By Michael Letendre

Every Wednesday in January was always a special day in the city of Bristol because it meant the scholastic wrestling squads were in action, hitting the mats and usually getting to the pay window in the process.

The pandemic cancelled scholastic wrestling this season but that won’t stop The Bristol Edition from taking a quick look back to the year 2013.

Eight years ago, on Wednesday, January 23, Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern both picked up victories against CCC opponents that evening.

In fact, the Rams and Lancers won in complete romps.

But the focus is on Central as the program was going through an unusual rough patch that season after coming off a very good campaign the previous year (15-3).

However, with the team hitting on all cylinders to end the year at the CIAC Class L Championships, the Rams were looking to score a big CCC Interdivisional victory against Edwin O. Smith High School of Storrs on that January 23 date.

That night, everything clicked for the Rams – getting big pin-fall victories up and down the card while taking advantage of a few forfeit wins along the way.

In the end, Central posted a 72-6 triumph over Smith from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium in Bristol.

Central head coach Brian Archibald saw his troops pick up the win over the Panthers in just about every weight class.

At 106 pounds, Central’s Joe Cherwinski won via forfeit and Breck Conlon (113 pounds) pinned Smith’s Melissa Robichaux in just over 90 seconds of the first round (1:25).

Central’s Josh Ganavage (120) pinned Michael Ivan in 4:24 while Kadeem Richards (126) picked up win over Smith’s Elijah Maynard by a 7-2 decision.

Central Running back Tyler Borrow (132) did not have an opponent to face that night – earning six points for his squad – while at 138 pounds, Central’s Jordan Nadimi nabbed a close 4-3 decision against Smith’s Jacob Quirue.

Sean Ziogas (145) pinned the Panthers’ Graham Turner in 1:34 and Central’s Jordan Pelletier (152) earned a forfeit victory.

Glenn Pierce (160) needed all but three seconds of the first round to pin Smith’s Nick Kyparidis and then at 170, Central’s Ian Gonzalez nearly followed suit.

His win came via pin-fall in 1:51 against Smith’s Bradley Marston.

Central’s Gino Rafaniello (182) won on a forfeit, Cy McIntosh (195) pinned the Panthers’ Robert Clark in about 60 seconds while Cody McQuarrie (220) and Smith’s Jake Koehler bout almost went the distance.

In the end, McQuarrie was a pin-fall winner (5:53).

E.O’s Matt Cobb grabbed the only victory for the visitors that day, pinning Central’s Troy Maldonado (1:37).

Central had a great finish that season at the Class L Championships over February 15-16, placing sixth overall with 118.5 points.

At 132 pounds, Burrow won the state title as he tallied a huge 13-4 major decision victory over Farmington’s Garrett Hastings while Nadimi (138) earned a sixth place finish as did Pierce (160).

Rafaniello (182) took home third place in a forfeit victory against Nery Ceron from Norwalk and finally at 195, McIntosh was the runner-up as Central finished the campaign with zest.

NOTES…Eastern won the CCC South title in 2013 behind a 6-0 record (16-3 overall) while Central finished 2-4 in the South and 6-9 overall…Eastern’s 60-19 win over Plainville that same January 23 evening established a new team record as the Lancers ended its meet against the Blue Devils with 10 pin-fall wins…According to the Connecticut Wrestling Online website, the 10 pins by Eastern was one off the city record, held by Central.The Rams had 11 victories via pin in a match from 1999 – a Mum City record.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Results

Bristol Central 72, Edwin O. Smith 6

Bristol Eastern 60, Plainville 19

Bristol Central 72, Edwin O. Smith 6

from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium

Individual Results

106 pounds: Joe Cherwinski (BC) forfeit; 113: Breck Conlon (BC) pin Melissa Robichaux, 1:25; 120: Josh Ganavage (BC) pin Michael Ivan; 126: Kadeem Richards (BC) dec. Elijah Maynard, 7-2; 132: Tyler Borrow (BC) forfeit; 138: Jordan Nadimi (BC) dec. Jacob Quirue, 4-3; 145: Sean Ziogas (BC) pin Graham Turner, 1:34; 152: Jordan Pelletier (BC) forfeit; 160: Glenn Pierce (BC) pin Nick Kyparidis, 1:57; 170: Ian Gonzalez (BC) pin Bradley Marston, 1:51; 182: Gino Rafaniello (BC) forfeit; 195: Cy McIntosh (BC) pin Robert Clark, 0:59; 220: Cody McQuarrie (BC) pin Jake Koehler, 5:53; 285: Matt Cobb (E.O.) pin Troy Maldonado, 1:37.