Berlin has long enjoyed a strong wrestling program at the High School and Middle School levels. The Berlin Parks and Recreation Department sponsored the Berlin Youth Wrestling until 2004-05. The club as of the 2005-2006 season became a full member of USA Wrestling Connecticut.   We currently have 44 active members and 47 registered for 2012-13. We have wrestlers come from Berlin, Glastonbury, Hartford, Middletown, New Britain. We have also had members from Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Portland and Newington in the past.

This program was started to expand the interest to wrestling to the younger boys and girls who live in Berlin, CT. Over the year's many people have been involved and helped the program get to where it is today. We are open to boys & girls in grades PK to 8. We accept participants from all communities.

In 2001-02 we have reached a new record for participants. We finished the season with a total of 44 youth. Our 2004-05 team stood at 38 wrestlers. The 3rd and 4th graders were crowned Champions at the Marshwood New England Kids Championships in 2005. 2005-06 our roster consisted of 37 young athletes wrestling. 2007-08 we had record 62 wrestlers in the program.  We continued to grow in 2008-09 with 67 wrestlers registered. We had a record 92 wrestlers registered for the 2009-10. In 2010-11 we tied our registration record at 92 registered and 89 stayed active for the entire season. 2010 set another record for the club as we have a record number of female wrestlers in the program with 10. In 2011-12 with our move to Middletown for practices we dropped off to 53 wrestlers.

Our matches were usually scheduled for Friday evenings. If you are interested in arranging a match contact Coach Moss via e-mail. We anticipate changing our practice nights with the availablity of Thursday nights this year.

The program is divided into three groups. The Beginners will meet on Monday and Wednesday from 5:45 – 6:45 PM. Then on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:50 PM to 7:50 PM the program will be offered for Advanced Wrestlers. On Tuesday and Thursdays the our Tournament Team which is selected experienced 4 (approved), 5 and 6 graders and all 7 and 8 graders will practice from 6:50 – 8 PM.  Tournament team members are expected to participate in tournaments on Sundays. In 2012 we have moved our practices back to the Berlin High School wrestling room.

On February 24^th the Intermediate, Novice and Middle School wrestlers traveled to Hillhouse in New Haven for the Kids State Tournament.

In the middle school division Seth Pelletier placed 3^rd in the 175 lb weight class.  Seth only loss was a 2-0 decision in the semi-finals to eventual champion Jeffrey Thompson from CT Green Knights.  Novice wrestler Daniel Veleas placed fourth in the highly competitive 80lb. weight class.

Also wrestling were Middle School: Dylan Daniels 136 lbs, Joshua Veleas 98 lbs, Novice: Serge Duquette 100 lbs, Vincenzo DeFrancesco 112 lbs, and Intermediate: Nicholas Martin 50 lbs.

On Sunday, March 10, 2013, Seth Pelletier was the lone Minuteman to travel to the Kids New England Championships this past weekend where he competed in the 169 lb weight class.  After losing his first match on the day 2-0 he fought back in the consolation bracket to place 4^th on the day.  Coach Moss said, “This was a really tough tournament and one that Seth won two years ago.”  He went on to say, “Seth showed some true toughness throughout the day and his will to work back and finish fourth is a major accomplishment.  He will be a welcome addition to the New Britain High Team next year.

The following week the Minutemen traveled to Thomaston High School for the Second Chance State Championships.  Due to the blizzard many younger wrestlers didn’t get a chance to wrestle in the states because they were snowed in.