By Michael Letendre

NEW HAVEN – Both Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern wrestling programs were represented at the CIAC State Open over Saturday and Sunday as Connecticut’s best grapplers hit the mats one more time.

And that meant Will Hamilton and Alex Marshall were both in action, representing Bristol, from the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.

Hamilton, the stud from Central, qualified for the third place bout at his usual 120 pounds and made that appearance count as he ramped up a huge decision against Norwalk’s Phoenix Gardella.

In a matter of 4:42, Hamilton decimated Gardell to the tune of a 23-7 technical fall as a 15-plus point margin in scholastic wrestling immediately stops the bout.

That finish allowed the Rams to place 32nd overall behind a 22 point showing.

“One of Coach Q’s favorite sayings is, ‘toughest guy in the bracket places third.’ Will Hamilton – demonstrating physical and mental toughness en route to a third place finish at the CT State Open – embodied this idea this weekend,” said the Bristol Central wrestling account via Twitter.

And then in the fifth place match at 160 pounds, Eastern’s Marshall fell to Edward Barlage from Guilford over a 4-2 decision.

Eastern notched 11 points overall in the two-day challenge, good for a tie for 48th place.

Central’s Umar Malick (152 pounds) hung in with eventual runner-up Mason Concascia of Waterford but was pinned in the round of 32 via pin-fall in 1:39.

Xavier of Middletown – the Class L champion – easily won the Open, squaring up nine top-6 finishes for 204 points while Danbury (145 points) was a distant second place finisher.

Class L runner-up Simsbury nabbed third place, East Hartford – tying with Danbury for the Class L title – was a half-point behind in fourth while Fairfield Warde (109) rounded out the top five.

2022 CIAC State Open

from the Floyd Little Athletic Center, New Haven

Local Results

120 Pounds

Championship: Jackson Heslin (Xavier) DEC Ethan Titus (Canton), 4-1

3rd: Will Hamilton (Bristol Central) TF Phoenix Gardella (Norwalk), 23-7 4:42

5th: Ben Zuckerman (Fairfield Warde) F Antonio Madero (Foran), 1:33.

160 Pounds

Championship: Chad Mairano (Simsbury) DEC Joshua Nieroda (Suffield/Windsor Locks), 5-3

3rd: Fisher Stites (Newtown) DEC Jeremy Devine (Rham), 5-3

5th: Edward Barlage (Guilford) DEC Alex Marshall (Bristol Eastern), 4-2 SV.