PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Wrestling team claimed second place at the 2018 New England Wrestling Association Dual Meet Championship.
 
The Hawks began the day with a convincing 42-6 win over Plymouth State. Nicholas Barbaria (Scarsdale, N.Y.) earned a pin over Michael Titus at 125, while Justin Cochran (Paramus, N.J.) and Mike Fernandes (Voorhees, N.J.) both logged pins of their own over Steve Abusherry and Trevor Wassel respectively at 149 and 197.
 
Next up for Roger Williams was Springfield College, where RWU logged a 21-16 victory over the Pride. Barbaria earned his second pin of the day, defeating Joel Zambrano at the 6:09 mark. Taylor Shay (Roxbury, Mass.) helped the Hawk cause with a 4-2 decision over Kearney Gutierrez at 157, while Brett Leonard (New Milford, Conn.) pulled out an 8-4 win over Ryan Harty at 174.
 
The Hawks would be tested in the team's third match of the day against #16 WPI, but RWU held on for an 18-15 win. Nick Wagner grabbed the lone fall of the match over Andrew Ellis at 141, while Leonard took down Mike Ilic 6-1 at 174. Connor Humphries had the key victory for Roger Williams, defeating Dan Wensley 5-1 at 184.
 
In the championship match against #4 Johnson & Wales, the Hawks came up just short of the dual meet title, falling 15-20 to the Wildcats. Barbaria finished the day 4-0 with his 6-5 victory over Stephen Nadera and would be named to the NEWA All-Tournament Team. Tyler Gazaway (New Providence, N.J.) helped give RWU a 9-8 lead with his 6-2 decision over Timothy Higginson at 157, while Shay and Leonard each picked up wins to put the Hawks up 15-11. Unfortunately the Wildcats would win the final three bouts at 184, 197, and 285 to come away with the win.
 
Roger Williams will head to Bridgewater State on Saturday for the NEWA-Metro Conference Challenge Duals.