History Made As Enfield Wrestler Captures New England Championship

PROVIDENCE, RI — Coming off a disappointing finish to his junior year of high school wrestling, Ethan Buonanducci had just one thing in mind: redemption.

At the 2024 State Open, Buonanducci lost by a single point in the round of 16 in the 126-lb. weight class. Moving into the consolation bracket, he and his opponent were tied until the final moments of the match, when he was penalized for unnecessary roughness after slamming his adversary. Suddenly, his season was over, but his determination was just beginning.

"Since that day - Feb. 24 of last year - I busted my [hump] every single day, whether it be in the gym, on the track or wrestling in meets out of state," Buonanducci told Patch. "I put my blood, sweat and tears into reaching my goal of being state champion."

That hard work paid off with a record-setting season in 2024-25, which culminated in a 12-4 major decision victory over Alex Oberc of New Milford in the finals of the 50th State Open at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven. That title made Buonanducci just the ninth wrestler in town history to prevail at the Open, including former teammate Keonta Crawford last year.

The win qualified him for the New England Championships, a 2-day event at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. As prestigious as that title would be, Buonanducci said anything he accomplished at the New Englands "would just be icing on the cake," having accomplished his priority objective of being state champion.

"My expectations were to get a plaque for first, second or third," he humbly admitted.

Seeded fourth, he drew a first-round bye, then breezed through Saturday's competition with a 49-second pinfall victory and a 5-2 decision. Sunday promised to be tougher, however, as his semifinal opponent was 4-time Rhode Island state champion Jared Hood.

An 8-4 decision over Hood led to a finals rematch with Oberc, and for the second time in seven days, Buonanducci put away his opponent for the championship, albeit in a much closer contest.

"He put up a better fight that last week, but I wanted it more," he said following his 7-4 title decision. "Coach [Jason Flynn] told me, this is yours, go get it."

Buonanducci has literally followed in the footsteps of Flynn, who is stepping away from coaching following this season after a highly-successful tenure with the Eagles. Wrestling for then-crosstown rival Enrico Fermi High School, Flynn won the 1999 State Open crown in the same weight class, which was 125 lbs. at the time.

Along with FishEye Wrestling Club coach Jeff Fernandes, Flynn helped channel Buonanducci's frustration at last year's Open into razor-sharp focus on his senior year goals.

"That became his motivating factor," Flynn told Patch. "He wrestled every day since Feb. 2024, he put his nose to the grindstone and did the work. I'm so happy he was able to do it; I couldn't be prouder."

His senior campaign, during which he sported a perfect 51-0 record, ranks among the finest of any wrestler in state history. According to the Connecticut Wrestling record book, meticulously maintained by Gerry deSimas Jr. of CT Wrestling Online, his 51 wins are fourth all-time among state high school grapplers with undefeated seasons, trailing only Jason Lanone of Ledyard (53-0 in 1991), Jarod Kosman of Fitch (52-0 in 2018) and Carson LiCastri of Joel Barlow (52-0 in 2019).

At the Phil Tomkiel Wrestling Tournament at Agawam High School on Dec. 27, Buonanducci pinned one opponent in just four seconds, tying the state record for fastest pinfall. It also established a new record for the 126-lb. weight class, eclipsing the previous mark of six seconds set 40 years earlier by Keith Malone of Waterford.

Megan McNally, an avid supporter of the Eagle wrestling program, told Patch, "Our family is beyond proud of Ethan for becoming the 2025 New England wrestling champion. His hard work, relentless drive and determination have been truly remarkable. Ethan doesn’t have an off switch - he always pushes beyond expectations. We are so fortunate to be a small part of his journey, and this victory is a testament to his dedication and perseverance."

Even greater than his athletic accomplishments, however, is his evolvement as a person off the mat, according to Flynn.

"He is a very respectful kid, and he cares about his teammates and his family," his coach said. "His growth as a student and a person is even greater than his growth as a wrestler."

Next on the horizon? The 36th annual High School Nationals, in which competitors from across the country vie to achieve All-American status. That 3-day showcase is slated for March 28-30 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.