Reigning Champs Uproar The Mat

Joey Kerzner, Sports Editor | December 11, 2025

Ready For Action: Wrestlers preparing for their match honoring Camp Happiness, January 29, 2025. Photo Courtesy: Jeff Raucci.

It was nearly 10 months ago when the wrestling team captured its third Class M state championship, with a team score of 203.5, defeating Bristol and Berlin. They are bound, determined, and ready to run it back.

Last season, the team finished with an overall record of 17 wins and two losses, and recorded one win in their division, competing in the SCC Hammonansett division of the Southern CT Conference (SCC).

This season, the team includes two senior captains. Tommy Mahon and Zach Lund will take the mat as leaders this season. Both will be competing in their fourth season.

The 17 wins last season exemplified the team’s work ethic. They have gathered months before the season starts and have commenced conditioning and team bonding.

Senior Ava Cleary says, “We have conditioning every Monday and Thursday after school, and I go whenever I can. It really gets the team ready for the season since it is the same intensity as our practices. I really see a difference in myself and the team from the start to the end of conditioning.”

As the reigning state champions, the stakes are high, and the media expects a lot from each individual; it comes down to every match and every play.

Cleary also added, “We are not letting the state champions get to our heads. If anything, there is now a target on our backs, and we have to work even harder to win again this year.”

Beyond the conditioning and team bonding, the group is ready to take their talents to the mat for the 25-26 season. They all have one goal, and it is to be great. They have put last season in the past and are ready more than ever.

Senior captain Zach Lund says, “We expect to come back better than last year. We have a lot of returning wrestlers who placed last year, and we are confident, so as long as we work hard, we will do great things.”

3, 2, 1, Fight!: Wrestling captain Zach Lund ready to take on his opponent, January 29, 2025. Photo courtesy: Jeff Raucci

When it comes to doing great things, lots of hard work and skill are required. Every year, wrestlers are set on working new skills to improve their expertise on the mat.

Senior Beckett Casey says, “I’m looking forward to improving my double leg takedown because it is my go-to move, and that is my best way to score points for the team, so I have to get better at that for the season.”

The reigning state champions’ first match of the season commences on December 17, 2025, at 7 p.m. at North Haven High School.

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About the Contributor

Joey Kerzner, Sports Editor

Hi, my name is Joey Kerzner, and I’m a senior at Foran High School. This is my 2nd year taking journalism, and I am excited to represent as the sports editor. At Foran, I am a part of the hockey team, golf team, officer of the National Honor Society, member of the French Honor Society, a Natural Helper, and the student liaison for the board of education. In my free time, I like going to the gym, hanging out with friends, playing golf, and spending lots of time on the water, boating, and jet skiing.