RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE WRESTLING #22 NCAA DIVISION III Anchormen Newsletter
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Terrance Jean-Jacques scores 3 major victories on way to national finals stage Jean-Jacques earns All-American as NCAA Runner-up
Terrance Jean-Jacques reached the national finals stage with a great run at Hershey’s Giant Center defeating by major the #1 seed in the quarters followed by another major over the #4 seed in the semis to advance to the championship match. Jean-Jacques was on fire and said, “It was the last tournament of the year, and I had my support system there and they were counting on me. I had a mission that had to be done, and I simply refused to be denied.
Something clicked and it clicked at the right time of the year.” Jean-Jacques had an impressive three major victories on his run. His 12-3 dominant effort over #4 seed Wartburg’s (IA) Ben Nagle in the national semifinal kept the mission in tact. In the quarterfinal, JeanJacques took down the big Polar Bear and #1 seed from Ohio Northern Cody Lovejoy controlling the match on his feet, scoring an amazing 13-2 win, which earned him All-
American status. In the opener, #8 seed Jean-Jacques defeated Brockport’s (NY) Cole Tristram 9-1. The finals match was close against #2 seed Donald Longendyke of Augsburg (MN). Longendyke scored the only point with a second period escape. “Both of us felt that being neutral for 2 minutes was the best bet; I couldn’t be prouder of Terrance’s effort. He shot, left it all on the mat, that’s all we could ask,” said Coach Jones.
Above left, Jean-Jacques scores a takedown over Nagle of Wartburg; above middle, #1 seed Lovejoy of Ohio Northern is broken mentally and physically; above right, Jean-Jacques dominates over Brockport’s Tristram to get his podium mission started at Hershey.
Costa earns Scholar All-American for the Anchormen
“Hard work truly pays off!” Jonathan Costa set his goals, challenged himself, had the right mindset, and as a result earned one of the best awards a student-athlete can put on a resume. With a 3.82 combined GPA over the last two semesters, and an All-Northeast regional effort, Jonathan Costa was named to the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association Scholar All-American team. Costa became the 22nd Academic AllAmerican in program history. Before Coach Jones’ tenure, the program only had four total. “We always push for the guys to reach this goal, as it shows balance to future employers on their resumes. I am so proud of Jon
because he really works at it with disciplined study habits, not to mention his courage on the mat is second to none,” said Coach Jones. Costa was surprisingly unseeded at the NCAA Northeast Regional, but battled tough for a 4th place finish. Costa commented on his quest, “knowledge is the greatest power anyone can have or obtain, he quotes Greek philosopher Hesiod, ‘far best is he who knows all things himself; good, he that hearkens when men counsel right, but he who neither knows, not lays to heart another’s wisdom is a useless weight.’” He is a junior and will have one more run at the national podium.
NCAA Northeast Regional a ‘mixed bag’ of pleasant surprises and tough ones to take – RIC had 4 take all-region Four Anchormen claim All-Region honors as Sophomore Terrance Jean-Jacques (Haverhill, MA), placed second at 285 lbs., unseeded Jonathan Costa (New Bedford, MA) placed 4th, Shawn Giblin matched his seed placing 5th, and unseeded Mike Murphy reached the semi-finals and placed 6th as Rhode Island College placed 10th (18 teams) at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, hosted by Roger Williams on Feb. 28 and March 1. Junior 149 lbs. Shawn Giblin (Cranston, RI) went 4-2 with a pin and a major decision en route to a fifth place finish and a spot on the All-Northeast Regional team. Giblin was seeded fifth at the meet. “I look at our lineup and truly believed we would be bringing several to nationals. I know we have a tough region, but our expectations are high here. We have to perform better at the regional, especially wrestling back,” said Coach Jones. Sophomore 157 lbs. Michael Murphy (North Providence, RI) went 2-3 to finish sixth and secure a spot on the All-Northeast Regional team. He was unseeded coming into the tournament. Ithaca won the regional with a team score of 128.5. The Anchormen totaled a score of 55.5.
Above left, unseeded Mike Murphy’s gutsy effort earned him All-Region, and Shawn Giblin (above right) placed in one of the toughest weights in the region.