By Michael Letendre

SOUTHINGTON – The Bristol Central wrestling team battled top-ranked Southington on Wednesday night in a CCC Interdivisional showdown as two quality programs locked horns.

The Knights, entering the week of January 31 ranked ninth in the state, were able to fend off the Rams by a 51-22 final from Southington High School.

Southington improved to 9-2 overall while Central fell to 9-3.

The Rams had some success up and down the lineup as Kaden Dragon, at 113 pounds, was able to get the jump on Trenton Davis – pinning the grappler in 1:03 to generate his squad six points.

Then at 160 pounds, Central veteran Lincoln Archibald ended up shutting out Southington’s Mike Affum.

Archibald scooped up an 8-0 major decision victory while at the heavyweight positions, Central’s duo of Johnny Rios and Michael Beaucar ended the night with wins for the Rams.

Rios (220) won via pinfall over Caden Powers in just 37 seconds and Beaucar (285) was a forfeit winner, not having an opponent to square off against.

Connecticut Top-10

The Connecticut Wrestling Online’s Top 10 high school wrestling poll for the Week of January 31 sees Xavier (9-4 overall, 500 poll points) take the top overall spot.

Danbury (11-1 overall, 472 points) came in second place, New Milford (6-0, 450) was third, Newtown (16-2, 400) nabbed fourth while CCC power East Hartford (8-1, 356) rolled up fifth.

The rest of the top 10 includes Fairfield  (No. 6, 13-1 overall), Killingly (No. 7, 21-0), Trumbull (No. 8, 21-2), Southington (No. 9, 9-2) and RHAM (No. 10, 24-2).

Ending the Regular Season

After this weekend, the last regular season bout on Central’s ledger comes on Wednesday, February 8 when Bristol Eastern invades the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium for a CCC South confrontation.

Match time is 6 p.m.

The CIAC Class L Championships commences over the weekend of February 17-18 and the Rams will be heavily involved at the event.

Bristol Central Wrestling – CCC Interdivisional Action

SOUTHINGTON 51, BRISTOL CENTRAL 22

from Southington High School

Individual Results

106 pounds: Joseph Garofalo (S) pin Engher Disla almonte (BC), 1:36; 113: Kaden Dragon (BC) pin Trenton Davis (S), 1:03; 120: Ethan Vitti (S) major dec. Joseph Niek (BC), 12-1; 126: Jared Mangiafico (S) pin Julian Colon (BC), 1:57; 132: Colton Thorpe (S) pin Kyle Romann (BC), 1:31; 138: Rosco Cook (S) pin Alexander Zolla (BC), 1:05; 145: Josh Howard (S) major dec. Landon Dionne (BC), 8-0; 152: Chiemeka Ogbuagu (S) pin Derek Sedlak (BC), 1:59; 160: Lincoln Archibald (BC) major dec. Mike Affum (S), 8-0; 170: Malik Anderson (S) dec. Ayden Pratt (BC), 8-3; 182: Andrew Mikosz (S) major dec. Jayden Colon (BC), 12-4; 195: Aaron Borkowski (S) pin Jomar Lopez (BC), 1:37; 220: Johnny Rios (BC) pin Caden Powers (S), 0:37; 285: Michael Beaucar (BC) forfeit.

Record: Southington 9-2 overall; Bristol Central 9-3.