NEW LONDON, Conn. – The defending national champion JWU (Providence) wrestling team closed the first day of competition at the NCAA Northeast Regionals in fifth place. The event is taking place on the campus of Coast Guard Academy.

Brackets

Graduate student Patrick Wisniewski (174 lbs.) entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed and has advanced to face No. 5 Joseh Bolduc (NEC) in the semis on Sunday. His biggest win of the day came against top-seeded and two-time All-American Jacob Daguire from Springfield. The unbeaten Daguire led 1-0 heading into the third period when Wisniewski scored two takedowns in the final minute to upend the No. 3 ranked wrestling in the country.

Senior and defending All-American Adolfo Betancur (285 lbs.) secured two pins on Saturday and will face third-seeded Benjamin Katz (Springfield) Sunday while freshman and No. 2 seed Nico Rivera (125 lbs.) will face third-seeded Nick Beato (Coast Guard) in the semifinals. Rivera won his opening matches via major decision (15-2) and pin.

Sophomore Jared Spahn (149 lbs.) – who entered the tourney as the No. 5 seed – will meet top-seeded Nathan Fitt (Coast Guard). Sixth-seeded and graduate student Thomas DiResta (157 lbs.) takes on No. 2 seed Nate Camiscioli (VTSU Castleton) while junior and No. 4 seed Jack Richardson (165 lbs.) meets No. 1 Henry Forte (Williams) after winning a pair of matches via pin.

Two other JWU student-athletes – juniors Zach Miller (184 lbs.) and Anthony Fernandez (197 lbs.) – will compete in the consolation round.