin, Branford’s Justin Osler and Southington’s Billy Carr top the field. At 152, FCIAC rivals Tyler Sung (Open 145 champ) and Warde’s Cole Shaughnessy (3rd at 145) lead a strong group of contenders.