WORCESTER, Mass. - The Norwich University
wrestling team competed in a tri-match with the University of
Southern Maine and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
The Cadets defeated both the Huskies (30-21) and the host
Engineers (20-19). Entering the match WPI was ranked sixth in the
New England Division III Coaches poll, while USM was ranked ninth.
Norwich was ranked eighth.
"Tonight was a big step for us beating to two in-conference
teams, USM #9 and WPI #6.” Head coach Alex Whitney said,
“Our practice habits are carrying over to the
competition and most importantly we are wrestling to win. It was
nice to see Norwich return to the heavy-handed style we are known
for."
In Norwich's first match of the day senior Evan Poole (West Milford, N.J.) pinned
USM's Rick Chipman in 2:43 at the 157-pound class.
Cadet seniors Dave
Pinto (Milford, Mass.) and Anthony Joyce (Lincoln, R.I.) also picked up
pin fall wins as Pinto pinned Robert Drover in 3:45 at 165 pounds
and Joyce pinned Dan Suarez in just 1:22 in the 285 weight
class.
Norwich also got wins from junior Alex
Stewart (Elicott City, Md.) at 133 pounds ,
senior Robby
Zyko (Staten Island, N.Y.) at 141 pounds and junior
William Burns (Mascoutah, Ill.) at 174
pounds .
Against WPI, junior Steven Maldonado (Nyack, N.Y.) defeated Peter
Salem by an 11-0 decision at 285 pounds, clinching a come from
behind 20-19 win (Norwich trailed 16-19 entering the final
bout).
Junior Nick
Smith (Hanover, Mass.) picked up a pinfall win in 3:22
over Joe Pizzuto at 184 pounds.
Picking up their second wins of the day for the Cadets were
Pinto at 165 pounds and Burns at 174 pounds.
"The team turned a major corner tonight both mentally and
technically.” Assistant coach Connor Keating added,
“Our student athletes wrestled with heart and composure to
keep the tough matches close and to earn pins (nine total) in
crucial moments. The men truly worked as a team in both matches to
make a statement 'Norwich wrestling is back on the rise"
Norwich is next in action on December 7th when they
host Roger Williams University in a dual match.
