 |
| Bristol Eastern wrestling got to celebrate twice at Bristol Central this season. The first was the BC invite, above, but then the Lancers claimed a bigger prize when they won the Class L state championship on Saturday. It’s the first for the program since 1996. |
An undefeated season and a CCC South Division title had already make for a special season.
Bristol Eastern wrestling made it historic on Saturday when it knocked off New Milford by a single point, 231-230, to capture the Class L state championship at Bristol Central High School. What a fitting end to a memorable season for an incredible team. The Lancers took a state crown for the first time since winning Class L in 1996.
Eastern garnered three state champions, Mikey Barrett at 160 pounds, Trinadad Gonzalez at 170, and Zach Marquis at 182.
 |
| Bristol Eastern senior Zach Marquis, pictured here during a regular season match against Bristol Central, won a Class L state championship at 182 pounds on Saturday. |
What really helped the Lancers was the seven other Top 6 finishes. Each Top 6 finish earns points for the team, and every single point was needed in this meet. Four Eastern wrestlers took fourth place, two claimed fifth, and one finished sixth.
Bryce Beebe (106), Jordon Champagne (113), Anthony Lozier (145) and Justin Marshall (152) were the fourth place finishers. Carson Sassu (120) and Jack Kachidurian (132) were the fifth place finishers. The lone sixth place finish was from Hidekel Mangual (220).
Barrett captured his 160 championship by pinning New London’s Jacob Commander in 5:05. Gonzalez followed at 170 with a pin of Hall’s Okotie Ikani in 4:44. Marquis won a 9-4 decision over E.O. Smith’s Isaiah Rivera at 182.
After the regular season finale, head coach Bryant Lishness talked about how Eastern had learned the importance of wrestling back. The Lancers came up with important points on Saturday because seven different wrestlers battled through the consolation bracket.
To take down powerful New Milford and win Class L, Eastern needed a team effort. The Lancers got that team effort, and they added a championship to their undefeated season.
Ten individuals move on to wrestle at the State Open.
