ITHACA, N.Y. – The Norwich University wrestling team kicked off its 2013-14 season at the Ithaca Invitational on Friday night.

The Cadets currently sit in fifth place out of eight teams after Day 1 of the tournament, garnering 54.5 points.

Senior Dave Pinto (Milford, Mass.), junior Steven Maldonado (Nyack, N.Y.) and freshman William Burns all advanced to the winner's bracket semifinals.

Pinto recorded three victories at 165, defeating Ithaca's Jake Buczewski by major decision 12-2, Johnson & Wales' Andrew Stock by pin fall in 1:47 and Alfred State's Codie Nichols by pin fall in 6:30.

In the heavyweight division, Maldanado pinned Johnson & Wales' Brett Lenhardt in 6:22 and Ithaca's Chris Ramirez by decision 8-2.

Burns started off his NU career in impressive fashion with a 14-4 major decision victory over SUNY Oswego's Sean Maloney to advance to the semifinals.

Johnson & Wales leads the team competition after the first day with 94 ponts. Ithaca follows close behind in second with 93.5 points, while Springfield is third with 79 and NYU is fourth with 71 points.

Norwich is in action on Day 2 of the Ithaca Invitational on Saturday.

-CADETS-