Wrestling secures Pilgrim League Championship with win over JWU

BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Wrestling team secures their third consecutive Pilgrim League Championship with 21-12 victory over #15 ranked Wildcats of Johnson & Wales. The 14th ranked Hawks improve to 17-1 overall and 4-0 in league while the Wildcats slide to 20-7 overall and 3-1 in the league.

The event began at the 197 lb. weight class which was randomly selected from a hat at weigh-ins.

197 - David Welch (Salem, N.H.) earned a 3-0 decision over Pete Hailer (East Milton, Mass.). Hailer used offense as defense in the first period versus the #4 ranked Welch in the first two period forcing the pace and the action. In the third period Hailer showed his defensive ability allowing Welch only three points in the match.

HWT - Kyle Foster (Somers, Conn.) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period over Phillip Kelly (North Quincy, Mass.). Foster scored another three points in the second period to gain a 6-0 advantage. In the third period Foster scored another three points to put the score at 9-0 for the major decision.

125 - Nicholas Barbaria (Scarsdale, N.Y.) and Bobby Jordan (Woodbridge, N.J.) got off to a Slow in the first period before Jordan turned a take down into a near fall in the last 45 seconds that racked up a quick five points. The action slowed in the second period as Jordan successfully stopped Barbaria from gaining an escape from the down position. In the third period Jordan escaped from the bottom start to spread his lead to six.

133 - Justin Colon (Belleville, N.J.) scored first for the Wildcats with a takedown and then gained three more point with a near fall to put Matt Elias (Madison, Conn.) down five. Elias earned an escape to put the match at 5-1 after the first period. Colon managed and escape and takedown to put the score at 8-1 after the second period. With the action slowing in the third Elias managed a takedown to escape the major decision and keep the Hawks up by a point on the big scoreboard.

141 - The Hawks Justin Cochran (Paramus, N.J.) took the early lead on Joao Vicente (East Providence, R.I.) with quick takedown. Vicente answered with an escape that put the score at 2-1 at the end of the first period. Cochran earned his third point with an escape from the bottom to start the second period and bring the score to 3-1. Cochran put it in overdrive in the third and turned a takedown into a cradle that transitioned to a near fall for five points. Cochran finished off the performance with a final takedown to earn the major decision and put the Hawks up 11-6 on the big scoreboard.

149 - Michael Ferinde (Nutley, N.J) started quick scoring three takedowns on Danny Downes (Houston, Texas) in first period and gaining a :48 seconds of riding time. Downes managed a takedown in the last half of the second period to put the score at 7-3. Neither wrestler gained an advantage in the final period. The score remained 7-4 in favor for Ferinde and decision pulled the Wildcats within two on the team score at 11-9.

157 - Joey Gaccione (Highpoint, N.J.) controlled the early action takedown Ty Herzog (Slatington, Pa.) twice in the first period. Herzog rallied and scrambled in the second period to make it a match at 6-6. Gaccione regained the momentum in the third with a take down and a near fall that earned him the decision and put the Wildcats up 11-12 on the team score.

165 - Francisco Colom (Ridgefield, N.J.) gained the first advantage as Sean Prell (Warwick, N.Y.) left the mat to escape a takedown to lose a point. Colom scored his second point with a quick escape in the second from the down position to start the second period and Prell was warned for stalling. Prell earned an escape from the down position to put the match 2-1 early in the third period but Colom successfully defended a few shoots to keep the score at 2-1 and put the Hawks back in the lead on the team score 14-12.

174 - Dan Ressler (Hillsdale, N.J.) and Kenny Dougherty (Toms River, N.J.) squared off to a nuetral first period. Ressler took the down position to start the second period and got down in riding time but turned a reversal into a takedown to go up by two. In the third Dougherty earned an escape from the down position but Ressler took control in the last minute with a takedown that allowed him to ride out the clock and earn the decision for the Hawks that put the team score to 17-12.

184 - Joe Albina (Milford, N.H.) controlled the first period scoring four points and racking up over two minutes of riding time on Mike LaBell (Stanhope, N.J.). Albina continued to dominate the action in the second period taking the down position and reversing it for another takedown. Albina closed the final period with a final reversal to secure the victory for the team and earn a major decision that put the score at 21-12.

(Video Replay)

The Hawks and Wildcats will return to Bristol, R.I. on February 28 and March 1 to compete in the NCAA DIII North East Wrestling Regional hosted by RWU.

Tickets and passes can be purchased at the door with the tournament beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

For more information on the NCAA DIII North East Wrestling Regional (click here).

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Players Mentioned

Joe Albina: 184; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Francisco Colom: 165; 5' 10"; Junior

Danny Downes: 149; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Matt Elias: 125/133; 5' 6"; Sophomore

Kyle Foster: 285; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Ty Herzog: 157; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Dan Ressler: 174; 5' 11"; Junior

David Welch: 197; 5' 10"; Junior

Nicholas Barbaria: 125; 5' 3"; Freshman

Justin Cochran: 141; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Joe Albina
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: 184

Francisco Colom
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 165

Danny Downes
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: 149

Matt Elias
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: 125/133

Kyle Foster
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: 285

Ty Herzog
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: 157

Dan Ressler
: 5' 11"; Junior
: 174

David Welch
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 197

Nicholas Barbaria
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: 125

Justin Cochran
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: 141