Wrestling | 12/6/2018 9:18:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT wrestling team (3-1) earned its first victory over The College in Brockport (0-1) since the 1998-99 season, winning 28-6 at Clark Gymnasium on Thursday evening.  The Tigers won eight of the 10 dual matches, including seven straight.

"I loved our effort tonight and loved the way we competed in each match for seven minutes," said RIT wrestling head coach Jason Bovenzi. "We kept our composure, we stayed in the moment, did not let our emotions get the best of us and just competed. I feel like we got on a roll, built off that momentum and the guys started to believe in themselves. This is a great win for our program."

RIT's Chris Horton (Athens, PA/Athens Area) earned a dramatic win over Brockport's Eli Sims in the opening match of the evening, tying the match with an escape with 45 seconds and then picking up the 3-1 win with a takedown, 8.9 seconds into overtime.
 
In the next match, Isaiah Ocasio (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) was down 4-1 heading into the third period, before getting a quick escape and takedown to tie the match at 4-4. Brockport's Zack Barker would get a late escape and fend off a furious rally by Ocasio to even the match at 3-3 with a 5-4 win.
 
After Ryan Snow defeated Zach Stedeford (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) at 149 lbs. to give Brockport the lead, RIT's Kaidon Winters (Athens, PA/Athens Area), who is ranked fourth at 157 lbs. in Division III, rolled to a 16-0 technical fall win over Brockport's Jordan Kayes. Winters was in control from the start en route to the convincing victory, moving to 12-0 in 2018-19. That win would give RIT the lead in the match for good.
 
Dempsey King (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) gave RIT a 11-6 lead after earning a 5-2 win at 165 lbs. over Brockport's Michael Falcon. John Donohue (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) made it three straight wins for the Tigers at 174 lbs., scoring four quick points in the first period to grab control and pick up a 10-3 win. Joe Cutugno (Ventnor, NJ/Atlantic City) continued the streak for the Tigers, scoring early and often to defeat Tim Collins at 184 lbs., 18-6.
 
Sam Weinger (Blooming Grove, NY/Washingtonville) would clinch the win for RIT, getting a takedown 43 seconds into overtime to earn a 3-1 victory over Joe Yanis of Brockport. Connor Calkins (Almond, NY/Alfred-Almond) got off to a fast start in his bout against Calik Kennedy at 285 lbs., rolling to a 12-3 win.
 
In the finale, Alex Prunoske (Safety Harbor, FL/Clearwater Catholic) rallied from an early deficit to score the final six points and defeat Neiko Scarano, 6-1 at 125 lbs.
 
Brockport had won 42 of 44 matches in the all-time series between the two schools before tonight. RIT's only other wins came in the 1964-65 and 1998-99 seasons.

RIT is back in action on Dec. 28-29, competing at the Citrus Open in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

RIT 28, The College at Brockport 6
133 – Chris Horton (Athens, PA/Athens Area) (RIT) wins by decision over Eli Sims (B), 3-1, SV
141 – Zack Barker (B) wins by decision over Isaiah Ocasio (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) (RIT), 5-4
149 – Ryan Snow (B) wins by decision over Zach Stedeford (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) (RIT), 6-2
157 – Kaidon Winters (Athens, PA/Athens Area) (RIT) wins by technical fall over Jordan Keyes (B), 16-0, 6:07
165 – Dempsey King (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) (RIT) wins by decision over Michael Falcon (B), 5-2
174 – John Donohue (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) (RIT) wins by decision over Christopher Eames (B), 10-3
184 – Joe Cutugno (Ventnor, NJ/Atlantic City) (RIT) wins by major decision over Tim Collins (B), 18-6
197 – Sam Weinger (Blooming Grove, NY/Washingtonville) (RIT) wins by decision over Joe Yanis (B), 3-1, SV
285 – Connor Calkins (Almond, NY/Alfred-Almond) (RIT) wins by major decision over Calik Kennedy (B), 12-3
125 – Alex Prunoske (Safety Harbor, FL/Clearwater Catholic) (RIT) wins by decision over Neiko Scarano (B), 6-1