PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Norwich University wrestling team had several individuals compete at the Futures Invitational on Sunday at Johnson & Wales (R.I.) University.
Junior Ronnie Caudill (Huber Heights, Ohio) posted the Cadets' best result on the day, capturing second place at 197 pounds after pinning Trinity (Conn.)'s Mason Sangillo in 4:25. His next match was a narrow 4-3 loss by decision to Zachary Turner from Wesleyan (Conn.) in the first-place match.
Classmate Jonathan Graziane (Beekmantown, N.Y.) had a strong day for the Cadets as well, earning two-straight wins by decision (7-6, 3-2) at 141 pounds before falling to Matt Elias from Roger Williams by a slim 3-1 margin.
At 141 pounds, freshman Tyler Ayers (Morrisville, N.Y.) won his first match of the day in a 5-4 tiebreaker and advanced to take on D.J. Tirelli from Johnson & Wales, falling by pin in 1:04 to the eventual bracket champion. Sophomore P.J. Testino (Dingmans Ferry, Pa.) also competed for the Cadets, earning a 9-5 decision before being pinned by Trinity (Conn.)'s Andrew Saccone.
Freshman Hussein Kanaan (Scottsdale, Ariz.), the Cadets' lone representative in the heavyweight bracket, earned a hard-fought pin in 6:48 over Southern Maine's Cody Spicer before his ousting by Johnson & Wales' Edmund Pierce.
The Cadets had four wrestlers vie for the 157-pound title, including junior Connor Gobeille (Shelburne, Vt.), senior James Swass (Somerville, N.J.), classmate Richard Garzon (Hawthorne, N.J.) and sophomore Robert MacDonald (Braintree, Mass.). Swass picked up two-straight pins for the Cadets before his elimination while Gobeille earned an 8-6 decision over his counterpart from Castleton.
Freshman Shane Ryan (Voorhees, N.J.) saw action for Norwich at 149 pounds, defeating Roger Williams' Max Axelrod with a pin (2:05). Senior Alec Forezzi (East Greenbush, N.Y.) and Donte Jones (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) competed for the Cadets at 165 pounds. Jones won his first match, 10-7, before falling to Johnson & Wales' Christophe Behen.
The Cadets return to action Saturday, Feb. 25, traveling to Roger Williams to compete at the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championships. The top-three wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Division III National Championship.
