PROVIDENCE, RI – Coming into the NEWA Duals, the seniors on the Johnson & Wales University wrestling team had never beaten Roger Williams University. They ended that streak on Sunday as the third-ranked host Wildcats beat the No. 6 Hawks 28-14 in the finals.
Johnson & Wales won its fifth NEWA Duals crown, but it's first since 2009. The victory over Roger Williams snapped a streak of seven-straight losses dating back to 2011.
JWU opened the day with a 50-3 victory over New England College, then took down Wesleyan 47-4 in the quarterfinals. A 43-3 victory over WPI setup the championship match with rival Roger Williams.
Johnson & Wales got off to a fast start against the Hawks. No. 7 Bobby Jordan (Nutley, NJ) started the match with a 13-5 major decision at 125 pounds. Third-ranked Jay Albis (Fishkill, NY) made it 10-0 when he pinned Jason Jacobi at the 1:54 mark of their 141-pound match.
Roger Williams won the next three matches to take an 11-10 advantage, but JWU regained the lead, 15-11, when Stephen Jarrell (East Greenwich, RI) produced a 24-9 tech fall at 165 pounds. Jarell was named the tournament's Most Oustanding Wrestler. Senior Mike Labell (Stanhope, NJ) gave JWU a huge boost when he pinned Taylor Shay in the final minute of their 174-pound bout. Freshman Michael DiNardo (Mahopac, NY) sealed the team title with his 11-4 decision against Connor Humphries at 184 pounds.
The Wildcats started the day by mowing down 16th-seeded New England College. Johnson & Wales posted four technical falls and four pins. The pins came in pairs as Jamiel Stapleton (Malone, NY) picked one up at 149 pounds as did senior Desmond Towns (Morristown, NJ) followed at 157. A pair of freshmen wrapped up the match with pins as Patrick Daly (Pequannock, NJ) scored one at 197 pounds and Nicholas Kovacs (Garfield, NJ) produced one at 285 pounds.
It was much of the same thing in the quarterfinals against Wesleyan. Jordan at 125 pounds got a technical fall in his match. Albis followed with a 12-2 major decision at 133 pounds. Thomas Grippi (Bedford Hills, NY) at 157 pounds and Labell sandwiched falls around a Jarrell tech fall. The Cardinal forfeited the last three matches.
Johnson & Wales rolled to the finals by taking down the Engineers. JWU won the first nine matches before surrendering a point. Ferinde picked up a pin just 2:08 into his 141-pound match. Jarell and Labell sealed the team victory with a tech fall and pin, respectively.
The Wildcats host the USC Open on Sunday, January 29, and have their next dual meet on February 4 when they travel to Castleton for a quad meet with the Spartans, Plymouth State and Springfield.
Championship: #1 Johnson & Wales 28, #2 Roger Williams 14 JWU RWU
125 #7 Bobby Jordan (JWU) over Nick Barbaria (RWU) Maj 13-5 4.00 0
133 #3 Jay Albis (JWU) over Jason Jacobi (RWU) Fall 1:54 6.00 0
141 Justin Cochran (RWU) over #10 Joe Ferinde (JWU) Dec 5-2 0 3.00
149 Tyler Gazaway (RWU) over DJ Tirelli (JWU) Maj 11-2 0 4.00
157 #5 Ty Herzog (RWU) over Daniel McBrinn (JWU) Maj 9-1 0 4.00
165 Stephen Jarrell (JWU) over Brett Leonard (RWU) TF 24-9 5.00 0
174 Mike Labell (JWU) over Taylor Shay (RWU) Fall 6:00 6.00 0
