By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – The Bristol Central wrestling squad had a tough back-to-back challenge against Edwin O. Smith and Berlin this past Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

The fun started against the Panthers as the Rams improved to 6-0 with a 37-28 win on senior night from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium in Bristol. 

Smith proved to be tough up and down the card but, with standouts like senior Will Hamilton at the ready, Central was able to square up another huge win.

At 113 pounds, Central’s Joseph Niek won via forfeit, as did teammate Julian Colon (120) before Hamilton (126) went to work.

The senior toppled Smith’s Caleb Phillips by a 12-4 decision while at 132, the Rams’ Aiden Lamarre topped Osei-tutu Hansen over a tough 11-9 decision.

Lincoln Archibald (138) earned a forfeit win while captain Umar Malick (152) earned a big come from behind decision.

Malick toppled the Panthers’ Dakota Blanchard over a 5-2 final over a tremendous finish. 

At 170 pounds, Jack Jones won via a forfeit decision and at 182, Central’s Jayden Colon defeated Alexander Barr with a 6-5 decision.

BC wrestling on Twitter said that Malick earned the ‘Animal Award’ for his come-from-behind victory . 

And then one night later on the road, the Central program lost for the first time this year, falling at Berlin, 62-15.

The Redcoats raised its ledger to 11-1 overall and 5-0 in the CCC South while the Rams dropped to 6-1 (4-1 CCC South).

Hamilton (126) pinned Jonah Lorenzo in only 12 seconds, Malick (160) drew a pinfall win over Mantas Malinauskas, and Jayden Colon (182) took a 4-3 decision over Berlins’s Tim Mrachek to lead Central.

The annual BC/BE wrestling meet – slated for the Thomas M. Monahan Gymnasium on Wednesday, February 9 at 6 p.m. – should be as competitive as it comes this year.

The Rams had a busy weekend if the schedule held because on Saturday, Central battled New Fairfield, Bethel, Haddam-Killingworth, Jonathan Law, Londonberry (NH), Masuk, Nonnewaug, Simsbury, and Harding from New Fairfield high school.

On the mats…Senior captain Will Hamilton is ranked #3 in New England and is simply a beast at 120 pounds. The grappler is also successful up the card at 126. The rankings were compiled as of January 26. 

Bristol Central 37, E.O. Smith 26

from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium

Individual Results

106 pounds: No match; 113: Joseph Niek (BC) forfeit; 120: Julian Colon (BC) forfeit; 126: William Hamilton (BC) dec. Caleb Phillips (ES), 12-4; 132: Aiden Lamarre (BC) dec. Osei-tutu Hansen (ES), 11-9; 138: Lincoln Archibald (BC) forfeit; 145: Cole Rogers (ES) dec. Araya Guilmette (BC), 10-0; 152: Umar Malick (BC) dec. Dakota Blanchard (ES), 5-2; 160: Kyle Irrig (ES) pin Dominic Sedlak (BC), 3:49; 170: Jack Jones (BC) forfeit; 182: Jayden Colon (BC) dec. Alexander Barr (ES), 6-5; 195: Logan Palmer (ES) pin Eric Cooper (BC), 3:34; 220: Thomas Jeffers (ES) pin Michael Thaxter (BC), 5:19; 285: Jaycee Diaz (ES) dec. Jeff Labbe (BC), 10-2

Records: Bristol Central 6-0 overall, E.O. Smith 1-5

Berlin 62, Bristol Central 15

from Berlin high school

Individual Results

106 pounds: Sybella Landrie (Ber) forfeit; 113: Mason Arborio (Ber) tech fall Joseph Niek (BC), 18-3; 120: Caleb Orde (Ber) pin Julian Colon (BC), 5:46; 126: William Hamilton (BC) pin Jonah Lorenzo (Ber), 0:12; 132: Nicholas Koops (Ber) forfeit; 138: Landon Vieira (Ber) pin Aiden Lamarre (BC), 1:00; 145: Aidan Dejesus (Ber) pin Lincoln Archibald (BC), 1:50; 152: Conlan Simard (Ber) dec. Araya Guilmette (BC), 7-0; 160: Umar Malick (BC) pin Mantas Malinauskas (Ber), 0:56; 170: Marco Marino (Ber) pin Dominic Sedlak (BC), 1:59; 182 Jayden Colon (BC) dec. Tim Mrachek (Ber), 4-3; 195: Hamza Mourabit (Ber) pin Eric Cooper (BC) 0:25; 220: Nick Ebrahimi (Ber) pin Michael Thaxter (BE), 0:58; 285: Aiden Cote (Ber) pin Jeff Labbe, 0:36

Records: Berlin 11-1, 5-0 CCC South; Bristol Central 6-1, 4-1 CCC South