COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Roger Williams University Wrestling team picked up three wins on Saturday at the Manganaro Duals, hosted by Ursinus, defeating Southern Maine, 25-21, Delaware Valley, 28-20, and Ursinus, 38-13.
Against Southern Maine, who are ranked in the Top 25 tournament rankings, RWU opened with a 5-0 win at 125 pounds by
Christopher Tringali. The Huskies would win four straight matches, two by pin to take a 18-3 lead after matches through 157 pounds.
Matt Lucas put the Hawks back in the winning column with a win by major decision at 165 pounds, defeating his opponent 13-4. Southern Maine picked up another three points, with a win at 174 pounds, putting USM up by 21-7, but the trio of
Michael Forte,
Spencer Fetrow, and
Jayden Toppan each won their matches by pin, earning 18 points, pulling ahead of the Huskies to complete the comeback.
In their second dual of the day against Delaware Valley, the Hawks went down 14-0 after Malik Asfour and Ryan Arndt scored tech fall wins at 125 pounds and 141 pounds respectively, and Jacob Blair earned a major decision win at 133 pounds.
Nick Fatone then picked up three points for the Hawks with a sudden victory win over Devin Horton, and
Jack Forte picked up five points winning by tech fall in the opening period, of the 157 pound match.
After Delaware Valley picked up six points with a pin at 165 pounds,
Jayden Curley earned six points with a pin in the final minute of the third period, cutting the Hawks deficit to six for the match.
Michael Forte then came out on top in the 184-pound match, with a 3-2 win by decision. Fetrow then took a tech fall victory ahead of
Jayden Toppan again clinching the match with another pin.
The Hawks continued their winning ways against Ursinus, defeating the Bears 38-13. A win via pin for the Bears at 125 pounds, gave the Bears an early 6-0 advantage, McLaughlin responded for the Hawks earning six points, but pinning his opponent in 1:42. After dropping a major decision at 141, Fatone then added three points, putting the match at 10-9, after a 9-7 victory in his bout.
A win by Derek Giordano for the Bears at 157 pounds, gave them a 13-9 lead heading into the back half of the match. The heavier weight classes again proved decisive for Roger Williams, as Lucas sparked a five-match streak with a pin in 2:13. Curley followed with a pin of his own in 1:27, giving the Hawks a 21-13 lead with three matches remaining.
Michael Forte then picked up six more points, with the third straight pin for the Hawks, doing so in less than a minute, ahead of six points from the 197 pound match due to forfeit.
Jayden Toppan ended the match at 285 pounds, with a 15-0 tech fall in to secure the match.
Roger Williams (10-3, 3-2 NEWA) will host WPI and Trinity for Duals on Saturday, Jan. 18. The Hawks will then take part in the Wildcat Open, hosted by Johnson & Wales on Saturday, Jan. 25 before taking part at the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Dual Championships the following day.
