Middletown, CT — The Most Outstanding Wrestler was awarded to Shelton senior Matt Weiner, who was crowned the SCC champion in the 285-pound division at the league championship held at Xavier High in Middletown on Saturdsay. Weiner, a GameTimeCT first team All-State football selection, is now a two-time SCC wrestling champion. “I have never gotten most outstanding wrestler no matter how well I have done,” Wiener said of the award voted on by league coaches. “I feel like this year I am not making some mistakes I would in previous years, and I am in a really good spot.” Weiner has had his mind set on the SCC title and beyond since the beginning of the winter season and feels as if he is ready for the upcoming challenges. “I am trying to win New England’s and Opens,” Wiener said. “I am setting my expectations high, and I will just do what I can.” The top seed, Weiner posted wins by fall in 29 and 56 seconds to gain the final. No. 2 seed Malachi Mercer-Robinson was waiting. Weiner pinned him in 1:47 to improve to 15-0 on the season. Shelton senior Graham Ziperstein wrestled back to place third at 113 pounds for coach Bill Maloney. Ziperstein took an 11-6 lead on Foran’s Mason Hallstrom before the No. 2 seed pinned the sixth-seeded Lion in 3:57. A senior, Ziperstein was in front 7-3 in his opening bout and won by 1:39 fall. He won a 12-3 major decision in the semifinals. No. 7 seeded Logan Persson opened at 126 pounds with a pin after he took an 8-1 advantage. In wrestle backs after losing by fall, Persson won 6-2 then lost by pin. No. 1 Xavier claimed its fifth consecutive title. The Falcons’ run in the SCC has been dominant, having claimed nine of the last 10 titles only losing in 2016 to Foran. Xavier sent 10 wrestlers to the finals, all of whom won their matches and were crowned individual SCC champions. There were 14 total final bouts. Xavier finished with a whopping 264 points, more than double the amount of second-place Branford, which boasted one champion. It also broke the record of 233 (set by Xavier in 2015). Fairfield Prep finished third with 118 points and Guilford came in fourth with two individual champions at 104.5 points. Shelton took eighth. https://www.sheltonherald.com/sports/article/Matt-Weiner-Most-Outstanding-Wrestler-at-SCC-16841770.php?fbclid=IwAR1Y845fiEruHrrdkq8Ej4iPHXIL0YujSliY2dTLUy6YQ4Ux-cRKP0Yfewc