WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.- The Norwich University men's wrestling team put together a full day of competition at the Williams College Open on Saturday, Jan. 3, highlighted by a championship performance by Rory Nolan (Wadsworth, Ohio) at 285 pounds and a second-place finish by Kevin Rodriguez (Sylmar, Calif.) at 197 pounds, to highlight four finishes in the top three.

As the fourth-ranked heavyweight in New England, Nolan's championship run was punctuated with a 7–4 decision over Alfred State's Aaron Johnson in the finals. Nolan advanced through the bracket with poise and closed the tournament with two pins, a tech fall, and a major decision.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez started his run with a major decision before earning two straight wins by decision, before falling to Alimkhan Guseinov from Hunter College in the championship bout. Rodriguez entered the competition as the third-ranked wrestler in New England at 197 pounds, and broke into national rankings as an honorable mention.

Norwich also produced two runner-up finishes on the day. At 125 pounds, Robby Lyons (Milford, Mass.) reached the finals after recording a technical fall in the quarterfinals before falling by decision in the championship match. Christopher Folsom (Essex, Vt.) added a third-place finish at 197 pounds, advancing to the finals after an early-round victory and competing in a tightly contested title bout. Also reaching the podium, wrestling unattached, was junior Volunteer Assistant Coach Matt Parisi, who earned a pair of pins in the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals at 157 pounds. 

The Cadets were active in the consolation brackets throughout the middle weights. At 141 pounds, William Burke (Palmer, Mass.) pieced together multiple consolation victories, including two decision wins over Huntingdon opponents to move through the placement rounds. Aidan Morgan (Wellington, Fla.) added a pinfall win earlier in the tournament at the same weight class.

At 165 pounds, Norwich collected several victories as Ryker Evans (Northport, Maine) earned a major decision in consolation action, Owen Deutsch (Larchmont, N.Y.) secured a pinfall win, and Jonathan Neypes (Columbia, Md.) posted two victories, including a major decision, to highlight a productive weight class for the Cadets. 

Norwich will come to their home gym for the first time this season in their next competition when they host a tri-meet with Kean and Western New England on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 12:00 p.m. inside Plumley Armory alongside Women's Wrestling's tri-meet, their first at home in program history.

Full Results