Ledyard High School Ranked in Top 10 in Preseason Wrestling Coaches Poll

LEDYARD, CT — High school wrestling officially got underway Wednesday in Connecticut, but before the first grapplers had even taken to the mat, more than a dozen coaches submitted their rankings of the top squads in the state.

To no one's surprise, defending Class LL champion Danbury tops the preseason poll, receiving 14 of 15 first-place votes. Since 1989, the Hatters have accumulated 18 Class LL titles and 12 State Open championships.

Ledyard High School, one of the most accomplished programs in state history, is ranked 10th. The Colonels have won 19 state class championships, including four in a row from 2012 to 2015, as well as a State Open.

The top 10, with first-place votes in parentheses, are:

1. Danbury (14)
2. New Milford
3. Fairfield-Warde
4. Foran
5. Trumbull
T6. Windham
T6. Newtown (1)
8. Bristol Eastern
9. Ellis Tech
10. Ledyard

Others receiving votes: New Fairfield, Xavier, Southington, Middletown, Montville, Fairfield-Ludlowe, Simsbury, Killingly, Bristol Central, Platt, New London, East Hartford, Guilford, Waterford, East Haven, Daniel Hand, Somers.

Coaches voting: Matt Boissoneault (Bristol Central); Ricky Shook (Danbury); Rafael Calixto (Ellis Tech); Jason Shaughnessy (Fairfield Warde); Matt Schoonmaker (Jonathan Law); Steve Bilheimer (Ledyard); Paul Gallo (New Canaan); Chris Piel (New Milford); Chris Bray (Newtown); Brian McCarty (Platt); Derek Dion (Southington); Charlie Anderson (Trumbull); Chris Gamble (Waterford); Pat Risley (Windham); Mike Cunningham (Xavier).

Photo credit: Tim Jensen