ECC loss fueled Richardson, Killingly to state crown

KILLINGLY - Jack Richardson looked up at all the championship wrestling banners hanging inside the gymnasium. He saw his name on the “New England champions” banner draped on the wall and decided that this was his moment.

“I just knew no one could hang with me and that was my mindset,” Richardson said.

It doesn't take long for legends to make a statement.

Richardson’s 30 second pin in the 152 pound Class S final put a huge exclamation point on Killingly’s dominating two-day performance at the CIAC Class S state divisional championships, which took place in front of a boisterous home crowd at Killingly High School.

More:Killingly's bid for fifth straight ECC wrestling title falls short

Six time state champions

Powered by state championship performances from seniors Kaden Ware and Richardson, and junior Ian Cathell, Killingly captured the school’s sixth state wrestling crown on Saturday.

“It means so much to us,” Richardson said. “We worked so hard for this. Every single day for two hours. We never missed days. We’re always going at it and helping each other get better.  I’m just glad we were able to come out on top. Everybody stepped up today. It was a big team effort.”

Killingly, which finished second in 2022, earned 213.5 points. New Fairfield was the runner up with 202.5 points, ECC champion Windham was third with 188 points, while defending Class S champion Haddam-Killingworth placed fourth with 165 points.

More:Killingly built a wrestling juggernaut. How the team remains unbeaten, eyeing championship

One week after falling short in the ECC championship meet, Killingly bounced back in a big way.

“We got the kids together and said, ‘Hey, we can wrestle better.’ Obviously, we weren’t on our A game (at the ECCs),” Killingly coach Rich Bowen said. “We just went back and had a couple of good practices and we talked about what we were going to do, which was just really come out focused and wrestle hard. Don’t leave anything out there. It’s our last meet regardless, just go for it. And they did.”

ECC quarterfinal loss was the fuel for Richardson's fire

Richardson’s stunning loss in the ECC quarterfinals  - his first defeat of the season - and four-time defending champ Killingly’s subsequent third place finish behind Windham and Norwich Free Academy was the burning fuel for a week of preparation for the Class S championships.

“Jack is our leader and for him to lose puts a damper on the team’s spirit,” Bowen said. ”It happens to the best guys all around the nation. You just get caught. Point-wise it wasn't the issue, it’s how it affects your team. We’re a pretty tight team and that hurt the spirit more than anything.”

Taking their cue from Richardson, who put his head down and grinded all week, Killingly had 10 wrestlers reach the podium.

More:Athlete of the Week: Killingly's Kaden Ware

“Jack was on a mission,” Bowen said. “He was focused today and that in turn helped us focus too. The kids do watch your best wrestlers and they want to be like him. He wrestled very well in the tournament.”

Richardson pinned Cromwell’s Matt Gish in 30 seconds to capture his second straight Class S title.

“I think losing was probably the best thing for me and just made me stronger,” Richardson said.  “I couldn't believe it, honestly, but sometimes you kind of  just need that. It was something to bring me down to earth and refocus.”

Ware defeated Sheehan’s Jay Chase by a 13-2 major decision to win the 138 pound division and remain unbeaten.

“Everyone supported each other today,” Ware said. “Also, it’s at home so the atmosphere here is surreal. It’s just motivating.”

It was Ware’s third straight Class S title.

“It definitely wasn’t easy,” said Ware, who edged Gilbert’s Evan Schibi, 2-0, in the semifinals. “We worked our butts off this week and focused on our mistakes and capitalized on them and it showed here. We had a goal and we all worked hard in the offseason.”

“Those guys (Richardson and Ware) have been with me now for four years,” Bowen said. “They are amazing. They’re just like having coaches on the mat. With those two working hard, they’ve created a family atmosphere here.”

Cathell decisioned Old Lyme’s Hoshena Gemme, 10-5, to win the 113-pound division. Gemme is only the second female in state history to reach a divisional final.

Killingly also got medal performances from sophomore Brady Zadora (second, 126), sophomore Mason Connetti (fourth, 106), junior Amani Samuel (fifth, 138), junior Giovanni Sanchez-ruelas (sixth, 145), junior Devin Exarhoulias (fifth, 220), and sophomore Anthony Oates (fourth, 285).

It was Killingly’s first state title since back-to-back crowns in 2019 and 2020.

“This one is a little more special,” Bowen said. “First off with the captains (Richardson and Ware) graduating after leading the team for so long. And then we had so many injuries and those younger kids had to come in and fill the void and they did it. They weren’t maybe number 1 or 2 but you don’t win without them. Those kids played a big role and that’s what happened this week. We had every single kid score points and when that happens everybody feels a part of it. They stay together and motivated. I’m going to relish this one for a little bit.”

Griswold places seventh in Class S

Griswold/Wheeler earned 107 points and finished seventh in the 31-team Class S field.

The Wolverines got medal performances from ECC champion Seth Christie (second, 106), ECC champion Jesse Costley (third, 145), Jeffrey Bentley (sixth, 138), Michael Capalbo (sixth, 182), and Jonathan Macfeat (sixth, 285).

NFA finishes 11th in Class LL

Norwich Free Academy earned 102 points and placed 11th in the loaded 24-team Class LL divisional championship field at Trumbull High School.

The Wildcats got medal performances from ECC champion Jaiden James (third, 120), Dugan Marsh (sixth, 138), Thomas Brunelli (third, 152), and Zaire Wallace (fourth, 182).

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly bounces back to win Class S wrestling title