BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Wrestling Team suffered their second loss of the season to Johnson and Wales University in a highly anticipated matchup on Friday night, Feb. 10, in a 21-12 decision. The loss was also RWU's second to Johnson and Wales this season, the first being a 28-14 decision on January 22.
Roger Williams (18-2) entered the matchup as the No. 7 ranked team in the country for Division III, while JWU (22-1) entered the matchup No. 3 in the country.
Roger Williams Head Coach Jon Egan previously said that with this matchup between the WU's, both school's wrestling programs were putting their schools "on the map", so tonight's matchup would offer an outstanding showing from both sides. Earlier in the week, a promotional video for the match was made and a packed gymnasium on Friday night was also proof of the highly anticipated bout.
The night began with the 174 lbs. weight class, with RWU freshman
Taylor Shay (New Fairfield, Conn.) facing off against JWU senior Mike Labell (Stanhope, NJ). Shay would drop a very close match with Labell 5-4 to start off the night, giving JWU an early 3-0 lead.
In the second matchup of 184 lbs., Hawk senior
Joe Albina (Milford, N.H.) pulled off a comeback from behind victory when he pinned JWU freshman Michael DiNardo (Mahopac, N.Y.), giving RWU a big confidence boost, en route to a 6-3 Hawk lead.
At 197 lbs. however, RWU freshman
Christopher Francis (Bristol, R.I.) lost to JWU sophomore Khamri Thomas (Windsor Locks, Conn.) on a 9-5 decision to even things up at 6-6.
But RWU would regain the lead however, when Hawk senior
Kyle Foster (Somers, Conn.) would defeat JWU junior Jonah Aurelio (Riverside, R.I.) at 285 lbs. in a low-scoring affair, a 3-1 slugfest to give RWU their last lead of the night at 9-6.
In the final match of the first half, RWU freshman
Nicholas Babaria (Scarsdale, N.Y.) was pitted against JWU junior Bobby Jordan (Woodbridge, N.J.) at 125 lbs., with an extra point decision giving Jordan the win, pulling JWU even with the Hawks at 9-9.
To begin the second half, Johnson and Wales would grasp the momentum for good, taking a three-point 12-9 lead when sophomore Jay Albis (Fishkill, N.Y.) defeated Hawks freshman
Jason Jacobi (Effort, Pa.) in an 8-3 decision at 133 lbs.
At 141 lbs., Roger Williams junior
Justin Cochran (Paramus, N.J.) would barely get beaten by JWU sophomore Joe Ferinde (Nutley, N.J.) at 141 lbs. in a 4-3 decision. Cochran had the advantage for most of match, but an escape by Ferinde late in the matchup put him ahead for good to give JWU a six-point edge of 15-9.
In the eighth match of the night, the Hawks desperately needed a spark to stay within striking distance of a win. Roger Williams freshman
Tyler Gazaway (New Providence, N.J.) would be that spark, coming away with a 9-6 decision victory over JWU junior Jamiel Stapleton (Malone N.Y.) at 149 lbs. to pull the matinee close once again with the score at 15-12.
However, JWU would prove worthy of their No. 3 ranking in the final two matches of the night, with JWU junior Desmond Towns (Morristown, N.J.) and senior Stephen Jarell (East Greenwich, R.I.) shutting down any Hawk comeback attempt with wins by decision over Hawk seniors
Ty Herzog (Slatington, Pa.) and
Alec Golner (Tyngsborough, Ma.) at 157 and 165 lbs., respectively.
While Roger Williams couldn't come away with the win, The Battle of the WU's certainly did live up to the hype and should be an entertaining matchup to watch in the future.
The Hawks move on to face American International College (0-10) on Sat., Feb. 11.
At halftime, all RWU senior wrestlers were honored in the final home meet of the season.
The Hawks are back in action Saturday, February 11th in Henniker, NH for a dual meet against New England College and American International College.
