Sullivan Adding To Family Wrestling Lore

Some of Brendan Sullivan's greatest wrestling competition does not come from opponents. It comes from blood.

The Ledyard High senior, who finished 6th in the Class M 152 pound weight class last year, not only measures himself against the best from the ECC, but also in his own household.

His father, Michael Sullivan, won the Class L state title at 135in 1980. His brother Shane won a Class M title as a sophomore 140-pounder in 2008 and placed high in the State Open as a junior and senior in heavier weights. His cousin, Sean, compiled a successful Greco-Roman career after competing at Ledyard.

"Nobody puts pressure on me, but I do feel expectations to do well and live up to my family's history," Sullivan said. "You want to meet up with the standards they set and make the family proud."

On Saturday, Sullivan brought home his first invitational championship ribbon, winning the Bristol Central Invite to highlight the Colonels' second-place finish. He was the only Ledyard champ.

"It's Brendan's first," Ledyard coach Steve Bilheimer said. "He looked dominant all day, not allowing a point in three decision victories. He and I are hopeful he can keep it going."

Sullivan has carved out a successful LHS wrestling career if not one that plasters his name with other past Colonel state champions all over Ledyard's Wall of Fame on walls of the team's "Bomb Shelter" practice cellar.

Bilheimer believes it's unfortunate for anyone to automatically expect a sibling or son succeed at the same level of a relative with championship history.

"Brendan and I talked about this recently," Bilheimer said. "Everyone knows he has a really good family history, but I told Brendan it's important that you are you. Go out there, do the best you can and have fun. In the end, nobody cares how good you are except you. Don't worry about what others think. Worry about yourself."

Sullivan and the once-beaten Colonels rose to No. 5 in the state poll last week. Bilheimer likes the team's progress. Matt Jones (112), Brandon Finney (135), Dean Gilbert (145), Alex Manwaring (160) and Dakota Kelly (171) finished second in Bristol.

"We're not 100 percent but we're right where we want to be," Bilheimer said. "We're in good shape, not great shape, but you want to be in great shape a month from now in post-season."

Sullivan hopes his Bristol Central Invite title is a preview of his post-season. He'll have his hands full in a loaded Eastern Connecticut Conference 152-pound class with Fitch's Cameron Gonzalez, who beat him at the Waterford Invite final, and Griswold's Brandon Walsh.

"I've come so close to winning invitationals before," Sullivan said. "It felt great to get one."