WORCESTER, Mass. – The Norwich University wrestling team competed at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Invitational on Saturday, posting losses against Roger Williams and the host Engineers before defeating King's (Pa.) by a 25-23 score in the third round of competition.
In head-to-head competition on the season, the Cadets move to 2-2 overall following Saturday's action. Roger Williams, the top-ranked team in New England according to the New England Wrestling Association, slipped past Norwich, 22-15, while the Engineers, ranked fourth, set down the Cadets by a 30-10 score.
Senior Benjamin Swanson (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.) started his day with a win by pinfall in only 3:46, earning six points against Roger Williams' Nathaniel Lindsay at 157. Freshman Joseph Hennessey (Boonville, N.Y.) stepped up for the Cadets at 184, defeating the region's top ranked wrestler (Joe Albina) by a 6-2 decision.
Sophomore Jacob Forsman (Voorhees, N.J.) picked up a narrow 13-8 win by decision against Jason Jacobi of Roger Williams, earning the first points of the day for Norwich. Junior Frank Girolamo (Stoughton, Mass.) also added a sudden-victory win at 285 over RWU's Jake Kruger.
Against WPI, junior Jonathan Graziane (Beekmantown, N.Y.) cruised past Peter Nash of the Engineers by a 16-6 major decision – Nash entered the season ranked No. 4 in the region at 141 pounds. Hennessey earned another victory for the Cadets at 184 pounds, pinning Nick Day in 1:07 to collect six points for his team.
Swanson struck again versus King's (Pa.), pinning David White to earn six points. Junior Zachary Gibson (Lithopolis, Ohio) won an 8-1 decision at 174 while Hennessey would later earn his third win of the day, a 17-4 major decision over Nicholas Price at 184.
Two Norwich wrestlers won exhibition matches on Saturday as freshman Tyler Ayers (Morrisville, N.Y.) and classmate Michael Botello (Hingham, Mass.) earned victories at 141 and 149, respectively.
The Cadets will head to upstate New York on Saturday, Dec. 3 to take on a strong field at the Rochester Institute of Technology Invitational in Rochester, N.Y. at 10 a.m.
