Colchester - Aren Norman said he generally has the bad luck of the draw in wrestling meets.Consider, then, what Bacon Academy's 189-pound junior was up against Wednesday:

Consider, then, what Bacon Academy's 189-pound junior was up against Wednesday:• Bacon team trailed Ledyard by three points with Norman's match being the final one of the night.

• Bacon team trailed Ledyard by three points with Norman's match being the final one of the night.• Norman had to both win by at least a major decision because a decision would have only tied the match and the Colonels would have prevailed based on criteria.

• Norman had to both win by at least a major decision because a decision would have only tied the match and the Colonels would have prevailed based on criteria.Norman had to let Dakota Kelly escape with 42 seconds remaining, then took him down with 15 seconds left to earn the major decision (11-3) and give the third-ranked Bobcats a 32-31 victory over the No. 9 Colonels in an Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division match at Dave Shea Gymnasium.

Norman had to let Dakota Kelly escape with 42 seconds remaining, then took him down with 15 seconds left to earn the major decision (11-3) and give the third-ranked Bobcats a 32-31 victory over the No. 9 Colonels in an Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division match at Dave Shea Gymnasium.“It was crazy," Norman said. "I've never been this excited about winning a match."

“It was crazy," Norman said. "I've never been this excited about winning a match."If the match had finished in a 31-31 tie, Ledyard would have won the fourth criteria — number of forfeits. Bacon forfeited at 103 pounds.

If the match had finished in a 31-31 tie, Ledyard would have won the fourth criteria — number of forfeits. Bacon forfeited at 103 pounds.Norman, then, had no choice but to collect as many points as he could.

Norman, then, had no choice but to collect as many points as he could."I wasn't even thinking out there," Norman said. "I was just going, going, going. I knew that I had to get the majority (decision) at least, but my mindset before the match was that I was going to pin him. I was going for all six."

"I wasn't even thinking out there," Norman said. "I was just going, going, going. I knew that I had to get the majority (decision) at least, but my mindset before the match was that I was going to pin him. I was going for all six."Norman escaped and had a takedown with a little over a minute left in the third period to take a 9-2 lead.

Norman escaped and had a takedown with a little over a minute left in the third period to take a 9-2 lead.Moments later, he let Kelly go.

Moments later, he let Kelly go."It was risky, but I'm a lot better at neutral than I am on top," Norman said. "I'm getting better at top, but I'm still a long way before I'm comfortable in neutral (position)."

"It was risky, but I'm a lot better at neutral than I am on top," Norman said. "I'm getting better at top, but I'm still a long way before I'm comfortable in neutral (position)."Both wrestlers went out of bounds with 12 seconds left on the clock, but three seconds were added.

Both wrestlers went out of bounds with 12 seconds left on the clock, but three seconds were added."Twelve seconds left, then (Ledyard) argued that it was 15 seconds," Norman laughed. "(I thought), 'No!"

"Twelve seconds left, then (Ledyard) argued that it was 15 seconds," Norman laughed. "(I thought), 'No!"Bacon coach Michael Voiland said: "The last 14 seconds-or-so were really wrenching, but he did a really good job."

Bacon coach Michael Voiland said: "The last 14 seconds-or-so were really wrenching, but he did a really good job."It was the first time that the Bobcats (4-0, 3-0) beat Ledyard at home. It was also the first time the defending ECC champions have beaten both No. 5 Waterford and the Colonels in the same season.

It was the first time that the Bobcats (4-0, 3-0) beat Ledyard at home. It was also the first time the defending ECC champions have beaten both No. 5 Waterford and the Colonels in the same season.The meet featured five lead changes, including three in the final three matches.

The meet featured five lead changes, including three in the final three matches."(It's a) tough loss," Ledyard coach Jason Lanoue said. "It stinks, but at the same time, it's great competition.

"(It's a) tough loss," Ledyard coach Jason Lanoue said. "It stinks, but at the same time, it's great competition."We're still young, I only have three seniors, and they've got some things to work on. But you know what, they have more heart this year. It showed tonight. Hopefully that carries on to the rest of the season and we get a little better physically."

"We're still young, I only have three seniors, and they've got some things to work on. But you know what, they have more heart this year. It showed tonight. Hopefully that carries on to the rest of the season and we get a little better physically."As important as Norman's win was, teammate Dan Thompson had just as important a performance in defeat. He didn't get pinned at 171 pounds by Shane Sullivan, last season's CIAC Class M runner-up, and instead lost 11-3.

As important as Norman's win was, teammate Dan Thompson had just as important a performance in defeat. He didn't get pinned at 171 pounds by Shane Sullivan, last season's CIAC Class M runner-up, and instead lost 11-3.Sullivan's win gave Ledyard a 31-28 lead, but kept the Bobcats in striking distance.

Sullivan's win gave Ledyard a 31-28 lead, but kept the Bobcats in striking distance."Shane Sullivan is a tough nut," Voiland said. "Danny has got to step it up a little bit, but Danny is really a 160-pounder. We have two 160-pounders and Shane is a true 171-pounder. Danny going out there the way he did, Danny never quits."

"Shane Sullivan is a tough nut," Voiland said. "Danny has got to step it up a little bit, but Danny is really a 160-pounder. We have two 160-pounders and Shane is a true 171-pounder. Danny going out there the way he did, Danny never quits."Lanoue said: "I think (Thompson) was pinned, but, hey, referee's decision."

Lanoue said: "I think (Thompson) was pinned, but, hey, referee's decision."Matt McAllister (112), Evan Sheehan (119), Nick Dodge (125), Clayton Johnson (140), P.J. Mickens (145) and Devin Covone (160) also won for Bacon.

Matt McAllister (112), Evan Sheehan (119), Nick Dodge (125), Clayton Johnson (140), P.J. Mickens (145) and Devin Covone (160) also won for Bacon.Matt Jones (103), Thomas Finney (130), Taylor Gunnels (135), Alex Manwaring (152), Josh Lawrence (315) and Alex Lawrence (285) also won for Ledyard.

Matt Jones (103), Thomas Finney (130), Taylor Gunnels (135), Alex Manwaring (152), Josh Lawrence (315) and Alex Lawrence (285) also won for Ledyard.