Two long-time coaches inducted into Bristol Sports Hall of Fame

Two long-time wrestling coaches, Bryant Lishness, left, and Brian Archibald, right, were recently inducted into the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame. (Photos courtesy Bristol Sports Hall of Fame).

Two long-time Bristol coaches were inducted recently into the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame – Bryant Lishness, who coached at Bristol Eastern and Brian Archibald, who coached across town at Bristol Central. Both men grew up in Bristol.

Lishness has been director of the Gladiators wrestling program at the Boys and Girls Club since 1997 and was the head coach at Bristol Eastern from 2007-21. He complied a career record of 219-41, led the Lancers to nine CCC division titles and three Class L state championships. Eastern had a school-record 51-match winning streak from 2016-19.

Archibald was a Class L champion at Bristol Central in 1994, helping the Rams win two conference titles. He also played baseball and soccer for Central. At Franklin and Pierce University in New Hampshire, he played collegiate soccer and baseball.

After college, he played baseball in the Greater Hartford Twilight League for 12 years and was pitcher of the year in 2007. At Central, he coached wrestling, boys soccer, girls soccer, baseball and football.

He was the varsity wrestling coach for the Rams for 12 seasons (2003-14) with a career record of 181-55, four CCC South titles, two Class L runnerup finishes and a school 41-match winning streak (2007-09). The Rams were undefeated in 2008 (23-0).

Learn more about each inductee.

Bryant Lishness

Brian Archibald