WORCESTER -- Mario Barberio (Muncy, MA), Adam Marsh (Upper Black Eddy, PA), Jonah Potter (Wells, ME), Tyler Riggs (North Scituate, RI) cobbled together four straight victories late in the match to propel WPI to a 23-21 triumph over Southern Maine in the opening contest of a Super Tri-Meet hosted by the Engineers in the Sports & Recreation Center on Saturday. With the spilt, the Engineers are now 6-11 on the season.
Brockport (6-4) captured the other two matchups on Mat #1 on Saturday, dispatching Southern Maine (7-7) 24-16 before breaking a 13-13 deadlock against WPI with victories in the last three bouts to win 25-13. No. 2 Johnson & Wales (21-3) knocked off Brockport 25-9 in the only varsity match of the day on Mat #2.
The Engineers jumped out to 10-3 advantage over Southern Maine after three bouts when Charlie Pavis (Bethlehem, PA) had his arm raised with a six-point victory at 125 pounds and Chris Cook (Mount Kisco, NY) provided the hosts a big boost when he delivered a resounding 16-4 major decision over a NEWA-ranked wrestler at 141.
The Huskies battled back with first period falls in the next two matchups to surge ahead 15-10 before the combo of Barberio, Marsh, Potter and Riggs embarked upon the contest-winning run. Barberio, WPI's highest-ranked grappler (sixth) began the spurt with a 6-1 triumph at 165 pounds and Marsh gave the Crimson and Gray an edge they would not relinquish with a 11-2 major decision at 174.
With the Engineers ahead 17-15, it appeared to come down to whoever would capture two of the last three bouts with the Huskies having a nationally-ranked wrestler at their disposal at heavyweight. The 184-pound bout was tied at 6-6 after Potter got a takedown with 1:15 left to go but only to see his foe escape with 29 seconds left to go up 7-6. With 20 seconds remaining, Potter put two shots together and ended up in a front headlock position. From there the sophomore went to his left for a knee pick and the two points. Potter threatened with a cradle position to ride out Kuntz and finishing the match on top for the 8-7 victory. Riggs then took center stage with the chance to play closer and he did just that, securing the win with a 7-2 victory in a matchup of NEWA-ranked wrestlers.
In the nightcap against Brockport, Cook and Barberio each notched their second victories of the day and were joined in the win column by 133-pounder Connor Doran (Gales Ferry, CT) and 174-pounder Ethan Edmondson (Milford, CT). Doran lit up the scoreboard with a 17-4 major decision just before Cook got the better of his opponent at 149 9-3 . The Engineers dropped the next two bouts but evened the match at 13-13 after Barberio won 7-1 at 165 and Edmondson posted a 6-3 triumph. From that point it was all Golden Eagles as they tallied consecutive wins by decision as a first period pin to bag the 25-13 victory.
WPI is back on the mat on Friday, venturing to Providence to face Rhode Island College in a 7pm match. Johnson & Wales is back in action later Saturday, entertaining Stevens at 6pm, Brockport returns home for Senior Day against RIT on Wednesday at 7pm and Southern Maine ventures to Plymouth State next Wednesday for a quad match beginning at noon that includes Trinity and Western New England.
Mat #1 Results
WPI 23, Southern Maine 21 - Box Score
Brockport 24, Southern Maine 16 - Box Score
Brockport 25, WPI 13 - Box Score
Mat #2 Results
Johnson & Wales 25, Brockport 9 - Box Score
