RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE WRESTLING Anchormen December/January 14/15 Newsletter
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Anchormen go 2-2 at the New England Duals placing 6th of 15; Cole and Jean-Jacques go 4-0 RIC got off to a great start with a repeat performance over Plymouth State from a month ago with a 34-12 win. However, the quarterfinal round pitted the #5 seed Anchormen vs. #4 Coast Guard who is much improved. After winning the three of the first four matches, with Murray a major at 125, Cole a major at 141, and Giblin with a win at 149, the Anchormen desperately needed help in the middle to upper weights for a win. Unfortunately for Rhode Island the Coast Guard Academy rattled off five straight close decisions to clinch it 22-17 would be the final. Justin Caparco (184) wrestled his first match of the season and was winning, but just ran out of gas at the end.
WPI gave #1 seed Roger Williams a scare in the quarters being tied heading into 197, but the Anchormen matched up really well with them taking seven out of ten matches 27-9. The match would determine who would go for 5th place in the consolations. Cole, Giblin, Murphy, Conrad, Caparco, Georges, and Jean-Jacques all got their hands raised as the Anchormen bounced back. That was all RIC had in the tank as the team as a whole didn’t show up to compete with Williams for 5th. The Ephs dominated early with the exception of Cole at 141. RIC finished with a couple of wins but dropped a 31-16 decision.
Riccio earns New England Wrestling Association Man of the Year Award for 2015
Geoff Riccio was awarded the NEWA Man of the Year Award presented at the duals this past weekend. Riccio was an Anchormen captain in 2012 while deciding to return to take graduate classes to finish his eligibility just
to show you how dedicated he is to our sport. He continues to embrace his passion of wrestling through his video production company. He had three highlight videos make the top 16 in the nation including the champion, a contest that includes DI’s. One of his proudest accomplishments is being hired by USA Wrestling to produce videos to save Olympic wrestling. Geoff has worked with many local New England schools and the nation’s best like Kyle Dake and many others.
Tough trip to National Duals in Indiana; unhealthy Anchormen drop three lopsided decisions
Above left the Anchormen took a pit stop in South Bend to Notre Dame Stadium, and above right 24 mats filled the Fort Wayne convention center for the mult-divisional NWCA duals.
The national duals is a meat grinder, but add injury and flu, what you get is a recipe for
disaster. RIC dropped to Iowa’s Luther 33-6 and Dubuque 37-6, as well as JWU 29-15.
Gholizahdeh and Jean-Jacques win Ursinus individual tournament; Murphy and Georges finalists
The Anchormen ran the famous Rocky steps in Philadelphia after the tournament on the way to a Philly Cheese Steak at Pat’s King of Steaks.
A much needed break from dual competition to heal up from the national duals and the flu bug provided opportunity for some individual competitors to shine at the Will Abele Invitational at Ursinus. RIC finished third out of seven teams behind host Ursinus and Wilkes. Anchormen champions included Imran Gholizahdeh who won the 197 pound championship defeating teammate John Georges in the finals in OT. Terrance Jean-Jacques continued his undefeated ride with a pretty easy day pinning all of his heavyweight opponents. Mike Murphy also made the finals at 157 and is looking to stay at that weight for the season. Other place winners included Mike Bentley who took 3rd at 184, Victor Zabalu 4th at the same weight (they did not wrestle). Jonathan Costa took 4th at 133.
Rhode Island College proves to be the best of Little East Conference Teams with wrestling defeating host Southern Maine and Plymouth State prior to holiday break
Ricondo Cole and Terrance Jean-Jacques go 2-0 earning all-Little East honors. The Anchormen defeated Plymouth State 42-9 and Southern Maine 27-18 improving to 5-1. Rhode Island College wrestling puts on free clinic at Hope High School for over 200 scholastic wrestlers; former RIC wrestler Ed German now at Hope and former RIC Coach Tim Clouse helped Coach Jones organize this great event to help get the kids’ season started!
PACK THE HOUSE FOR TWO “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” SHOWDOWNS VS. THE ANCHORMEN Friday January 30 City Cup @ JWU Harborside Campus, 7pm
vs.
Friday February 6 Alumni Night @ RIC REC. CENTER, 7pm
vs.
Roger Williams
NCAA NORTHEAST REGIONAL February 28 and March 1 At Roger Williams University
DIII WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS Hershey, PA – The Giant Center IT’S BACK EAST COME SEE IT LIVE! Email jjones@ric.edu for tickets and Rhode Island College Nationals tee shirts (need size)! $80 for all session pass and t-shirt. Come see our next NCAA Champ Crowned! Reception information TBD! Hotel: Fairfield Inn & Suites Hershey Chocolate Avenue Hotel address 651 West Areba Avenue . Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033 USA Telephone number 1-717-520-5240 Upcoming action: Jan 30 at Johnson and Wales 7pm
Alumni: Get together after JWU Match at Rick’s Road House!
Follow: @RICwrestling on Twitter
HOMECOMING RECEPTION and Get Together Friday FEB 6th
Goanchormen.com
Feb 1 at JWU Open Tournament Feb 6 HOMECOMING vs. Roger Williams
Facebook: Rhode Island College Wrestling Instagram: ricwrestling