HS Wrestling | Sporting News CT

Gillen lost to Arnold, two years his senior,in the CIAC Class LL state final in the 189-pound weight class as a
freshman and in the 215-pound division as a sophomore.

Once Arnold graduated, however, there was nothing that could stand in Gillen's way en route to becoming one of the
most successful scholastic wrestlers in Connecticut state history.

On Saturday, the Virgina-bound senior reached the Class LL state final for the fourth consecutive year and
captured his second straight title in the 215-pound division by pinning Staples' Chris Giunta in 62 seconds.

Gillen, a three-time All-American who never lost a Southern Connecticut Conference match in his four years at Shelton,
improved to 41-0 this season while upping his career mark to 192-14.

The state record of 200 victories, set by Ledyard’s T.J. Hepburn from 2004-2007, is within Gillen's grasp. The math
is such that if Gillen wins the state Open next weekend and the New Englands the following week, he will equal
Hepburn's standard.

The top four finishers in each weight division in Class S, M, L and LL will take part in the state Open, set for
Friday and Saturday at the New Haven Athletic Center.

Despite his achievements and accolades, Gillen has adopted a take-nothing-for-granted approach to wrestling. It has
served him well for the past four years.

"I keep looking to move forward because there's always that next level," Gillen said. "I'll never be perfect."
According to Shelton coach Bill Maloney, the keys to Gillen success are taking no short cuts and competing like a much
lighter wrestler.

There is a perception - perhaps true to some extent - that heavier wrestlers like to rely on brute strength.

"Since he was little, he didn't take short cuts," Maloney said. "He continued to try to learn to be a wrestler. Most
big kids like to try headlocks and all short cut moves.

"He worked on leg attacks and trying to ride and trying to work on top, just like a lightweight. That's the big thing.
Everybody always talks about how he wrestles at 215, but he wrestles like a 145-pounder."

Maloney expects that more success will follow for Gillen at Virginia, the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions.
On Sunday, the Cavaliers defeated Old Dominion for their school-record 19th win of the season.

"They're very excited, having taken a kid out of New England, which doesn't happen often," Maloney said. "They saw a
lot of really great things with him. The project him to be a heavyeight, about 255, 260, who can move and be an NCAA
contender. They're very, very high on him."

Maloney doesn't expect that bulking up for college will be an issue for Gillen, who is a young senior, having just
recently turned 17. He actually still could be a junior in school.

Of course, before he leaves Shelton there is that matter of the state wins mark.

Even if Gillen should lose over the next two weeks, he still will have one competition remaining that will count on
his scholastic record.

By virtue of winning the state championship last year and his status as a three-time All-American, Gillen earned
the right to compete in the high school nationals, which are set for March 29-April 3 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

With six possible matches in the nationals, Maloney has no doubt that his prized pupil will surpass 200 wins.

"As he says, if he keeps winning, it will take care of itself," Maloney said. "He'll be over 200 by the time he gets
done with nationals."

Two hundred wins is clearly the target for Gillen, but he doesn't want to look too far ahead.

"Just wrestle every match, the quarters, the semis, finals," he said. "You can't wrestle the whole tournament
before it starts."

By Bob Birge