SOUTHINGTON

Head Coach: Derek Dion (12th year).

Last Year's Record: 16-8, 5-0 CCC North champions, 7th Class LL, 13th State Open.

Opening Date: Tonight, home vs. South Windsor, 6 p.m.

Captains: TBA

Key Losses: Trevor Ritchie (former Class LL champ), Alex Uliasz, Dave Badgley (former Class LL champ), Joe Dupuis (160, former Class LL runner up), Ian Meyer, James Olberg, Steve Rossi and Matt Freer.

Key Returners: Jr. Doug Fontaine (112), sr. Mike Monson (160), sr. Dillon Ritchie (189), sr. Tyler Calvi-Rogers (215), sr. Tyler Morrell (130), sr. Pat Riera (152), jr. Dan Dupuis (125), jr. Cory Seeger (140).

Promising Newcomers: Fr. Kyle Connolly (103), fr. Tyler Mirando (103), fr. Pat Hammell (112) and sr. Zack Duffany (285).

Outlook: Dion said his squad isn't littered with superstars like it was in the past, but he said the work ethic of the team has been outstanding. Again, the Blue Knights are wrestling a grueling schedule, facing top teams both in and out of state.

Fontaine won the 103-pound weight class in Class LL last year and finished third at the State Open. He will likely be grappling at the 112 level this year.

"We have a lot of kids with some experience that have worked very, very hard," Dion said. "You don't know until you step on the mat, but so far, so good."

Southington seems primed to defend its North title; Dion said the Blue Knights should get their best push from Simsbury and Glastonbury.

CHESHIRE

Head Coach: Don Miller (8th year).

Last Year's Record: 6-18, 2-3 SCC Housatonic, 12th Class LL, 10th State Open.

Opening Date: Thursday, home vs. Foran, 7 p.m.

Captains: Sr. Mike Merrigan and sr. Aaron Zomback.

Key Losses: Three-time defending SCC victor and Class LL champion Mike Briskin (112), Pat Notti, SCC champ and Cheshire's all-time wins leader Rob Tomlinson.

Key Returners: Merrigan (189), Zomback (140/145), so. Jed Cervero (112), so. Kyle Copes (160), jr. Alex Topitzer (152), jr. Jeff Gorski (189), so. Scott Tominson (119), so. Andrew Rodgers (125), jr. Jason Tapp (152/160). Sheehan's Nicholas Giuliette (135), who finished third last year in Class M, will be competing with the Rams, as will Josh Morales, a Cheshire resident who attends Notre Dame-West Haven.

Promising Newcomers: Fr. Mike Yovorak (135).

Outlook: The Rams lost a lot in Briskin and Rob Tomlinson, but have a strong team coming back anchored by Cervero, who won the SCC title and qualified for the State Open, and Copes, who also made it to the State Open after finishing third at 145 in Class LL.

The Rams still have a couple of holes in their lineup, especially at heavyweight, but coach Miller likes what he's been seeing so far.

"I think we're looking pretty good," Miller said. It's going to be tough to replace the kids we lost last year. I think we're going to be a stronger team than we were last year. We have a lot of returning starters. Jed is right there. He's been wrestling a lot in the offseason and Kyle is a legitimate threat as well. Zomback is going to be one of our leaders. Hopefully we could jump up (in the SCC) and surprise a few people."

PLATT

Head Coach: Bryan McCarty (18th year).

Last Year's Record: 20-8, 5-3 in CCC South, 10th in Class L.

Opening Date: Tonight at Hall-West Hartford, 6 p.m.

Captains: Sr. West Johnson, sr. Nick Murillo, sr. Nik Moreshi and sr. Kevin Koenig.

Key Losses: Dustin Nelson (112).

Key Returners: Sr. 112 Johnson (Class L champ, State Open runner up and sixth in New England, 42-4 record), sr. 103 Ryan Smith (All CCC, 31-8), jr. 125 Erik Francks (All CCC, 34-6), sr. 130 Moreschi (26-15), sr. 135 John Gordils (17-19), sr. 152 D.J. Riberio (26-12), sr. 160. Koenig (29-12), sr. 171 Murillo (All-CCC, 34-6), sr. Matt Rahman (All CCC, 34-7), sr. 189 Roy Perez, sr. 215 Joe Winoski (All CCC, 20-9), sr. Matt Holmes (6-4), jr. Luis Rios, jr. Juan Velasquez and so. Tyler Riberio.

Promising Newcomers: none.

Outlook: The Panthers could easily be one of the top teams in the state. Johnson, an All American as a sophomore, is one of the state's best. Returning eight All-Conference grapples gives McCarty plenty of options. This is the year that he has been building for, and with the experience Platt returns, it should be a big year.

Before the season, McCarty spends most of his time teaching, but not this year.

"We're well ahead of the game," McCarty said. "The kids are very experienced. We've gotten into a lot of live matches and not a lot of teaching. Hall was 21-1 last year and they are our opening match. We have (Bristol) Central on the 23rd, which could be for our conference. We have a tough December. These are matches you dream about getting into."

The Panthers will also be tangling with Danbury, Woodstock Academy and Southington at the Hatters Holiday Invitational on Dec. 27.

"If they work hard, the sky's the limit for them," McCarty said of his squad. "They've got to want it. They've got to keep everything in line. They have to be a good student and wrestlers. They are a very talented team. Hopefully, they will be able to find their place in history."

MALONEY

Head Coach: Joe Ferreira (1st year).

Last Year's Record: 2-13, 0-4 CCC South.

Opening Date: Tonight at Windsor, 6 p.m.

Captain: Sr. Garrett Gitterman (112), sr. Ian Drost (215/heavyweight), sr. Steven Howard (119/125).

Key Losses: Will Grenier (All-CCC 171), Giovanni Policard (215), Adam Foxx (All-CCC heavyweight, third Class L).

Key Returners: Jr. Aaron Cardona (All-CCC 135, last year's Class L 130 champion), sr. Gitterman (fourth Class L), sr. Howard, sr. Nick Gianetti (171), so. Darren Bookey (145), jr. Jesse Davis (215).

Key newcomers: Fr. Alex Treselt (103), fr. Dermot Morgan (112), fr. Emil Helyer (140), jr. Rafael Dominguez (152), so. Eddie Medina (125), so. John Davenport (130), sr. Joe Townsend (160).

Outlook: In the past few seasons, the Spartans were handcuffed by a lack of numbers. This year, Ferreira can fill a full roster, not missing any weight classes. Maloney returns some quality wrestlers, including All-CCC grapplers Gitterman and Cardona, who caught the state by surprise by capturing a state title.

"We're getting some athletes," Ferreira said. "We're a young team and looking to build numbers and keep the team going for the future. The older class has been there for four years and is doing a great job. It's a nice blend and that's what you want to keep things going.

"One thing I want to do is getting back to the tradition it once was," added Ferreira, who wrestled for the Spartans in the late 1990s. "It's been a long time since we've gone into matches with a chance to win."