Waterford Wins Class S Wrestling Title in Dramatic Finish

Lancers edge out rivals Killingly and Ledyard by half a point in close state championship meet

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Waterford High School's wrestling team clinched the Class S state championship in dramatic fashion on Saturday, edging out rivals Killingly and Ledyard by just half a point in a closely contested meet at Killingly High School. The Lancers had no individual champions but earned crucial points in the wrestle-back rounds to secure the team title, their first since 2009.

Why it matters

The narrow victory highlights the intense competition and parity in Connecticut high school wrestling, with the top three teams finishing within a single point of each other. Waterford's triumph, despite lacking individual champions, demonstrates the importance of depth and resilience in winning a team title.

The details

Waterford junior CJ Carmody, wrestling up a weight class due to an injured teammate, clinched the team title for the Lancers by pinning his opponent in the second period of the fifth-place match. Other key contributors for Waterford included Cooper Myers, who finished second at 285 pounds, and AJ Stefano, Dustin Powers, and Adam Balfour, who each took third-place finishes.

  • The Class S wrestling state championship meet took place on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Waterford had not won a state title since 2009.

The players

Waterford High School

The Waterford High School wrestling team won the Class S state championship, their first title since 2009.

CJ Carmody

A junior 190-pound wrestler for Waterford High School who clinched the team title by pinning his opponent in the fifth-place match.

Chris Gamble

The head coach of the Waterford High School wrestling team.

Killingly High School

The defending champion and Eastern Connecticut Conference rival of Waterford, finishing second by just half a point.

Ledyard High School

The ECC champion, finishing third behind Waterford and Killingly in the closely contested meet.

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What they’re saying

“I've seen it (the half-point win), but I've never been a part of it. I never really pay attention to the score. I never really know exactly what's going on. I just know that Killingly and Ledyard and the other teams are all wrestling well. We've got to win that next match, got to win the close ones.”

— Chris Gamble, Head Coach, Waterford High School (theday.com)

“From pretty much day one, we've had a lot of potential. But potential doesn't mean anything unless you work hard and earn it. It's important to win those wrestle-back rounds. Our kids were doing well, but everything fell into place for us.”

— Chris Gamble, Head Coach, Waterford High School (theday.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This dramatic Class S wrestling state championship victory for Waterford High School highlights the intense competition and parity in Connecticut high school wrestling, with the top teams finishing within a single point of each other. Waterford's triumph, despite lacking individual champions, demonstrates the importance of depth and resilience in winning a team title.