Sporting News CT – SNCTTV

By PHIL BRODSKY -

Foran High’s Rich Garcia placed third at 140 pounds in last weekend’s Southern Connecticut Conference Tournament, which the Lions hosted. Garcia won three matches (all by pins) before getting caught and being pinned by Ryan Butler of Xavier in the semi-finals. He came back from that loss to pin Cheshire’s Andrew Rodgers in 1 minute, 13 seconds in their battle for third place.
The Lions’ Clay Callahan also made it to the consolation Finals where Amity’s A.J. Pyne outpointed him 5-0 in their 145 pound battle for third place. Callahan ended up with a 2-2 record for the meet. His previous loss was in the semi-final round where le was defeated by Xavier’s Tyler Cunningham (the eventual champ at 145), whom Foran Coach Frank Peters feels is one of the top wrestlers in New England in his weight class.
C.J. Luth was expected to be in the chase for the SCC crown at 112, but he had suffered an ankle injury prior to the meet and could not wrestle.
“I’m please with what my two guys (Callahan and Garcia) did. Despite his loss to Pyne, I though Clay wrestled tough all through the tournament. He beat the Carroll kid from Hand on a last second take down in the consolation semis. I think he is peaking at just the right time,” Peters said.
Foran now advances to the Class M Championship Tournament, which starts on Friday at Windham High School in Willimantic. Luth, who will be back at full strength is seeded first at 112, but due to a personal conflict, Garcia will not be able to wrestle. Callahan is seeded fifth at 145.