The Avon High School wrestling program is tied with the soccer and boys’ tennis programs for the most state championships in school history. The 1982 team began that winning tradition and set the standard for the program. They finished their season with a 17-1-1 record, winning a ninth consecutive Northwest Conference championship title and beating the favored New Britain Pulaski team to claim the first State Championship Class S trophy in Avon wrestling history. The average match score was a dominant 42-18. (Pulaski, which had won five of seven consecutive class titles, was expected to win their 4th in a row.)

The Falcons scored 129 points in the state tournament and placed in six of the twelve weight classes. Eric Johansen and William Lohman captured individual state championships, while Dave Drago and Randy Levesque finished in 2nd place. Phil Foster and Paul McGuinness finished 3rd and 4th respectively. (Juniors, Phil Foster and Dave Drago, along with Rich Hernandez, would go on to win their own individual state championships in 1983.)

Despite their decisive season finish, the Falcons’ 1982 season began with a new coach, several new teammates, and a lot of uncertainty. Outgoing head coach, Jack Trumbull, had built a strong culture of discipline and sportsmanship and a history of successful teams. Like Trumbull himself, his teams were tough and well-conditioned and had never lost the NWC championship. New coach, Bill Riccio, arrived in Avon from Berlin High School with a big pair of shoes to fill. His welcome was tepid, at best. Some of the team, including the named captains for that year, were so loyal to their previous coach that they quit. This left two essential spots to fill and resulted in several forfeits during the season.

But, under Riccio and his assistant, Coach Lukasiewicz, this smaller team gelled, won, and sparked what would become longtime dominance in Connecticut wrestling. Combining the strength and toughness of Trumbull and the strategic and skill-based teachings of Coaches Riccio and “Luke,” the team finished on top, with every athlete on the team playing a contributing role. Riccio finished his nine-year run 136-20-2 winning nine conference championships and five state championships; he coached seventeen individual state champions to win 20 individual state championships.

The 1982 Falcons were led by captains Dave Drago, Randy Levesque, and Paul McGuinness. Every starting wrestler on their varsity team had a .500 record or batter. In dual meets, the varsity twelve were a combined 152-69-7. Many on the team, including six here tonight, took the hard work and dedication they learned on the AHS wrestling mat into the world as distinguished leaders in the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement, private industry, and their communities.