NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University wrestling team is set to compete at the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Wrestling Championship this weekend on the campus of Roger Williams University.
Doors open for admission at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 and the event concludes at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26 with an awards ceremony. The bouts will take place in the Judge Thomas Paolino Field House, located in Roger Williams' Campus Recreation Center. For information on tickets, parking and lodging, click here.
The Cadets are sending 10 wrestlers to compete against the region's elite talent, including grapplers from 19 teams from New England and New York. The top-three place winners in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in La Crosse, Wisc.
The last Norwich wrestler to qualify for the national tournament was Brian Zane '08 in 2008 as he claimed first place in the 133-pound weight class at regionals. David Pinto '14 and William Burns '15 are the highest finishers for Norwich in the past five seasons – Pinto finished fourth at regionals in 2012-13 while Burns took fourth in 2013-14.
Norwich will have freshman Cole Nickerson (Nashua, N.H.) compete for the Cadets at 125 pounds. Leading the team with 46 escapes on the season, Nickerson secured his first collegiate victory over Plymouth State on Dec. 7, 2016, eking out a 4-3 win by decision over Adam Correia.
Sophomore Jacob Forsman (Voorhees, N.J.) will take to the mat for Norwich at 133 pounds this weekend. Forsman leads the Cadets with 24 wins on the year, also leading all Norwich wrestlers with 57 takedowns and 39 escapes. He has also registered nine falls, tying for second on the squad. Forsman placed fifth last season at the Northeast Regionals at 125 pounds.
Sophomore Sean Randles (Las Vegas, Nev.) will wrestle at 141 pounds for Norwich. He has posted three victories for the Cadets this season, posting 18 escapes and a pin against Ryan Pro from New England College on Feb. 5. Seeded sixth at last season's regionals, he is looking to avenge a tough 2-1 loss in sudden victory that came in his first bout of the afternoon.
The Cadets will have Zach Morris (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) tangle at 149 pounds. Ranking third on the team with 10 reversals in 14 bouts, he started his season strong with a 12-11 decision over Ithaca's Jake Powell at the latter team's invitational on Nov. 4, 2016. Most recently, he earned a pin in just 1:21 over WPI's Brandon Abad in an exhibition tilt.
Senior Benjamin Swanson (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.), one of three seniors competing for the Cadets this weekend, will compete at 157 pounds. Entering the meet with 63 career wins, Swanson led the team with 23 reversals in 2016-17 while leading the squad with 10 falls – his 17 wins as a senior is third on the team.
Swanson's classmate, Pat McCurdy (Woodstown, N.J.), heads to the tournament to compete at 165 pounds for Norwich. McCurdy has tallied six victories for the Cadets in 2016-17, including two in his last three bouts. He secured a 6-1 win by decision over Merchant Marine's Christian Willoughby and defeated Centenary's Thomas Miller by a 7-3 result.
Junior Zachary Gibson (Lithopolis, Ohio) notched eight wins for Norwich on the season and will take on opponents at 174 pounds. Gibson picked up an impressive victory over the fifth-ranked wrestler in the region, Dominic Pirraglia, on Jan. 22, and also has a win at 184 pounds for the Cadets.
Freshman Joseph Hennessey (Boonville, N.Y.) has put together an outstanding freshman campaign for Norwich, competing primarily at 184 pounds. Leading the team with a .742 winning percentage, Hennessey ranks second on the Cadets with 23 victories and has tallied 48 takedowns, 22 escapes and nine pins. He enters competition ranked second in the region, according to the New England Wrestling Association.
Senior David Rogers (Marlborough, Mass.) is the third senior for Norwich that will take to the mat this weekend. Earning his 50th career win earlier this season, Rogers has notched 13 victories and is tied for second on the team with 48 takedowns. His best performance on the season came on Jan. 22 where he defeated four-straight opponents by decision at the NEWA Headlock for Hunger duals.
Rounding out the field for Norwich is sophomore Steve Briganti (Trumbull, Conn.) in the heavyweight classification. Appearing for the Cadets in limited action, Briganti had secured five wins in his first seven matches on the year – he will make his NCAA tournament debut this weekend.
