Killingly wrestlers Richardson, Ware win State Open championships: Weekend top performers

Killingly seniors Jack Richardson and Kaden Ware captured their first State Open wrestling championships Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.

Richardson and Ware, along with Norwich Free Academy's Jaiden James (second) and Thomas Brunelli (sixth) advanced to the New England Championship.

Killingly placed eighth at the State Open with 76.5 points.

The Norwich Free Academy gymnastics team placed third in the Class L divisional championships Saturday at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, while Killingly placed fourth in the Class S divisional finals.

In boys basketball action, Killingly and Griswold advanced to the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division 2 tournament championship game by rolling to semifinal victories Saturday at Waterford High School.

Killingly and Griswold meet Tuesday night (Feb. 28) at 6 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Here are the weekend's top performers.

Wrestling

Jack Richardson, Killingly: Senior captured his first State Open championship on Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.  Richardson won a 6-1 decision against Newtown’s Luca Manfredi in the 152-pound division final. Richardson was the Open runner-up last season before rebounding to win the New England championship.

Kaden Ware, Killingly: Senior captured his first State Open championship on Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven. Ware won a 4-0 decision against Xavier’s Kyle Levesque in the 132-pound division final. Ware was the Open runner-up last season. Killingly placed eighth at the State Open with 76.5 points. Xavier won the Open crown with 175.5 points.

Jaiden James, Norwich Free Academy: Junior reached the State Open finals before falling against New Fairfield’s Joe Mahoney on Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.

Thomas Brunelli, Norwich Free Academy: Senior placed sixth at the State Open on Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.

Gymnastics

Norwich Free Academy: The Wildcats placed third in the Class L divisional championships Saturday at Jonathan Law High School in Milford. NFA finished with 132.425 points. Southington won the title with 135.700 points. Scoring for the Wildcats were Trinity Ambruso, Allison Wojnar, Sarah Fedeli, Gracyn Goodale and Jayla Davis.

Killingly: Killingly placed fourth in the Class S divisional championships Saturday at Jonathan Law High School in Milford. Killingly finished with 129.725 points. Daniel Hand won the title with 143.075 points. Scoring for Killingly were Ella Pereira, Jayden Williams, Morgan Deojay, Natalie Guzman and Sage Bukowski.

Boys basketball

Yianni Baribeau, Killingly: Senior forward posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lift Killingly past Wheeler, 67-56, in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division 2 tournament semifinals Saturday at Waterford High School.

Johnny Kazantzis and Thomas Dreibholz, Killingly: Duo each had 17 points in Killingly’s win against Wheeler in the ECC D2 tournament semifinals.

Christian Russell, Griswold: Senior forward scored a game-high 16 points to lift the Wolverines to a 57-36 victory over Bacon Academy in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division 2 tournament semifinals Saturday at Waterford High School.

Jeff Souvenance, Griswold: Senior forward scored 13 points in the Wolverines’ win against Bacon Academy in the ECC D2 tournament semifinals.   

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly, NFA wrestlers advance to New England Championship