Undefeated Bristol squads will meet for CCC South title next week

Morgan’s Louis Bradley (top) controls Haddam-Killingworth’s Benjamin Williams in the recent Greater Hartford Open final at 138 pounds. Hicks won, 6-0.

Over the years, there have been legendary matches between cross-town rivals Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern for bragging rights and championships. It will happen again this year.

The two Bristol schools will battle for the CCC South championship again on Wednesday night in Central’s gym. Both schools are undefeated and the winner will take home the title. No. 5 Bristol Eastern (8-0, 5-0 CCC South) took advantage of three forfeits and won 10 matches in a 58-12 win over Plainville on Wednesday. No. 7 Bristol Central (19-0, 5-0 CCC South) remained undefeated with a 64-12 win over E.O. Smith.

It’s been nearly a decade since the two teams met in the final dual meet of the regular season with the CCC South title on the line. The last time was in 2012 when Eastern beat Central, 33-23. Since 1997, the two teams have met six times with a league title on the line. Central has won four times with their most recent CCC South championship coming in 2010 after the Rams beat Eastern, 32-26.

Eastern has won eight of the last nine CCC South championships and has won their last 26 CCC South matches dating back to 2016 and a loss to Middletown.

Results and boxscores: Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Results and boxscores: Thursday, February 6, 2020

In the Southwest Conference, New Milford (6-1, 5-0 SWC Colonial) dominated Newtown with a 48-24 to win the SWC Colonial title. The Nighthawks slip to 12-5 overall and 4-1 in SWC Colonial. Stratford beat Joel Barlow, 46-29 to win the SWC Patriot pennant. Stratford went 5-0 in SWC Patriot and won six of the seven SWC matches they wrestled this winter.

No. 3 Fairfield Warde had six pins in a dominating 53-18 win over No. 9 Staples in a top 10 bout on Thursday night. The Mustangs won four matches with victories over Fitch 75-3, Ridgefield, 71-6, and Shelton, 65-18, to improve to 18-1 on the season.

* * * *

With five pins, Stafford remained undefeated in the NCCC with a 60-24 win over Granby on Thursday. Stafford (8-3, 6-0 NCCC) completes their league schedule next Wednesday when they visit Suffield/Windsor Locks (12-3, 5-1 NCCC). Stafford will be looking for the win to go into next weekend’s NCCC championship tournament with a lead.

In the NCCC, teams earn one point for each dual meet victory against a league opponent and a half point for every team they beat at the league tournament. A win by Stafford next week will give the Bulldogs seven points going into the league tournament and a one-point lead over Suffield and Canton (11-11, 5-1 NCCC), providing the Warriors beat Granby on Saturday in their final NCCC dual meet of the winter.

If Suffield can beat Stafford, then Stafford, Canton and Suffield will all be tied with six points each and whomever wins the league tournament would bring home the conference championship.

Canton had four pins and took advantage of five forfeits in a 54-12 win over Coventry on Wednesday while Suffield/Windsor Locks rolled with a 57-12 rout over Portland.

Results and boxscores: Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Results and boxscores: Thursday, February 6, 2020

Wethersfield (10-2, 5-0 CCC North) is in position to win their first league title since 2007 after Wednesday night’s 34-30 win over Manchester. The Eagles got three hard-earned decisions from Marcus Nieves (182), Nick Thompson (195) and Julez Thompson (152) and with a pair of pins from Dylan Zuerblis (285) and Atif Raza (145) to slip past the Redhawks (16-4, 4-1 CCC North).

Wethersfield can win the CCC North title on Wednesday with a win at Avon. But the defending CCC North champion Falcons (17-5, 4-1 CCC North) can win a share of the championship if they can beat the Eagles. The last championship for Wethersfield was in 2007 when they won the CCC West title.

Results and boxscores: Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Results and boxscores: Thursday, February 6, 2020

No. 2 Simsbury (9-1, 5-0 CCC West) can win their second straight title with a win over Farmington on Wednesday. The Trojans easily beat New Britain, 63-12.

In the CCC East, RHAM (17-6, 4-0 CCC East) beat East Catholic, 54-16 on Wednesday to get in position to win their third CCC East title in four years. The Sachems can win the title with a win over Rocky Hill (9-6, 3-1 CCC East) next Wednesday. If Rocky Hill can beat RHAM, they could win a share of their first league since 1998. If Rocky Hill prevails, Enfield can also claim a share of the CCC East crown by beating East Catholic next Wednesday.

Results and boxscores: Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Results and boxscores: Thursday, February 6, 2020

In the Southern Connecticut Conference, No. 4 Xavier (7-0, 5-0 SCC Div. I) can capture the SCC Division I title with a win over Hand next Wednesday. Xavier had a dominating 64-9 win over Wednesday in the final home meet of the season. … In SCC Division II, Notre Dame-West Haven (13-18, 5-1) has clinched a share of the title in just their fourth varsity season. Morgan (9-7, 4-1) and Fairfield Prep (7-7, 4-1) can earn claim a piece of the championship with victories next Tuesday over New Haven and Jonathan Law, respectively.

No. 10 Killingly finished undefeated in the ECC with a 55-21 win over Windham on Wednesday night. Killingly High coach Rich Bowen extends his state record for career wins to 621. Killingly is 21-2 on the season.

Results and boxscores: Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Results and boxscores: Thursday, February 6, 2020