State Champion Wrestling Team Reflects on Successful Season
The East Hartford High School Wrestling team is celebrating an undefeated regular season and a championship win. For the first time in program history, the Hornets won the state championship after tying Danbury for the Class LL wrestling title.
From there,12 athletes competed at the State Open and four placed. Those four went on to the New England Wrestling Tournament, where freshman Isaac Quiles placed 5th in his weight class.
Reflecting on the championship win, Quiles said, “It felt awesome coming in as a freshman and winning it all. All the hard work that I put in has paid off.”
Coach Todd Albert, a former EHHS wrestler himself, said, “I couldn’t be prouder of a team than this team right here.”
Albert said he knew from the beginning of the season that his team had the talent to win. Many of them came in with wrestling experience and a love of the sport from East Hartford’s youth program.
But talent alone couldn’t take down the threat of COVID-19 possibly ending their season early or affecting their athletes. Due to the close contact nature of the sport, the virus was the team’s most unpredictable opponent.
“Going into this season there was a lot of uncertainty with COVID, just being able to practice every single day or on any given day was a victory,” said Albert. “Everything was day by day planning.”
Day by day and match by match, the hornets kept fighting. That determination coupled with their athletic ability led to a historic, successful season.
“They’re awesome kids, they’re determined, they work very hard. These kids are just phenomenal in every way shape and form,” said Albert.
“I think it’s awesome for the town of East Hartford,” he said. “I’m just so happy for the community and the wrestlers, they deserve it. This gives us something to keep working for and keep representing East Hartford’s community.”
Albert and his team agree they will keep this fight going into next season.
Freshman Drayvn Roberts said, “When I won the LL states it felt great especially as a Freshman to win it for me and my teammates. I have been dreaming of this moment since I was 6 years old. Now it is time to work harder and win another state championship.”