184 Michael DiNardo (JWU) over Connor Humphries (RWU) Dec 11-4 3.00 0
197 #9 Khamri Thomas (JWU) over Christopher Francis (RWU) Maj 10-2 4.00 0
285 #6 Kyle Foster (RWU) over Jonah Aurelio (JWU) Dec 5-3 0 3.00
Final Score: 28.0 14.0
#1 Johnson & Wales 50, #16 New England College 3 JWU NEC
125 #7 Bobby Jordan (JWU) over Ryan Pro (NEC) TF 16-0 5.00 0
133 #3 Jay Albis (JWU) over Eric Wall (NEC) TF 16-0 5.00 0
141 #10 Joe Ferinde (JWU) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf 6.00 0
149 Jamiel Stapleton (JWU) over DJ Brock (NEC) Fall 1:17 6.00 0
157 Desmond Towns (JWU) over Pat Kelly (NEC) Fall 0:41 6.00 0
165 Stephen Jarrell (JWU) over William Sibrian (NEC) TF 28-13 5.00 0
174 Malik Settles (NEC) over Zachary Deaguero (JWU) Dec 17-15 0 3.00
184 Pete Hailer (JWU) over Wilson Urgilez (NEC) TF 20-5 5.00 0
197 Patrick Daly (JWU) over Jack Wagner (NEC) Fall 3:22 6.00 0
285 Nicholas Kovacs (JWU) over Charlie Levine (NEC) Fall 1:07 6.00 0
Final Score: 50.0 3.0
#1 Johnson & Wales 47, #8 Wesleyan 4 JWU WU
125 #7 Bobby Jordan (JWU) over Amir Daouk (WU) TF 18-1 5.00 0
133 #3 Jay Albis (JWU) over Tristan Stetson (WU) Maj 12-2 4.00 0
141 #10 Joe Ferinde (JWU )over James Matias (WU) Dec 2-0 3.00 0
149 Carter Armendarez (WU) over DJ Tirelli (JWU) Maj 14-5 0 4.00
157 Thomas Grippi (JWU)over Robert Rosenberg (WU) Fall 2:07 6.00 0
165 Stephen Jarrell (JWU)over Aaron Cranston (WU) TF 28-13 5.00 0
174 Mike Labell (JWU)over Dominic Pirraglia (WU) Fall 1:26 6.00 0|
184 Michael DiNardo (JWU)over Unknown (Unattached) Forf 6.00 0
197 Khamri Thomas (JWU)over Unknown (Unattached) Forf 6.00 0
285 Jonah Aurelio (JWU)over Unknown (Unattached) Forf 6.00 0
Final Score: 47.0 4.0
#1 Johnson & Wales 43, #4 WPI 3 JWU WPI
125 #7 Bobby Jordan (JWU) over Brian Amato (WPI) Maj 10-2 4.00 0
133 #3 Jay Albis (JWU) over Stephen Jendritz (WPI) Dec 7-5 3.00 0
141 #10 Joe Ferinde (JWU) over Liam Sullivan (WPI) Fall 2:08 6.00 0
149 DJ Tirelli (JWU) over Peter Nash (WPI) Maj 17-6 4.00 0
157 Daniel McBrinn (JWU) over Jack Nigro (WPI) Dec 7-0 3.00 0
165 Stephen Jarrell (JWU) over Tyler Wilson (WPI) TF 25-10 5.00 0
174 Mike Labell (JWU) over Anton Libsch (WPI) Fall 5:52 6.00 0
184 Michael DiNardo (JWU) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf 6.00 0
197 Khamri Thomas (JWU) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf 6.00 0
285 Nick Day (WPI) over Jonah Aurelio (JWU) TB-3 5-4 0 3.00
Final Score: 43.0 3.0
2017 NEWA All-Tournament Team
Bridgewater State: Eric Kerr – 157 lbs.
Castleton: Zach Hale – 141 lbs.
Coast Guard: Nick Remke – 165 lbs.
Johnson & Wales: Stephen Jarrell – 165 lbs.
New England College: Ryan Pro – 125 lbs.
Norwich: Ben Swanson - 157 lbs.
Plymouth State: Joey Aumann - 125 lbs.
Rhode Island College: Michael Gallagher – 184 lbs.
Roger Williams: Justin Cochran - 141 lbs.
Springfield: Zach Joseph – 157 lbs.
Southern Maine: Justin Stacy – 174 lbs.
Trinity: Grant Soreensen – 141 lbs.
Wesleyan Devon Carrillo – 197 lbs.
Western New England: Brian Donovan – 197 lbs.
Williams Christoper Chorzepa – 184 lbs.
WPI Dan Wensley – 184 lbs.
Most Outstanding Wrestler: Stephen Jarrell – Johnson & Wales
