From the 1973-1974 season until the 1997-1998 season when the program was dropped, wrestling was one of the most successful sports at Southern Connecticut State. Matter of fact, when looking at accomplishments & credentials, it still is. The Owls have throughout their history sponsored 19 varsity sports. In terms of All Americans produced, wrestling to this day still ranks ninth, even though it has been gone from the University for twenty two years. The only other sport that Southern Connecticut State has dropped is Men's Gymnastics, which still to this day in All Americans produced, ranked fourth out of nineteen. Not to mention Men's Gymnastics won NCAA Division II titles in 1973, 1975 & 1976. Wrestling was better on an individual level, although they were consistently a top 25 team.
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Paul Bulzomi
126 lbs |
Bulzomi was a three time NCAA Division II All American for the Owls capturing a sixht place finish in 1978, a fourth place finish in 1979 & a third place finish in 1980.
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Sean Bilodeau
177 lbs
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Bilodeau took third place All American honors at the NCAA Division II tournament in 1978. His son, also named Sean won Fargo in 2007.
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Pete Dalaker
134 lbs
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A graduate of Islip High School in New York, Dalaker placed third at the 1982 NCAA Division II championships. He later returned to Islip to coach both wrestling & baseball.
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Mark Piterski
118 lbs
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Mark Piterski had back to back third place All American showings at the 1987 & 1988 NCAA Division II tournaments.
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Denzil Forrester
177 lbs
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Placing fifth at the 1987 NCAA Division II championships, Forrester would take runner-up honors in 1988 becoming the only Owl to ever be invited to participate in the NCAA Division I tournament.
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Joe Bena
177 lbs
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A graduate of Niskayuna High school, Bena was a two time All American for the Owls. He placed sixth in 1991 & third in 1992 at the NCAA Division II tournament.
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Bernard Valentin
158 lbs
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A graduate of Long Beach High School in New York, Valentin took third place at the state championships before coming to Southern Connecticut State. Competing for the Owls he garnered 100 career victories taking eighth place in 1993 & fifth place in 1995 at the NCAA Division II championships. Post college he was an assistant coach at Southern Connecticut state up until the program was dropped after the 1997-1998 season. He then returned to Long Beach High School where he worked as the school psychologist & headed the junior varsity wrestling program.
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Anthony Brockman
142, 150 lbs |
Brockman earned two back to back fifth place All American showings for the Owls at the NCAA Division II tournament in 1994 & 1995.
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Gene Hanemann
150, 158 lbs |
Gene Hanemann was a two time state qualifier in the state of New Jersey, but he never made his way on to the award stand. Come college, he wouldn't be denied. Starting his career off at Southern Connecticut State he took eighth place honors at the 1993 NCAA Division II tournament. He followed up with a fifth place showing in 1994. Transferring to St. Cloud State for his final season, he capped off an outstanding collegiate career by winning the 1995 title.
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