Central is in a down year. It's a rebuilding year for Central. I have heard this all year. When you hear it enough times you start to believe it. The team I saw tonight is not rebuilding, it's built. They were not down, they were up. They certainly did not look like a team that was ready to take their Western Mass title and be satisfied. They looked like a team on a mission. Tonight the Golden Eagles knocked off the division one top seeded B-R Trojans in convincing style. The match started at 103 and the Golden Eagles got off to a rocky start when Tyrique Dowdell was bested by B-R's Bob Holstein 4-2. Central then countered with pins by Daniel Salgado and Peter Hager giving the Golden Eagles a 12 – 3 lead. A lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the night. B-R's Matt Libby (125) and Nate Jaramillo (130) scored major victories to close to within one point. At 135, Central's John Lebron played hero again, when he captured a decision against Vasili Gerakas in OT. This was one that Bridewater-Raynham had to be counting on and losing it hurt, especially with Central's strength coming up. Bemnet Banks won by major, then Manny Ocasio won a decision over Adam Traviglione. The score was 22-11 and B-R needed a couple wins if they were going to stay in it. At 152, B-R's Steve Libby outclassed Anthony Brooks and handed him a 13 – 5 major loss. With that win, B-R pulled to within 7 points and needed to win at least one of the next three matches to stay in the hunt. It was not to be as Anthony Williams and Estavon Gonzalez both won decisions for the Golden Eagles and Nate Collins put the match away with a major decision over Steve Capabianco. With the match won, the Golden Eagles did not send anyone to the mat for 215 and 285. Bridgewater-Raynham followed suit and the match came to an end with the Golden Eagles moving on to Marlborough next week to face a strong Franklin team. The "rebuilding" Golden Eagles on a "down year" have moved on to the State Championship Finals.This marks the fourth time in the last five years that the Golden Eagles have made it to the final match in the state tournament.

This is the second time in the last two years that the Golden Eagles have defeated the Trojans to move on to the state finals. This was a close match with several matches that could have gone either way. Fortunately for Central, all those matches that could have gone either way all went Central's way. Bridgewater-Raynham was undefeated going into tonights match. I heard the coach tell the guys before the match that the only reason they were undefeated this season is because they hadn't wrestled Central. The team proved his point.

It all comes down to one match now. One more win will give the Golden Eagles their second state title. There is no guarantee. Franklin is a tough team that has just moved up to division one this year from division two where they were state champs multiple times. This match will be held at a neutral site (Marlborough) and should be an all out war. Get the day off, make your plans and be ready to travel to Marlborough next week to root your Golden Eagles into a state championship.