BRISTOL, R.I. – The RWU Wrestling team hosted Johnson & Wales University Saturday night in a Pilgrim League contest held in the Recreation Center Main Gymnasium. The visiting Wildcats finished the night with a 26-13 victory.
With RWU fans out in full support of Coca-Cola Hawks Pride Day, the hosts gave the crowd an exciting start as sophomore Shane Parcel (Pine Brook, N.J.) began the match by pinning his opponent, Colin Lenhardt (Hayes, Va.) at 2:18 of the second period.
Johnson & Wales responded with two decision wins, as Tyler Selby (Verona, N.J.), at 184, and Blake McNulty (Framingham, Mass.), at 197, earned 6-4 and 7-1 wins, respectively.
Senior Nick Cambi (Cohasset, Mass.) put RWU back into the lead after winning a tight 6-4 battle over Jon Flegel (Egg Harbor City, N.J.), but the lead was short-lived as Wildcats sophomore Joe Pronk (Marshfield, Mass.) tied the score at 9-9 with his 7-1 decision over Jonathan Lemoine (Trumbull, Conn).
From there, Johnson & Wales pulled away, winning four of the final five bouts, including Nicholas Cucciniello (St. James, N.Y.) who earned a 13-2 major decision victory at 141. RWU senior Kyle D'Urso (Londonderry, N.H.) countered with his own 8-0 major decision victory at 157, but it was not enough as Wildcats sophomore Connor Nelson (Wakefield, R.I.) closed out the match with a 9-2 win at 165.
The Hawks fall to 1-1 in dual meets this season, while Johnson & Wales earns the win in its first dual meet this year. The Hawks move on to face the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., Dec. 8, while the Wildcats host Bridgewater State that same evening. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.
Below are the final results from tonight's match-up:
174: Shane Parcel (RWU) pins Colin Lenhardt (JWU) at 2:18
184: Tyler Selby (JWU) decision over Philip Ernst (RWU), 6-4
197: Blake McNulty (JWU) decision over Dillon Lawler (RWU), 7-1
285: Nick Cambi (RWU) decision over Jon Flegel (JWU), 6-4
125: Joe Pronk (JWU) decision over Jonathan Lemoine (RWU), 7-1
133: John Donaleski (JWU) decision over Matthew Hart (RWU), 15-6
141: Nicholas Cucciniello (JWU) major decision over James Higgins (RWU), 13-2
149: Thomas Webster (JWU) Inj. default win over Nicholas Herrick (RWU)
157: Kyle D'Urso (RWU) major decision over Ethan Farrell (JWU), 8-0
165: Connor Nelson (JWU) decision over Michael Monson (RWU), 9-2
