Fairfield, Connecticut is hardly a city known for wrestling.  More regional sports like Field Hockey and lacrosse are generally readily recognized over the sport of wrestling.  However, if former Olympian Andy Seras has his way Sacred Heart University will earn recognition from the national wrestling community.      Seras now has his first season under his belt as the Pioneers head wrestling coach.  His determination has begun to transfer the once lowly division one Connecticut program.  Last year the squad finished 62nd at the NCAA's this year the team crept forward to 41st.      "The road to the top 20 in the nation will take time," stated Seras, "we were able to change many attitudes in the room this year.  The expectations of the athletes have been raised considerably.  Several of them truly believe they can compete with the nation's best."      To keep a program pointed in the right direction a coach always looks for something that signals momentum for the next year.  Sacred Heart competes in the Colonial Athletic Association with the likes of Hofstra, Drexel, Rider, and Boston U.  Early in the season the team hung their hopes on a second place conference finish as a goal.  At first Seras didn't see the goal as a realistic possibility, but the athletes came through at what he called "money" time.      Sacred Heart moved off of their second place conference finish taking a respectable four wrestlers to the Kansas City tournament.  Early in the meet Mike Messina, a junior, nearly derailed top-seeded Teyon Ware.  In a tight match that Ware won 5-4 Seras felt that they got hit with a questionable stalling call.  Regardless, of the outcome it was just more evidence that the Sacred Heart wrestlers could compete.      Sacred Heart didn't leave Kansas City will All-Americans and now Coach Seras has refocused on the goal of building his program.  Certainly one of the keys will be for the Connecticut-based team to land recruits from the strong northeast wrestling areas.  This year Seras has already inked New York State Champion Sherwood Fendryk, All-American from Fargo Matt Stuart, and two-time New England Champion Nick Dalicandro.      Seras' passion for the sport and program is demonstrated by his determination to succeed despite having to wrestling with a budget that can best be described as paltry.  He has no office on campus and no paid assistants.  This year the team was helped collegiate standout Pat Popolizio who recently was hired by Head Coach Chuck Barbee of the Army team.  The team works off the 4.0 scholarships that the University funds, up from 3.1 a year ago.  With little help from the University, Seras clearly is setting himself to be the savior of Sacred Heart wrestling.      Seras boast impressive international wrestling and coaching credentials that he has used to build the USA Wrestling sanctioned Atlas Wrestling Club, into a force with more than 150 members.  The proceeds that he gains from the club help fund the shortfall in his needs for the Sacred Heart program.      "We believe the school will continue to move our scholarships up to the maximum allowed for wrestling, 9.9.  We do not have any roster limits or caps", cited Seras "The progress of the program relies almost totally on the financial support we receive.  We need more funding for scholarships, coaching salaries, equipment, travel, and recruiting."      Because Seras has a strong background in Greco-Roman wrestling rest assured this collegiate program will keep strong ties to the upper-body side of wrestling.  "I have been told that many college coaches frown upon wrestlers competing in Greco-Roman.  That will definitely not be the case here.  Eventually, we would like to have a senior level Greco-Roman team based out of Sacred Heart University."      Seras has his work cut out for him.  Though, he is beginning to line up the support and resources to develop Sacred Heart Wrestling into a team worthy of respect.  Don't be surprised if a team from Connecticut makes a jump into the top twenty in Division One.  The coach believes it can happen, and the athletes are coming around too.        Andy Seras will serve as a Coach and Athlete Liasion during the National Developmental Camp and Silver Level Coaches College in Indianapolis.  Both camps begin prior to the World Team Trials, and all participants will receive an All-Session pass to the tournament.      For an application to the camp or college click here or contact twitulski@usawrestling.org