CASTLETON, VT.- The TCNJ wrestling team put on a show Saturday afternoon, defeating WPI at Castleton University by a score of 46-5.
After losing the first matchup at 125 the Lions did not look back, rattling off nine straight wins. Those nine wins consisted of two by decision, five by way of pin and the other two by tech fall.
Larry Melchionda (133) got the Lions on the board first with a 14-9 win over Connor Doran, bouncing right back into the win column from a loss on Friday night.
Domenic Difrancescantonio (141) and Mike Conklin (149) followed Melchionda's decision win with pins of their own. Difrancescantonio pinned WPI's Quincy Laflin just 16 seconds into the bout. Conklin pinned Zachary Rioux at the 1:16 mark, his second victory by pin on the year so far.
Connor Doherty got his first win of the season at 157 lbs. with a tech fall win against Caden Crist by a score of 15-0.
Nick Sacco (165), Reid Colella (174) and Quinn Haddad (184) put together three more straight victories by pin. Sacco pinned Mario Barbiero at the 4:39 mark to bounce back in a big way after a loss on Friday night. Colella pinned Ethan Edmondson with just less than one minute to spare in the second round and Haddad had his second win by pin early in the third period against David Gibson for WPI.
Junior Demetrius Ruiz (197) got his first win of the season by decision via riding time over Tyler Riggs. The match was tight throughout and saw no takedowns in each of the overtime periods but Ruiz was awarded the win for having the advantage with riding time.
Peter Wersinger got back on track Saturday afternoon with a 17-2 tech fall victory over Lucas Wilson-Wuestefeld with just over 30 seconds left in the match.
TCNJ wrestling will be back on the mat December 2
nd when they travel to York College (PA) for the New Standard Invitational.
#9 TCNJ 46, WPI 5
125: Charlie Pavis (WPI) tech fall William Hinkson, 16-0 (3:56) (0-5)
133: Larry Melchionda (TCNJ) dec. Connor Doran, 14-9 (3-5)
141: Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) pinned Quincy Laflin, (0:16) (9-5)
149: Mike Conklin (TCNJ) pinned Zachary Rioux, (1:16) (15-5)
157: Connor Doherty (TCNJ) tech fall Caden Crist, 15-0 (5:27) (20-5)
165: Nick Sacco (TCNJ) pinned Mario Barbiero, (4:39) (26-5)
174: Reid Colella (TCNJ) pinned Ethan Edmondson, (4:01) (32-5)
184: Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) pinned David Gibson, (5:46) (38-5)
197: Demetrius Ruiz (TCNJ) dec. Tyler Riggs, 2-2 (41-5)
285: Peter Wersinger (TCNJ) tech fall Lucas Wilson-Wuestefeld, 17-2 (6:25) (46-5)
Exhibition:
141: Antonios Sevastos (WPI) major dec. James Johnson, 14-2
