Morgan wrestling has undergone a tumultuous period in recent years, losing two coaches in two years. The program now aims to move forward with the hiring of new head coach Matthew Elias.

It has been a struggle for the program the past two years. After head coach Jon Wolfer was dismissed at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, former assistant coach James Lewis, took over for the 2024-2025 season but resigned at the end of that season.

Coach Matthew Elias, who was officially hired this August, hopes to change that. Elias brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, boasting a 101-12 record in high school, where he wrestled at Daniel Hand. Elias won the Class L state championship, placed fourth in state opens, and top 8 in New England’s. Elias then went on to wrestle at Roger Williams University and subsequently returned to his alma mater, coaching at Hand for two years.

The transition between coaches often comes with some uneasiness, however, junior Hayden Darr, who wrestled under both Wolfer and Lewis, said, “In the two years I’ve wrestled I’ve had three coaches, and this is going to be my fourth in my third year. So hopefully we can find something that sticks, I think this will be a good restart.”

Vice Principal Christopher Luther, who was a member of the hiring committee, was impressed by Elias’s “enthusiasm for the sport and that he had quite a bit of coaching experience for a young man.”

Coach Elias officially met with the team on September 20th, where he discussed rules and expectations with the team. However, he made a point of asking what he could do to make the team better, improving on how the team was run before to hopefully build a stronger program and a more competitive team.

Interim Athletics Director Teg Cosgriff also shared his enthusiasm with the hire, seeing Elias’s focus on student’s success off the mat as crucial in a successful program “It’s also about what they have going on in their lives, academically and personally as well, and having someone that understands that. So I know meeting Matt, I know they hired someone that’ll really pay strong attention to that.”

Speaking to his coaching philosophy, Coach Elias said he was, “very dedicated to the student athletes as well as the school. I am very high on respect. I want the athletes to respect each other, opponents and the name on their singlet (Morgan). I want to push the athletes to their full potential and reach their goals as an individual and a team.”

This year’s wrestling team mostly consists of newer athletes, with only two returning seniors being on the team. In a sport with a large learning curve such as wrestling, this can be challenging at times. However, Coach Elias asserted, “Being able to work with every athlete and watch them develop during the season is something I’m looking forward too.”

Per the CIAC website, The Morgan Huskies posted a 2-7 record in dual meets last year, including a highlight win over New Haven on senior night. However, the team lost 5 seniors from last year, including state open placers Dominic Larabee and Ariana Farr. Despite this, the team has some young talent, including junior Hayden Darr who placed seventh at the Class S state tournament and junior Julian Larabee, who placed sixth at the Class S state tournament and qualified for opens.

Coach Elias left the team with this: “I am excited to be able to coach such a great group of student athletes. As much as I am able to teach the team, I know throughout the season, I am going to learn a lot about them. I want the team to know that the season will be a good mix between tough and fun, and as a team we will work together to achieve the goals we set out for throughout the season.”