FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The close matches didn't go the Johnson & Wales University wrestling team's way on day two of the NWCA National Duals. The second-ranked Wildcats started Friday by losing 18-15 to No. 3 Augsburg – who went on to win the title - then fell to #4 Ithaca, 22-11.
Augsburg won the opening match, but Johnson & Wales came back to win the next two. No. 2 Jay Albis (Fishkill, NY) stopped fifth-ranked Sam Bennyhoff, 9-6, at 133 pounds. Senior Joao Vicente (East Providence, RI) scored a major upset at 141 pounds when he beat No. 3 David Flynn, 5-4.
Unfortunately, Johnson & Wales dug itself too big of a hole. The Auggies won the next four matches, thanks to four ranked wrestlers, to build an 18-6 lead. No. 5 Khamri Thomas (Windsor Locks, Conn.) stopped the run with his 4-2 decision at 184 pounds. Sixth-ranked Michael DiNardo (Mahopac, NY) was a 4-3 winner at 197 pounds and #10 Jonah Aurelio (Riverside, RI) closed out the match with a 9-5 win at 285 bounds.
Albis won his fourth match of the tournament when he defeated Ithaca's Tito Colom, 7-0. Johnson & Wales took an 8-6 lead when junior Joe Ferinde (Nutley, N.J) toppled #4 Sam Schneider with an 18-2 technical fall. However, Johnson & Wales would only get one more victory when DiNardo posted a 6-4 decision.
Johnson & Wales gets back on the mat January 14 when it hosts Norwich, Coast Guard and Southern Maine for a quad match at 12 p.m.
#3 Augsburg 18, #2 Johnson & Wales 15
125 Victor Gliva (AC) over #5 Bobby Jordan (JWU) Maj 8-0 0-4
133 #2 Jay Albis (JWU) over #5 Sam Bennyhoff (AC) Dec 9-6 3-4
141 Joao Vicente (JWU) over #3 David Flynn (AC) Dec 5-4 6-4
149 #6 Alex Wilson (AC) over Joe Ferinde (JWU) Dec 9-6 6-7
157 #6 Ryan Epps (AC) over Tim Higginson (JWU) Dec. 7-1 6-10
165 #1 Lucas Jeske (AC) over Adrian Gonzalez (JWU) Maj 13-2 6-14
174 #7 Tanner Vasser (AC) over Michael Gargano (JWU) Maj 14-4 6-18
184 #5 Khamri Thomas (JWU) over Sebastian Larsen (AC) Dec 4-2 9-18
197 #6 Michael DiNardo (JWU) over Lance Benick (AC) Dec. 4-3 12-18
285 #10 Jonah Aurelio (JWU) over Ethan Hofacker (AC) Dec. 9-5 15-18
#4 Ithaca 22, #2 Johnson & Wales 11
125 Ferdinand Mase (IC) over Stephen Nadera (JWU) Dec 3-0 0-3
133 #2 Jay Albis (JWU) over Tito Colom (IC) Dec 7-0 3-0
141 Ben Brisman (IC) over Joao Vicente (JWU) Dec 8-4 3-6
149 Joe Ferinde (JWU) over #4 Sam Schneider (IC) TF 18-2 8-6
157 Austin Whitney (IC) over Tim Higginson (JWU) Dec 7-5 8-9
165 #2 Nick Velez (IC) over Seon Bowker (JWU) Maj 10-2 8-13
174 Jaison White (IC) over Adrian Gonzalez (JWU) Dec 6-2 8-16
184 #4 Jake Ashcraft (IC) over #5 Khamri Thomas (JWU) Dec 5-4 8-19
197 #6 Michael DiNardo (JWU) over Dymir Davis-Carruth (IC) Dec 6-4 11-19
285 #5 Jake O`Brien (IC) over #10 Jonah Aurelio (JWU) Dec 3-0 11-22