Gorham, Maine – The dominant dual meet season concluded on Saturday for the third-ranked Johnson & Wales University wrestling team. The Wildcats went on the road to beat Southern Maine, 30-15.
Johnson Wales finished the year with a school-record 23-1 mark. The victory secured the Pilgrim League title. It's their 11th league trophy overall and the first since 2012.
The Wildcats won the first three matches to jump out to a 12-0 lead thanks to a pin by #6 Khamri Thomas (Windsor Locks, Conn.) at 197 pounds in less than two minutes. Fourth-ranked Jay Albis (Fishkill, NY) staked JWU to a 17-5 lead with his 18-2 tech fall at 133 pounds.
The Huskies pulled within 19-15, but No. 7 Stephen Jarrell (East Greenwich, RI) recorded his NCAA-leading 17th tech fall, 23-7, at 165 pounds to secure the team victory. For good measure, Michael Gargano (Old Bridge, NJ) pinned Mike Maculuso at the 1:46 mark of their 174-pound bout.
Johnson & Wales hosts the Futures Tournament on Sunday, February 19 before traveling to the NCAA Regionals, hosted by Roger Williams.
#3 Johnson & Wales 30, Southern Maine 15
Weight Class Match Score
184 Pete Hailer (JWU) dec. Kolby Smith (SM), 2-0 3-0
197 Khamri Thomas (JWU) won by fall Steve Corio (SM), 1:48 9-0
285 Jonah Aurelio (JWU) dec. Mike Risti (SM), 8-5 12-0
125 Peter Del Gallo (SM) tech fall Anthony Donofrio (JWU), 22-6 12-5
133 Jay Albis (JWU) tech fall Casey Abshire (SM), 18-2 17-5
141 Joe Ferinde (JWU) dec. Brendan Weir (SM), 5-4 19-5*
149 Dan Del Gallo (SM) won by forfeit 19-11
157 CJ Luth (SM) major dec. Desmond Towns (JWU) 12-3 19-15
165 Stephen Jarrell (JWU) tech fall Josh Smith (SM), 23-7 24-15
174 Michael Gargano (JWU) pinned Mike Maculuso (SM), 1:46 30-15
*JWU deducted one point for unsportsmanlike conduct.
