By MICHAEL LETENDRE
STAFF WRITER
BRISTOL – The Bristol Eastern wrestling team took on some of the state’s top teams in state in a huge non-conference challenge from the Thomas M. Monahan Gym on Saturday, Jan. 25.
Being that the Lancers are also a top 10 squad in the Nutmeg state, there were some big expectations on the afternoon for the home team.
That talented quad consisted of Ledyard, Fairfield Warde, and Milford along with home-standing Eastern.
And the Lancers more than held its own at the event and only fell to, perhaps, the top team in the state.
Milford won the final five matches over the Lancers, wrapping up three pins, and pulling out two decisions to get past Eastern, 42-22.
But the Lancers came away with a huge win over Ledyard, 50-20, and then wrapped up a victory over Fairfield Warde 36-34 to go 2-1 against three of the state’s top ten teams.
The wrestling line-ups were impressive from top to bottom and Eastern really showed what it could do against Ledyard as it wrangled up a big 30-point win over the talented squad.
The event started out at 126 pounds and that meant an appearance by Eastern’s Dallen Pearson.
He pretty much manhandled Ledyard’s Shane Fors and won by a huge 21-5 score for a technical decision. Austin Parks (132) quickly pinned Mason Kimery in just 48 seconds of action.
At 138, Zac Thompson showed his ability on the mat and pinned Josh Rahal in 3:23. Joe Hermann (145) was a victor by a close 5-4 decision.
Mike Graff beat Eastern’s Zac Marquis (152) by a 16-1 decision. At 160, Ledyard’s Devon MarcAurele was a pin-fall victor over the Lancers’ Anthony Circosta in 19 seconds.
But Eastern won the next two bouts as James Pavelchak (170) and Steve Goodrich (182) picked up a couple of wins. Pavelchak pinned Jeff Csisar in a neat 3:28. Goodrich needed a little overtime to get past Dan Contino by an 11-9 decision. The 195-pound challenge saw Ledyard’s Calie Johnson pin Tyler Dionne in 3:08
In the next two bouts, Eastern was victorious once again. Jake Pelletier (220) took a 3-1 decision over Cody Adams. In the heavyweight challenge, Kyle Porter made his presence known. He easily pinned Josh Throop in 1:38 while at the other end of the spectrum at the 106 pound class, Eastern’s Zach Monge pinned Emme Cronin in 4:12.
Ledyard got one back at 113 when Eastern’s Dan Morocho fell to Derek Schultz by a narrow 6-5 margin.
The Lancers’ Josh Wilson (120) ended things with a pin-fall victory in 2:33 over Christian Fogg.
BRISTOL EASTERN 50, LEDYARD 20
from the Thomas M. Monahan Gym, Bristol
126 pounds: Dallen Pearson (B) dec Shane Fors (L) 21-5; 132: Austin Parks (B) pin Mason Kimery (L) 0:48; 138: Zach Thompson (B ) pin Josh Rahal (L) 3:23; 145: Joe Hermann (B) dec Nick Lauer (L) 5-4; 152: Mike Graff (L) dec Zach Marquis (B) 16-1; 160: Devon MarcAurele (L) pin Anthony Circosta (B) 0:19; 170: James Pavelchak (B) pin Jeff Csisar (L) 3:28; 182: Steve Goodrich (B) dec Dan Contino (L) 11-9 OT; 195: Caile Johnson (L) pin Tyler Dionne (B) 3:08; 220: Jake Pelletier (B) dec Cody Adams (L) 3-1; 285: Kyle Porter (B) pin Josh Throop (L) 1:38; 106: Zach Monge (B) pin Emme Cronin (L) 4:12; 113: Derek Schultz (L) dec Dan Morocho (B) 6-5; 120: Josh Wilson (B) pin Christian Fogg (L) 2:33