PROVIDENCE, RI – Only eight miles separate Johnson & Wales University and Rhode Island College, but the third-ranked Wildcat wrestling team showed the divide is bigger than that on the mat. Hosting its annual Friday Night Fights, Johnson & Wales dominated the Anchormen 45-3.

Johnson & Wales ran its dual meet record to 9-1.

The Wildcats retained the Providence Rivalry Cup for the third year in a row. Johnson & Wales leads the all-time series with RIC, 13-5.

The Wildcats got out to a fast start as Christopher Behen (Danvers, Mass.) posted a 20-4 tech fall at 165 pounds. Eighth-ranked Stephen Jarrell (East Greenwich, RI) at 174 pounds wasted no time in pinning Vincent Drago in just 52 seconds.

Senior Mike Labell (Stanhope, NJ) won a hard-fought 10-4 decision at 184 pounds against Michael Gallagher. Classmate Pete Hailer (East Milton, Mass.) produced pin a 1:54 versus Javante Johnson at 197 pounds.

Rhode Island College got on the board at 285 pounds when John Georges won a 3-2 decision in overtime against Jonah Aurelio (Riverside, RI). Seventh-ranked Bobby Jordan (Nutley, NJ) was dominant in his 17-1 tech fall against Daniel Murray at 125 pounds.

Dominick Salvatore (Lodi, NJ) got a take down in the last 15 seconds of his 133-pound match for the 6-4 decision that sealed the team victory. JWU got its third pin when DJ Tirelli (Oradell, NJ) pinned Michael Scaravilli at the 2:34 mark of their 141-pound match.

Junior Jamiel Stapleton (Malone, NY) beat the clock in the second period with his pin at the 4:59 mark at 149 pounds against Zach Lepre. Sophomore Thomas Grippi (Bedford Hills, NY) produced a 19-0 tech fall in the first period of his 157-pound bout.

The Wildcats are right back on the mat Saturday when they travel to Norwich for a quad meet with the Cadets, Coast Guard Academy and Western New England.

#3 Johnson & Wales 45, Rhode Island College 3

Weight Class                                                                                                                                                                   Team Score
165 lbs.                    Christopher Behen (JWU) 20-4 tech fall over Tim Caplain                                                   5-0
174 lbs.                    #8 Stephen Jarrell (JWU) fall at :52 over Vincent Drago (RIC)                                             11-0
184 lbs.                    Mike Labell (JWU) 10-4 decision over Michael Gallagher (RIC)                                          14-0
197 lbs.                    Pete Hailer (JWU) fall at 1:54 over Javante Johnson (RIC)                                                   20-0
285 lbs.                    John Georges (RIC) 3-2 decision over Jonah Aurelio (JWU) OT                                          20-3
125 lbs.                    #7 Bobby Jordan (JWU) 17-1 tech fall over Daniel Murray (RIC)                                        25-3
133 lbs.                    Dominick Salvatore (JWU) 6-4 decision over Stephen Masi (RIC)                                      28-3
141 lbs.                    DJ Tirelli (JWU) fall at 2:34 over Michael Scaravilli (RIC)                                                      34-3
149 lbs.                    Jamiel Stapleton fall at 4:59 over (JWU) Zach Lepre (RIC)                                                   40-3
157 lbs.                    Thomas Grippi (JWU) 19-0 tech fall over Zach Ford (RIC)                                                    45-3