By Michael Letendre

MANCHESTER – After a 63-12 victory over Glastonbury last Wednesday evening, the Bristol Central wrestling team was back in action at the Skip Ardan Invitational from Manchester high school on Saturday.

The Rams earned a fourth-place finish as East Hartford won the event while Trumbull took second and RHAM of Hebron earned third.

The Rams ended the tournament with two first place finishes as Will Hamilton and Landon Dionne both won for the locals.

At 126 pounds, Hamilton was an easy winner in the championship tilt, spinning West Springfield’s Fahad Aljashammi by a 17-1 technical fall.

Then at 145, Dionne made it to the final round with a pin-fall victory over Tolland’s Evan Albert to help lead the Central contingent.

In the consolation finals, Central’s Gabe Buden was in the third-place bout at 220 pounds.

He drew a tough assignment against Mike Mensah of East Hartford and fell by a 7-1 decision.

Several grapplers from Central also saw mat time at the event.

Joe Niek (113 pounds) won a couple bouts along the way for Central as did Julian Colon (120).

Aiden Lamarre (138) earned a victory while Lincoln Archibald (145) battled for the Rams.

Umar Malick nabbed wins at 160 pounds while Dom Sedlak (170), Jayden Colon (180), and Johnny Rios (195) were all in action for the Rams that day.

Mike Thaxter (220) and Jeff Labbe (285) also took on some big boys to complete a busy weekend on the mats.

On Wednesday, Central looks to continue its luck on the road – battling Berlin in a CCC South bout from the Jim Day Gymnasium.

The varsity match commences at 6 p.m.

Skip Ardan Invitational

from Manchester high school

Team results – 1. East Hartford, 2. Trumbull, 3. RHAM 4. Bristol Central

Individual results
126 pounds: Will Hamilton (Bristol Central) tech fall Fahad Aljashammi (West Springfield), 17-1

145 pounds: Landon Dionne (Bristol Central)

Consolation finals (third place)

220 pounds: Mike Mensah (East Hartford) dec. Gabe Buden (Bristol Central), 7-1