Following a strong showing at the Brunswick School 50^th annual Invitational Tournament, in which it placed fourth out of 14 teams, Greenwich High School’s wrestling team excelled in its latest dual meet, a matchup against visiting Norwalk High School.

Competing well in each of their matches, the Cardinals added another win to their ledger, earning a 42-32 victory over visiting FCIAC foe Norwalk High School.

With the season just past the midway point, Greenwich has four victories and has made its mark in the tournaments its athletes have tested their skills in.

Greenwich placed fourth at last week’s ultra-competitive Brunswick School Invitational Tournament, which featured a number of premier private school programs, including Brunswick. The Cardinals have also competed in tournaments at Guilford High School, Ridgefield High School and wrestled against several teams at Southington High School. On Jan. 25, Greenwich visits Rocky Hill High School for a tournament.

Cardinals coach Jere Petersen appreciates the approach his athletes take every match and their competitive attitude.

“I think we’re doing a good job of going out and wrestling hard,” Petersen said. “The effort level has been great all year on the mat.”

Against Norwalk, one of Greenwich’s victories came from sophomore Nicholas Bound. A sophomore, Bound won his 144-pound match against Norwalk freshman Sal Mattera.

Cardinals sophomore Mark Zolotarvesky won by pinfall against freshman Mohammad Vora in the 120-pound match, giving  GHS six team points toward its victory.

“I felt like it was a good match,” Zolotarevsky said. “The season started a little bit rough, but it’s getting better. I feel like I’ve improved throughout the season. I started a little rough in the beginning, but I’ve gotten the feel of things.”

Zolotarevsky finished second in the 120-pound weight class in the Brunswick School Invitational on Jan. 18.

“It was a good tournament, there was good competition. It was good to see that aspect in terms of competition and it was a good experience.”

Junior Monty Bell of Greenwich won by decision versus sophomore Lina Rodriguez of the Bears in the 126-pound matchup. Bell is in his first season on the Cardinals’ varsity squad.

“It’s my first season and it’s going pretty well,” Bell said. “It’s definitely more physically demanding in a sense that the season is so short and there’s so many matches happening. I’m enjoying it.”

Bell placed second at the Brunswick Invitational in the 128-pound division.

“That was the first tournament that I did really well and I was happy with the results,” Bell said. “There were a lot of people there, teams I haven’t seen. It was good for my confidence.”

Sophomore Cody Griesmeyer (106-pound), junior Jacob Rubenstein (150), junior Wesley Levine (157), freshman Ben Peden (175-pound)  and junior Jacob Steinhorn (215) each won their respective matches by forfeit for the Cardinals against the Bears.

In a hard-fought heavyweight match (285-pound match) Greenwich junior Colin Falla was edged by Norwalk senior Isaiah Dominguez. Falla was pinned at the 5:38 mark of the match and held 7-6 lead in the match’s final 20 seconds. Falla executed a take down, reversal and escape in the match.

“Last year I was at 215 and I bumped up to heavyweight this year,” said Falla, who has a record of 20-4 on the season. “I’m around 230, so I’m giving up around 40, 50 pounds to some of these guys, so it’s been an adjustment. I’m learning how to stand up and wrestle a little bit better than last year.”

The FCIAC Wrestling Tournament is scheduled to take place on Feb. 15 at New Canaan High School. The Cardinals will then compete in the CIAC Class LL Championships, followed by the State Open Championships.

“There will be good competition at FCIACs and states,” Falla said. “I want to try to be a finalist for those.”

Senior Anthony Panarella, Greenwich’s captain, has a record of 17-3 so far this season and is currently sidelined due to an injury. He’s enjoyed an outstanding career for the Cardinals, who hoping to have him back in action soon.

Benedetto Graziosi, a junior, has earned a record of 16-5. He didn’t wrestle against Norwalk due to an injury, but is hoping to return to the matt shortly. Against Norwalk, sophomore female wrestler Gabriela Aliaga, of Greenwich wrestled an impressive match in losing to senior Rylee Donohue, one of the top female competitors in the state, in the 132-pound match.

Aliaga has produced a productive season for the Cardinals. Michael Muir, a freshman, wrestled well in the 133-pound match against Norwalk in losing by pinfall in 3:56. Competing for GHS in a junior varsity match against Norwalk was sophomore Kristen Jaramillo, who lost in a hard-fought back-and-forth match that went to overtime.

“Overall, we’re young, so I think if we can go out and give a great effort, we’re going to make a good showing every match we compete in,” Petersen said. “We have a few people who are in position to place at the FCIAC Tournament and our upcoming tournaments.”