NORTHFIELD, VT. – The RWU Hawks Wrestling Team earned a 27-15 win over Norwich University Saturday in Northfield, Vt. The Hawks utilized a strong mix of youth and leadership to come away with the season-opening victory.
Tri-captains Kyle Rodgers (Danbury, Conn.), Chris Nadeau (Granby, Conn.) and Nick Cambi (Cohasset, Mass.) each posted victories in the match.
Wrestling at 165, Rodgers shut out his opponent while gathering 11 points for the major decision win. Nadeau also earned a major decision win with a 10-2 victory at the 174 weight class. Cambi at 197 controlled his match from start to finish, winning by the deceptively close 3-2 score in the end.
Three Hawks made impressive collegiate debuts Saturday, including Kaare Stokdal. The Olive Bridge, N.Y. native needed just 2:33 to provide the Hawks with six points. Wrestling at 125, Stokdal pinned his opponent, junior John DaSilva, who returns after a strong sophomore campaign including a pin over RWU's All-New England performer, Mike Trayser.
RWU freshman Michael Monson (Southington, Conn.) also earned a win in his debut taking the 12-3 major decision win over Ryan Crosby in the 157 match. RWU classmate Philip Ernst (Succasunna, N.J.) battled a strong foe in Ray Gauthier at 184, before succumbing 6-4 in the end.
In the 133 match, RWU's Jay Mahoney (Madison, Conn.) needed overtime to defeat Josh Bolduc, earning the 4-2 win. In the heavyweight match, RWU junior Bennett Kissane (Tranquility, N.J.) found himself down 5-0 before battling back to earn the 8-5 win.
The Hawks return to action Nov. 7 when they travel to Ithaca, N.Y. for the two-day Ithaca College Invitational Tournament.
Listed below are the final results from Saturday's match.
RWU 27 Norwich 15
125-Kaare Stokdal (RW) pinned John DaSilva 2:33
133-Jay Mahoney RW) 4-2 (SV) over Josh Bolduc
141-Nick Moncao (N) pinned Martin Mitchell 6:14
149-Joe Eon (N) pinned Nick Herrick 4:38
157-Michael Monson (RW) 12-3 over Ryan Crosby
165-Kyle Rodgers (RW) 11-0 over Matt Valnoski
174-Chris Nadeau (RW) 10-2 over Silas Bowerman
184-Ray Gauthier (N) 6-4 over Phil Ernst
197-Nick Cambi (RW) 3-2 over Jordan Ferguson
285-Ben Kissane (RW) 8-5 over Raistlin Delisle
