By Michael Letendre

AVON – The Bristol Eastern wrestling program opened its 2021-22 campaign on the road with a tough Central Connecticut Conference Interdivisional bout against Avon on Wednesday night.

And the Falcons were able to top the Lancers, nabbing a 59-24 victory from Avon high school.

It was the first meet for both programs since the pandemic gripped the world, cancelling the season last year for all the squads in the state.

While the Eastern program (and debuting head coach Eric Sassu) battled throughout, Avon was able to secure nine pin-fall wins against the Kingstreeters.

However, the Lancers did have standouts up and down the card.

At 120 pounds, Eastern’s Michael Roalf just beat out the second period buzzer, pinning Avon’s Matt Mancini in 3:58.

And then at 152, bulldog Ella Nicholas proved that she is going to be one of the featured grapplers at that weight in the state – pinning Sawyer Hernandez (2:43) midway through the second stanza of action.

At 160, Bristol Eastern football sensation Alex Marshall picked up right where he left off, downing Roel Johnson via pin-fall in 2:58.

And finally at 182 pounds, the Lancers’ Dylan Piazza pinned Chris Bourquin in 3:57 as the visiting aggression earned those 24 points on four pin-fall victories.

Eastern held their own in other bouts as Andrew Brown (106 pounds) nearly forced overtime against Avon’s Owen White but fell in 5:57 via pin-fall while at 195, the Lancers’ Owen Broyles took Nils Jerger deep into the second period before being pinned at the 4:59 mark of the match.

What’s on tap…

The Lancers have a full slate of action this Saturday as the program travels to Berlin for the annual CJ McCormack Tournament with a scheduled start time of 9 a.m.

Next Wednesday, Eastern is back on the road in a CCC South challenge at Middletown (6 p.m.) and then to close out 2021 on December 29 at the ultra-competitive 34th Annual Ryan Sabbagh Danbury Holiday Wrestling Tournament.

That holiday challenge commences at 9:30 a.m.

Eastern opens its home portion of the season on Wednesday, January 5 against Enfield in a CCC Interdivisional tilt.

AVON 59, BRISTOL EASTERN 24

from Avon High school

Individual Results

106: Owen White (A) pin Andrew Brown, 5:57; 113: Isiah Adams (A) tech fall Anthony Silva, 16-1; 120: Michael Roalf (BE) pin Matt Mancini, 3:58; 126: Aki Bahabad (A) pin Gabe White, 1:31; 132: Eli Fagin (A) pin Lamare Brooks, 1:03; 138: Jonah Weber (A) pin Nathan Torres, 1:39; 145: Jack Jones (A) pin Joshua Aubin, 3:45; 152: Ella Nichols (BE) pin Sawyer Hernandez, 2:43; 160: Alex Marshall (BE) pin Roel Johnson, 2:58; 170: Cameron Casey (A) pin Kaiden Dionne, 2:25; 182: Dylan Piazza (BE) pin Chris Bourquin, 3:57; 195: Nils Jerger (A) pin Owen Broyles, 4:59; 220: Zach Gross (A) pin Jaiden Fore, 3:20; 285: Maxwell Janes (A) pin Evan Gleifert, 2:50.
Records: Avon 1-0, Bristol Eastern 0-1