The wrestling team defeated intra-squad rival Rhode Island College, 32-12 in a Pilgrim League contest at the Harborside Recreation Center on Friday evening. The win clinched the 2012 Pilgrim League Championship for the Wildcats. It marks 10 straight years as Pilgrim League champions for JWU.
The match was the final regular season home contest for seniors Brian Conley (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), Justin Sitzer (Manapalan, Fla.) and John Donaleski (Belleville, N.J.).
JWU opened the match with a 9-3 victory by freshman Frank Marotti (Fairfield, N.J.) at 165 pounds and extended their lead to 6-0 on an 11-6 win by freshman Sean Prell (Warwick, N.Y.) at 174 pounds. A commanding 16-1 win in a time of 5:00 by junior Connor Nelson (Wakefield, R.I.) put the Wildcats up 11-0. RIC's first win of the evening came at 197 pounds with a 4-0 win by freshman Kyle Humphries (East Longmeadow, Mass.) to cut the lead to 11-3. JWU responded with an overtime win by pin fall at heavyweight by junior Humphrey Swift (Danbury, Conn.) in a time of 7:28 for the 17-3 advantage. The Anchormen chipped away at the lead with a major decision victory by freshman Brandon Gauthier (Lowell, Mass.) at 125 pounds, making the score 17-7. A 7-4 win by Donaleski at 133 pounds put the Wildcats up 20-7 and a win by forfeit made the score 26-7. RIC senior Geoff Riccio (Lancaster, Mass.) notched a win by pin fall in a time of 4:27 to cut the lead to 26-13. It would not be enough though as a pin fall win by sophomore 157 pounder Michael Frick (New Fairfield, Conn.) in a time of 3:58 propelled JWU to the 32-12 victory.
With the victory Johnson & Wales is now 13-3 in dual matches for the season and a perfect 4-0 in the Pilgrim League. Rhode Island College falls to 11-11 on the season and 0-1 in the conference. The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, January 28th when they travel to Brown University for a non-conference contest.
(JWU-RIC)
Wt. Score Running Score
165 Frank Marotti (JWU) Dec. Robert Sotelo (RIC) 9-3 3-0
174 Sean Prell (JWU) Dec. Caleb Crump (RIC) 11-6 6-0
184 Connor Nelson (JWU) Tech. Fall Adam Lynch (RIC) 16-1 (5:00) 11-0
197 Kyle Humphries (RIC) Dec. Blake McNulty (JWU) 4-0 11-3
285 Humphrey Swift (JWU) Pinned Brandon Regnault (RIC) 7:28 (OT) 17-3
125 Brandon Gauthier (RIC) Maj. Dec. Brian Conley (JWU) 12-3 17-7
133 John Donaleski (JWU) Dec. Mike Sugermeyer (RIC) 7-4 20-7
141 Michael Ferinde (JWU) Wins By Forfeit ----- 26-7
149 Geoff Riccio (RIC) Pinned Colby Clarke (JWU) 4:27 26-13
157 Michael Frick (JWU) Kevin Barrucci (RIC) 3:58 32-12
(Minus One Team point, RIC for unsportsmanship conduct)
