SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Trailing 10-0 after the first three weight classes were settled, the University of Southern Maine Huskies wrestling team rallied to take a 28-19 win over the American International College Yellowjackets Friday night at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium.
Competing for the first time since mid-December, the Huskies improved their dual meet record to 3-1 with the win. AIC is now 1-6. Husky freshman
Colby Frost (Steep Falls, Maine) started the Huskies' rally with a win by fall, while classmate
Anthony Mears (Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic) closed the match with a key pin at 285.
On the Mat:
- Wrestling at 149 pounds, freshman Colby Frost (Steep Falls, Maine/Bonny Eagle) pinned his opponent Luke Mangiafico in 2:51 to earn the first Huskies' points of the match to ignite the rally. Frost's win is the 14th of the season (14-6) and marked his seventh win by fall. He is 6-2 in his last eight matches and has won three straight.
- After a loss at 157, USM claimed points in the next three weight classes (157, 174 and 184). Senior Juan Vernaza (Miramar, Fla.) worked his way to a dominant 9-0 win by major decision over AIC's Alfred MacNeill in the 174 pound bout to tie the score at 16-16. Vernaza is now 12-6 on the season.
- Graduate student Aidan Whitis (Gorham, Maine) gave USM the lead for good with a 1:31 win by fall over Tommy Caracciolo at 184 pounds. The win marks Whitis' 10th of the season.
- AIC picked up an 11-8 win by decision at 197 pounds to pull to within three points of USM, 22-19; however, Husky freshman Anthony Mears (Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic) shut the door on the match earning a win by fall in 2:24 over AIC's Alphonse Ferrentino for the 28-19 final.
Up Next:
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday at the Johnson & Wales University Wildcat Open and then competes at the NEWA Duals on Sunday, also hosted by Johnson & Wales.
Southern Maine 28, American International College 19
Records: Southern Maine (3-1); American International College (1-6)
Wt. Bout Running Score
125 Jerry Echevarria (AIC) dec.
Antoine Grace (SM) 6-4 (SV-1) AIC, 3-0
133 Aaron Morocho (AIC) dec.
Ethan Ford (SM) 6-5 AIC, 6-0
141 Sean Johnson major dec.
Kevin Moore (SM) 13-0 AIC, 10-0
149
Colby Frost (SM) pinned Luke Mangiafico (AIC), 2:51 AIC, 10-6
157 Baltazar Gonzalez (AIC) pinned
Trevor Engling (SM), 1:34 AIC, 16-6
165
David Kurker (SM) won by forfeit AIC, 16-12
174
Juan Vernaza (SM) major dec. Alfred MacNeill (AIC), 9-0 T, 16-16
184
Aidan Whitis (SM) pinned Tommy Caracciolo (AIC), 1:31 USM, 22-16
197 Justin Osler (AIC) dec.
Nick Beebe (SM), 11-8 USM, 22-19
285
Anthony Mears (SM) pinned Alphonse Ferrentino (AIC), 2:24 USM, 28-19
Exhibitions
184 Markys Lissaint (AIC) major dec.
Jeremy Sendrowski (SM), 12-3
184 Matt Bremner (AIC) pinned Timothy Smale (SM), 6:10
–cac–
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