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Danbury won the first four matches for a quick 21-0 lead and went on to a 53-20 win. The Mustangs came into the meet ranked fifth in the state but won just four of 14 matches.
The Mustangs have the second best program in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, but there is a huge gap between the top two teams.
“Danbury’s an excellent team,’’ Warde coach Jason Shaughnessy said. “I knew it was going to be a challenging match. We don’t match up that well with them. When you go into a dual meet when some of your best kids face some of their best kids, and their wrestlers beat yours, you’re going to be in trouble.”
Danbury's Shane Jennings started off with a first-period pin at 145 pounds. A decision and two more pins followed before Warde’s Thomas Anania won with a pin at 182 pounds.
Amed Hourani won with a pin at 275 pounds. Charlie Kane won with a technical fall at 126 pounds and Pharoah Eaton won with a major decision at 132.
“We were missing some guys with injuries, but nothing significant enough that it would’ve changed the outcome,’’ Shaughnessy said. “Dual meets are about match-ups, and we don’t match up well against Danbury.”
Warde has league meets left against New Canaan, Wilton and Norwalk. The Mustangs should easily handle each of those teams and will look to challenge Danbury for the conference title in the championships beginning Feb. 8 at New Canaan High School.
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