RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE WRESTLING Anchormen Newsletter #anchorstrong Currently Ranked #22 NWCA Coaches’ Poll Ricondo Cole #6 -141; Silas Murray #10 - 133 New England Coaches’ Poll Team #2 5 Individuals Ranked in New England #1 Silas Murray 133 Ricondo Cole 141 #1 Jon Murray 125, #2 Brian Nicoll 285 #6 Kyle Lake157
Anchormen finish the year strong at 16-4; Silas Murray closes out year with huge win over all-American Giorgio finishes 21-0 Rhode Island College Wrestling finished the year with three impressive victories The Anchormen visited Trinity College in Hartford, CT on the final regular season event of the year sweeping the quad and some snow off the vans on the way out. RIC defeated Coast Guard in a tight match 22-16. Then went on to coast past Bridgewater 39-9 and host Trinity 42-9 to finish 16-4. The opening match was tight and featured two national contenders at 133 in undefeated #10 in NCAA Silas Murray taking on #1 in NEWA at the time Nate Giorgio. Murray owned the match after the first takedown knocking off the 2-time NCAA qualifier and former all-American at 125 nearly majoring him 9-2. The most exciting match
Silas Murray in command of Coast Guard all-American Giorgo. Silas would almost major him 9-2. came at heavyweight as John Georges needed to bump up 50 pounds to beat the Coast Guard heavyweight in the 4th overtime with a gutsy double leg. Ricondo Cole had a tough match at 141 vs. Giorgio’s brother Michael, but hung on for the win.
Jonathan Murray, Brandon Conrad, and Kyle Humphries supported the Anchormen with wins. Against a banged up Bridgewater St. the Anchormen were able to get some experience out of young wrestlers mixed with some seniors in their final competition. Seniors Rob Sotelo scored a tech fall and Josh Harrison toughed out a good win in the 39-9. With the snow coming down, the Anchormen made quick work of the Trinity Bantams. Chris Kelly got a nice win at 149 over a high school rival, and Justin Caparco avenged an early season loss to former all New England Kyle Lundberg. The Anchormen head into the NCAA Northeast Regional after a two week break looking to send several to nationals.
NCAA NORTHEAST REGIONAL PREVIEW
Rhode Island College wrestling looks to get back to Cedar Rapids via Wesleyan The Anchormen had a string of seven straight NCAA appearances heartbroken last season, especially for the hard working individuals trying to get there. This year’s championships return to the US Cellular Center where the streak began with Michael Bonora earning back-to-back all-American honors including a national championship. Of the ten wrestlers going to the NCAA Northeast Regional, RIC has four potential top three seeds. Ricondo Cole had been nationally ranked for months and his competition just happens to be #4, #5, and he being #6 in the country. Cortland’s Bistis is a returning allAmerican from 2012 and ranked #4 and nemesis Giacolone from Ithaca is #5 in the country. Also a factor is Ben Mikac from Oneonta who will be 4 seed. The top three from each weight class qualify for NCAA’s in Cedar Rapids on March 14, 15. Silas Murray #10 in NCAA DIII is positioned to be the #2 seed behind former high school
teammate from Brentwood, NY (Long Island) Ithaca’s Alex Gomez who is currently #4 nationally and returning all-American. Silas was recently named to the NCAA “Most Dominant” list in 6th best performance in all of DIII. Go to NCAA.com wrestling news for the story. Jon Murray will be an interesting seed, could be #1, but Kempf from Cortland came down from 133, and Brian Amato from WPI will be in the mix somewhere rounding out top three. The other end of the lineup features Brian Nicoll at 285 who could also be a #1 seed depending on coaches’ voting. Brian is a returning all-Region wrestler. Six other RIC Anchormen will battle for regional placing and potential chance to get to Iowa. The last time RIC brought 4 was 1991 and had three all-Americans Brian Allen, James Barbera, and Scotty Carlsten. Greg McLaughlin also earned a trip; it was the 4th of 5 straight New England titles. Chris Kelly, 149; Kyle Lake, 157; Brandon Conrad, 165; Justin Caparco, 174; Kyle Humphries 184, and John Georges, 197 complete a great lineup for the Anchormen.
Alumni and Family note – after a long battle with back orders and issues getting gear, we had a shipment just come in last week. If anyone needs gear or ordered gear please contact Coach Jones immediately – we have #anchorstrong tee shirts available and many other left over items – please don’t feel overlooked it has been a challenge this year. Coachj13@cox.net or jjones@ric.edu Other RIC Wrestling News: Upcoming action: NCAA NORTHEAST REGIONAL March 1 and 2 @ Wesleyan (CT)
Sun 2:30 Finals and 3rd Place Qualifier
NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIPS March 14 and 15 Cedar Rapids, IA
Alumni Wood N Tap – Wallingford, CT after Regional Quarterfinal Saturday March 1
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