Greg Domestico is a year closer to where he wants the Greenwich High school wrestling program to be.
In his first year at the helm last season, the Cardinals placed 11th out of 25 Class LL Schools and had two wrestlers place second in their respective weight classes. A seventh place finish in FCIAC’s against some of the toughest competition in the state showed improvement, but also room for growth.
“I think we need to get stronger,” said Domestico. “Technique wise, we teach things a little bit differently than what they have done in the past. We’re trying to cram a lot of wrestling in a short amount of time.”
Previously the head coach in Port Chester, N.Y. for 16 years, Domestico is aiming to bring the Greenwich wrestling program to new heights with a goal of making the Cardinals a household name in the FCIAC wrestling world.
“You want to be the team that people say ‘Oh man, we’re wrestling Greenwich today’,” said Domestico. “A lot of the time, the kids have that feeling towards Danbury and other teams. I want people to feel that way when they walk into Greenwich.”
Heading into this season, Domestico says his team is youthful, but up to the challenge.
“The thing that has pleased me the most is that we have a nice, young group of kids,” said Domestico. “Our team is mostly comprised of freshman and sophomores. A lot of the linemen from the football team came out this year. That has been tremendous because they are strong and athletic big kids.”
In the 160-pound weight class, senior Mike Ceci is hungry to return to the podium this year after a second-place finish in CIAC Class LL competition.
“I want to build off of what I did last year,” said Ceci, who also served as a captain on the football team in the fall. “Losing back-to-back weekends in the finals is definately the motivation. I wait all year for wrestling season and now it’s finally here.”
Domestico credited Ceci’s drive and family history in the sport to the success he has brought not just to himself, but the whole team.
“I’m sure it’s his [Mike’s] goal, at the end of the last weekend of New England’s, to be standing at the top of the podium,” said Domestico. “I think he’s talented enough, experienced enough, and strong enough to get there. He’s a motivated and driven kid naturally. It’s a lineage in his family. It’s really good to have a kid like him to teach these kids what it takes.”
Joining Ceci on the squad will be Alex Nanai (195 and 220-pound weight class), Dylan Ehret (120) and Jack Barter (145).
Maggie Yang will also make her way to the varsity team after wrestling at the JV level last year.
“She does a great job and she comes everyday,” said Domestico. “She’s not a female wrestler, she’s a wrestler. She works hard and I have no complaints about her.”
Overall, the second-year head coach expects a balanced lineup and hopes to get out to a fast start in early competition.
“I think our lightweights and our first couple of weights will be really strong and experienced,” he said. “We’re a little stronger in the upper weights. When you get to Mike Ceci and you move up, we have a nice experienced, tough lineup.”
Domestico also noted that while the program may be starting behind some of the others in the area, it will take creativity to bring the knowledge and experience up to the varsity level athletes.
“We don’t have a strong youth program yet,” said Domestico. “That’s coming. There is a lot of people interested in the community with helping us out, which is excellent.”
After taking on Trumbull, the Cardinals will visit Fairfield Warde for a dual-match against Warde and Wilton on Thursday. Notable dates include the Danbury Tournament on December 27 and the Ridgefield Challenge on January 28, before the postseason begins with FCIAC competition in February.
