GORHAM, Maine    –  Celebrating its nine seniors, the University of Southern Maine Huskies' wrestling team was triumphant with a solid 35-18 win over New England College in a dual meet Friday night at Hill Gym.
 
The Huskies are now 8-11 on the season in dual meets.  New England College is 2-16.  Southern Maine defeated New England College 37-15 earlier in the season.
 
On the Mat:

• After falling behind 4-0 after the 125 lb bout, Husky junior Jake Craig (Norridgewock, Maine/Skowhegan) put Southern Maine in front 5-4 with a 19-3 (6:30) win by technical fall.
• NEC leapt in front again with a 6-5 come-from-behind win by the Pilgrims' Caden Frost. Frost scored a reversal in the waning seconds of the match to defeat Husky sophomore Kyle Moore (Kennebunk, Maine/Division Avenue (NY)).
• Wrestling at 149, senior Colby Frost (Steep Falls, Maine/Bonny Eagle) continued his torrid pace remaining undefeated. Frost was up 15-7 before his opponent had to retire with an injury. Frost's victory gave USM an 11-7 lead.
• Ranked fourth in NEWA at 157 lbs, NEC's Zach Soda came away with a 17-2 win by technical fall over USM's Kaleb Pool (Tucson, Ariz.) returning the lead back to the Pilgrims again, 12-11.
• After the 157 match, the Huskies swept the 165, 174 matches to led 23-12.  Sophomore Derek Cote (Lebanon, Maine/Noble) scored a big six points with a 4:40 win by fall over Joe Gangi at 165, and senior Tyler Haynes (Metuchen, NJ) followed with a pin of his own in 2:30 over Dominic Demaio.
• NEC scored its final points of the match with a win by fall by Josh Bean at 184, before seniors Anthony Mears (Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic) and Owen Bufagna (Newton, NH/Central Catholic) each won by forfeit for the 35-18 final.

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine travels to Norwich University on Saturday (12:00 pm) for a dual meet. The Huskies will then send a contingent to the NEWA Futures Tournament on Sunday, February 23.  The 2025 NCAA Northeast Regional Championship begins on Saturday, March 1 and will be hosted by Wesleyan University.  
 
Southern Maine, New England College
WT        Bout                                                                                                             Running Score
125        Dominic Gangi (NEC) major dec. Noah Krysztofiak (SM), 13-0                     NEC, 4-0
133        Jake Craig (SM) tech fall Patrick Hughes (NEC), 19-3 (6:30)                        SM, 5-4
141        Caden Frost (NEC) dec. Kyle Moore (SM), 6-5                                              NEC, 7-5
149        Colby Frost (SM) injury default Michael Follo (NEC), (6:00, 15-7)                 SM, 11-7
157        Zach Soda (NEC) tech fall Kaleb Pool (SM), 17-2 (5:00)                               NEC, 12-11
165        Derek Cote (SM) pinned Joe Gangi (NEC), 4:40                                            SM, 17-12
174        Tyler Haynes (SM) pinned Dominic Demaio (NEC), 2:30                               SM, 23-12
184        Josh Bean (NEC) pinned Michael Sanchez (SM)                                           SM, 23-18
197        Anthony Mears (SM) won by forfeit                                                                 SM, 29-18
285        Owen Bufagan (SM) won by forfeit                                                                  SM, 35-18
 
Exhibitions
133        Liam Knight (SM) pinned Wyatt Gentile (NEC), 2:00
157        Colin Sevigney (SM) pinned Andrew Piedrahita (NEC), 2:53
133        Wyatt Gentile (NEC) pinned Vinny Keeler (SM), 4:30
157        Andrew Piedrahita (NEC) tech fall Jackson Morgan (SM), 16-1 (5:45)