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Warde Wrestlers Aim for Danbury

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield Warde wrestling coach Jason Shaughnessy is not required to wrestle Danbury every year. He does, however, because he likes the challenge. The two teams, ranked in the top 10 in the state coaches poll, grapple Wednesday at Warde in another highly anticipated matchup.

“To be the best you have to wrestle the best,’’ said Shaughnessy, whose Mustangs (11-1) are ranked sixth in the latest poll by the Norwich Bulletin. Danbury (10-0) has been ranked No. 1 since the first week of the season.

“I think we’re a real strong underdog,’’ Shaughnessy said. “Danbury has a real strong team, top to bottom. We’re looking to compete where we can.”

Warde’s top wrestlers include undefeated Pharoah Eaton at 138 pounds and heavyweight Mike Money. Shaughnessy said there are a number of other bouts where he expects Warde to wrestle well.  “We’ve got a real strong team,’’ Shaughnessy said. “Danbury is just real dominant right now There’s a gap between Danbury and the rest. We’re right there with Trumbull chasing them, and they beat Trumbull 69-3 last week.”

Warde is coming off its own impressive victory, 43-20 over highly regarded Bristol Central last week. That was only the second loss of the season for Central, which is ranked just outside the state’s top 10. Warde also defeated Westhill and Fairfield Prep in that match.

It was a good tuneup for what Warde will face on Wednesday. Warde beat Danbury for the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference tournament in 2010, but has never beaten the Hatters in a dual meet. Danbury's last dual meet loss in conference action came in 1986 to Greenwich, 343 matches ago.

“We’ll keep trying to close the gap,’’ Shaughnessy said. “This is a good year for them. We believe we’ll be strong next year, too, so we’ll keep working.”

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