Fontainebleau Bulldogs developing into formidable wrestling foe

Pat Mashburn, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, December 24, 2012 2:53 p.m.

Fontainebleau's Garrett Kugelmann wins fifth place in the Brother Martin-Trey Culotta Invitational with a 5-2 decision over Shaw's Matt Blair. - (Pat Mashburn, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Last year, with the majority of the squad composed of freshmen, Coach Rick Zimmer knew the Fontainebleau Bulldogs had their work cut out for them.

The Bulldogs’ recent experience in the Brother Martin-Trey Culotta Invitational provided a glimpse of optimisim, and a barometer of what needs to be emphasized for the remainder of the 2012-13 season.

“We had kids showing that they were getting better,” said Zimmer. “It was a very tough tournament with a physically demanding pace. The team was fired up the first day, and after five total matches, you could see the difference in level of conditioning. There were no easy matches, unlike the regular season where you may be up and down from match to match.”

OUT-OF-STATE COMPETITION PROVES A LOT: In some respects, the Brother Martin-Trey Culotta Invitational also could have been billed as Louisiana against the rest of the Southern-Central Region. Out of the 14 different weight classes, eight wresters from out-of-state schools reached a championship match, emerging twice as victors.

In the 182-pound class, Dylan Stuteville of Shawnee (Okla.) pinned Dominic Iovenitt of St. Paul’s in 4:30 and Dalton Campbell of Vestavia (Ala.) pinned Brother Martin’s Josh Tapia in 18 seconds.

REFEREE EVALUATIONS: The Greater New Orleans Wrestling Officials Association (GNOWOA) is striving to improve. One of the measuring tools is an online survey coaches can fill out after the completion of competition, whether it be a dual or tournament format. It addresses subjects ranging from the knowledge of rules and the command of a match, all the way down to punctuality and appearance.

“We’d like to be able to share this information with other associations from around the state so that there can be more consistency in February at the state tournament,” said Official Paul Ulfers of the GNOWOA. “As a group, we are always trying to get better. I’ve been doing this for 16 years, and I still carry a note pad with me to look at certain things.”

REFEREES NEEDED: The Greater New Orleans Wrestling Officials Association (GNOWOA) is looking for new members. Candidates should have some wrestling background or experience as well as a strong desire to uphold and maintain the strong traditions of the wrestling community while earning money. Interested individuals should contact President Jerry Schmidt at (504) 813-9372 or email Gerald.Schmidt@spr.doe.gov.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Dec. 28-29, Deep South Bayou Duals at Baton Rouge Centroplex

ALL-NEW ORLEANS AREA TEAM RANKINGS: 1. Brother Martin; 2. Jesuit; 3. Holy Cross 4. Rummel; 5. St. Paul’s

All-New Orleans Area Individual Weight Class Rankings

106 - 1. N. Charles, Jesuit; 2. M. Mauro (BM) 3.D. Breaud, Rummel; 4. B. Bush, Holy Cross 5. L. Griffin (TJ)

113 - 1. M. Capella, Jesuit; 2. T. Gambill, Brother Martin; 3. D. Soileau, Holy Cross; 4. J. Davadi (GK) 5. N. Desbordes, Mandeville 6. J. Hernandez (Hahn)

120 - 1.P. Klein, Brother Martin; 2. A. Nicosia, Holy Cross; 3. T. Mire, Rummel; 4. A. Medina-Perez (GK) 5. L. Prosper (Mand)
126 - 1. M. Calcote, Rummel; 2. A. Meyn, Brother Martin; 3. S. Foster, John Ehret 4. Guerra (HC) 5. M. Rader (STP) 6. R. Maggio (HR)
132 - 1. C. Campo (STP) 2. R. Lacava, Rummel; 3 A. Sanchez (COX) 4. M. Williams (BM) W. Lafranca (Jes) 6. N. Bonk (HC)
138 - 1. D. Casadaban, Brother Martin; 2. G. Benoit, Holy Cross; 3. B. Matherne, Thomas Jefferson 4. J. Kerry (RUM) 5. M. Hart (Font) 6. J. Mastrianni (BC)
145 - 1. D. Englehardt (STP); 2. T. Frame (Rumm) 3. T. Robertson, Brother Martin; 4. E. Eobigbe, Jesuit; 5. R. Landry, Fontainebleau 6. C. J. Fontenot (JE)
152 - 1. G. Eymard, Jesuit; 2. P. Hoppe, Brother Martin; 3. D. Iovenitti, St. Paul‘s; 4. C. Lacoste (Rum) 5. Doyle (HC) 6. N. Lovelace (Dest)
160 - 1. D. LeBlanc, Brother Martin; 2. B. Duhe (HC) ;3. J. Peterson, St. Paul’s; 4. K. Woodson (Shaw) 5. A. Martin (DLS); 6. B. Briones (GK)
170 - 1. D. Albrecht, Brother Martin; 2. J. Brown, Jesuit; 3. M. Darwin, Rummel; 4. E. Eisenhardt (Font); 5. F. Arena, Mandeville; 6. B. Faust (Shaw)
182 - 1. K. Delaune, Brother Martin; 2. G. Grush, Jesuit; 3. P. Dazet, Holy Cross; 4. J. Brogdon, Covington 5. J. Brands (STP) 6. J.Balleza (Shaw)
195 - 1. M. Armour, Jesuit; 2. D. Relayson, Holy Cross; 3. D. Priola, Fontainebleau; 4. L. Thompson (BC) 5. J. Soileau (BM)
220 - 1. M. Yeatman, Holy Cross; 2. J. Tapia, Brother Martin; 3. D. Carmelo (Jes) 4. R. Kennedy (BC) 5. G. Kugelmann (Font) 6. R. Marbley (Dest)
285 - 1. R. Brister, Brother Martin; 2. Z. Creel, Jesuit; 3. C. Ponson (Font) 4. S. Lemoine (JC) 5. M. Rizo, Grace King 6. Z. Mangrun (STP)