NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University wrestling team hosted its first dual match of the season when it squared off against Castleton University on Wednesday evening in the third annual Battle for the Green Mountain Championship. The Cadets emerged victorious in three bouts but ultimately 31-17 to the Spartans. 

Castleton captured its third straight Green Mountain Championship with the win and evened its dual meet record at 2-2. Norwich slipped to 0-2 in its only two dual meets this season.

The first bout of the night was forfeited by the Cadets giving Castleton's Joseph Valentino a win to put the Spartans up early 6-0.

Norwich claimed its first win of the dual as freshman Cameron Wooldridge (Roanoke, Va.) grabbed a win by decision at 133 lbs. Wooldridge landed a pair of takedowns and escapes and added a near fall in the first period to build a 10-5 lead. Two more takedowns and a reversal secured the 17-11 victory.

Castleton strung together five wins to extend its lead to 23-3 heading into the 184 lbs. weight class bout. Norwich's sophomore Dan Curran (Peterborough, N.H.) notched the second win of the meet with a 10-2 major decision victory. A pair of takedowns in the opening period helped him to a 4-1 lead early. Curran tacked on six more points thanks in part to two more takedowns to secure the win.

Senior Mike Wagner (Tyngsborough, Mass.) wrapped up the dual with Norwich's final victory as he pinned his opponent at the 3:26 mark in the 285 lbs. weight class.

The Cadets are back in action on Saturday when they travel to WPI to compete in a quad match against the host Engineers, Stevens Institute of Technology and Roger Williams.