BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University (RWU) Wrestling team was able to sweep their two duals in the RWU Campus Rec Center Gymnasium, defeating the Panthers of Plymouth State, 59-0, and Bears of Bridgewater State, 26-14, for Senior Day.
Against the Panthers, the Hawks opened up with a 6-0 lead after a forfeit at 125 pounds, followed by Caden Bruseo (Brookline, N.H.) earning a win by pin at 133, followed by Shaun McLaughlin (Natick, Mass.) earning a win by fall, putting the Hawks up 18-0 after three matches.
Senior captain Matthew Castillo (Port Washington, N.Y.) earned a win by fall at 149, ahead of a pair of forfeits at 157 and 165. The lone match that did not score six points for the Hawks was Tyrell Newmann's (Cranston, R.I.) tilt against Josiah Funches, winning by tech fall, 22-5.
The Hawks then saw a forfeit and wins by Joshua Nieroda (West Suffield, Conn.) and Jayden Toppan (Gloucester, Mass.) by pin at 184, and 285 to seal the victory.
Against the Bears, Bridgewater State earned a 6-4 win by decision with Sei Dolomengi, giving the Bears an early 3-0 lead. The Bears continued to build momentum with a 13-3 major decision victory by Ethan Buonanducci and 4-0 decision by Malcolm Chrispin, taking a 10-0 lead after 141 pounds.
The Hawks then responded as Gavin McKenna (Kingston, Mass.) earned a 2-0 win, grabbing three points for the Hawks, ahead of a tech fall win by Jack Forte (Westbury, N.Y.) at 157 pounds, pulling within one. The Hawks then saw Matt Gish (Cromwell, Conn.) earn an 11-1 win to take the first lead of the match for the Hawks, a lead they would not relinquish.
Newmann then followed with a 4-2 win at 174 pounds, before Nieroda earned an 18-0 win by tech fall. A win by Christian Curley for Bridgewater State, saw the Bears pull within six, but a win by Jayden Toppan at the 285 slot, secured the win for Roger Williams.
Ahead of the Hawks match with Bridgewater State, they honored Castillo, Tyler Lanci (Franklin Square, N.Y.), Ethan Cobbold (Winchester, Mass.), Dave Ras (Franklin Square, N.Y.), and Dan Hickey (Westford, Mass.).
Roger Williams (13-5) will travel to Rhode Island College on Friday, Feb. 6 at 6:00 pm before hosting Johnson & Wales on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 pm.
