The Norwich Men's Wrestling team returned to their home gym in Plumley Armory with a 35–10 victory over Kean University before dropping a tightly contested 31–14 decision to Western New England.
Norwich 35, Kean 10
The Cadets opened the dual against Kean in dominant fashion, winning six bouts by fall. Robby Lyons (Milford, Mass.) set the tone at 125 pounds with a pin at 2:36, followed by a lightning-fast fall from Carver Moyer (Easton, Pa.) at 133 in just 36 seconds.
Norwich continued to roll through the middle weights as Nicholas Berrena (State College, Pa.) earned an 18–2 technical fall at 149, while Gannon White (Rincon, Ga.) needed only 37 seconds to secure a pin at 157. After Kean picked up points at 165, 174, and 184, the Cadets closed strong. Kevin Rodriguez (Sylmar, Calif.) delivered a fall at 1:07 at 197, and heavyweight Rory Nolan (Wadsworth, Ohio) secured a forfeit to seal the 35–10 team win.
Extra matches saw additional Norwich highlights, including a 19–4 technical fall from Owen Deutsch (Larchmont, N.Y.) at 165 and a first-period pin by Jeffrey Bernardi (Bethlehem, Conn.) at 174.
Western New England 31, Norwich 14
Against Western New England, Norwich faced early challenges, with the Golden Bears earning decision victories at 125 and 133. The Cadets answered back at 141 as Berrena swung momentum with a fall at 1:29 over Santiago Gonzalez.
Western New England capitalized through the middle of the lineup, picking up bonus-point victories at 149, 157, 165, 174, and 184 to build separation on the scoreboard. Norwich closed the dual strong in the upper weights, however, as Rodriguez posted a 5–2 decision at 197 and Nolan capped the dual with an emphatic 21–6 technical fall at heavyweight.
Norwich also found success in extra bouts, highlighted by a major decision from Joseph Menkello (Burlington, Mass.) at 184 and an 18–3 technical fall from Chris Folsom (Essex, Vt.) at 197, while Greydon Carcich (Morristown, N.J.) added a pin at heavyweight.
The Cadets will return to the road next weekend when they compete in the Will Abel Invitational, hosted by Ursinus College on Jan. 17 at 10:00 a.m.
