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| Chris Trelli made his last competition on a Bristol Central mat count, winning the Class L 120-pound state championship. (Photo credit: Bristol Central principal Twitter account) |
There was only one way for senior Chris Trelli to end his time wrestling on the mats at Bristol Central High School, and that was by winning a state title.
Trelli delivered with a 12-4 major decision against New Milford’s Brandon Leonard in the 120-pound final during the Class L state championship meet inside the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium. Trelli ran his record to 33-6, and he did it in front of his home fans.
Trelli had a first round bye, then convincingly beat Notre Dame-West Haven’s Jeff Bracale by technical fall, 18-3. The next round brought a high-scoring technical fall of 27-12 against Middletown’s Tim Pawlak.
In the semifinal, Trelli faced Bristol Eastern’s Thomas Nichols. Trelli claimed victory by fall with seven seconds left in the match to advance to the final.
Trelli began the scoring in the final with a takedown of Leonard in the first period. Trelli nearly had a pin of Leonard 14 seconds into the second period. Leonard scored two escapes, but another Trelli takedown gave the Central senior a 6-2 lead after two periods.
Trelli struck first in the third period with a takedown, then added another after a Leonard escape. Leonard had a final escape, but Trelli took him down again to go up 12-4. It was Trelli doing what he does, being a technically strong wrestler in control of the match.
Central finishes seventh overall
The Rams scored 102.5 team points, just four off of sixth place Wethersfield’s 106.5. Trelli was the lone winner, and Central also had a third place and two fifth place finishers.
Mike Guzman was third at 220 for the Rams. Damian Mahaffy (170) and John Duncan (285) each placed fifth in their respective weight classes.
The medal-winners qualified for the State Open, which is this coming Friday and Saturday at New Haven’s Floyd Little Athletic Center.
