WORCESTER, Mass. — The Roger Williams University wrestling team went 3–0 at the WPI Duals on Saturday, edging St. John Fisher on criteria before defeating Norwich and Emmanuel behind multiple bonus-point performances across the lineup.
The Hawks opened with a 16–16 tie against St. John Fisher but secured the dual on criteria after earning more total match points. After falling behind early, Shaun McLaughlin (Natick, Mass.) sparked RWU with a 7–3 decision at 141 pounds. Jack Forte (Westbury, N.Y.) added a 7–6 win at 157, and Tyrell Newmann (Cranston, R.I.) followed with a 10–8 decision at 174.
Joshua Nieroda (West Suffield, Conn.) pulled the Hawks even with a 14–5 major decision at 184. In the decisive final bout, heavyweight Jayden Toppan (Gloucester, Mass.) earned a 7–2 win that sealed the criteria victory.
Roger Williams kept rolling in a 28–14 win over Norwich. Spencer Buscema (Salem, N.H.) and Caden Bruseo (Brookline, N.H.) opened with wins at 125 and 133 to take an early lead. Matthew Castillo (Port Washington, N.Y.) delivered a tech fall at 149, and Forte added a major decision at 157.
Matt Gish (Cromwell, Conn.) extended the lead with a 6–4 decision at 165. Newmann added a win at 174 before Nieroda pinned his opponent just 1:18 into the 184-pound bout.
The Hawks closed the day by overpowering Emmanuel, 38–9. CJ Wood (Haverhill, Mass.) and Kenna Gioffre (Newtown, Conn.) opened with decisions at 125 and 133, followed by tech falls from Nick Fatone (Norwalk, Conn.) and Forte. Gordon Murray (Porter Corners, N.Y.) added a pin at 165.
Gish recorded another tech fall at 174, Eric Power (Roslindale, Mass.) secured a fall at 197, and Michael Toppan (Gloucester, Mass.) finished the dual with a 16–0 tech fall at heavyweight.
Roger Williams (3-1) will compete at Western New England on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 12:00 pm in a pair of duals against the Golden Bears and Hunter. The Hawks will then travel to Springfield on Friday, Dec. 12 before rounding out the semester on Saturday, Dec. 13 hosting the Scott Viera Open.
