rivereast Local Wrestlers Compete at States

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out wrestling competition in the state a year ago and last weekend Connecticut crowned high school wrestling champions for the first time since February of 2020.
           
RHAM High School placed 4th overall at the Class M Championships held at East Haven High School on Feb. 18 and 19, taking home two second-place finishes, three fourth-place finishes, and a pair of fifth-place finishes. 
           
Senior Zackary Kanaitis (138 lbs.) and Jeremy Devine (160 lbs.) each made it to their respective title matches, both finishing 2nd. Ben Fournier (106 lbs.), Kyle Currier (126 lbs.), and Thomas Paneccasio (195 lbs.) each took home 4th place, and Gavin Ploude (120 lbs.) and Michael Marques (182 lbs.) each won their 5th place matches. 
           
In the Class S finals, held at Killingly High School on Feb. 18 and 19, Bacon Academy High School placed 9th overall and Portland High School placed 11th overall. 
           
Bobcats’ senior Carson Brown (152 lbs.) made the championship match, finishing 2nd. Dominic Colella (126 lbs.) and Aaron Running (170 lbs.) each won their 3rd place matches, and Denali Collins (285 lbs.) placed 6th. 
           
Highlanders’ junior Spencer Rosado (138 lbs.) and senior Owen Brunk (220 lbs.) each won their 3rd place matches. Andrew Johnson (170 lbs.) placed 5th and Griffin Shafer (126 lbs.) placed 6th. 
           
​The top six from each division and weight class will compete in the State Open, slated for Feb. 25 and 26 at the Floyd Little Activity Center in New Haven. Following the State Open, the qualifying wrestlers will compete in the New England Championships in Rhode Island on March 4 and 5.