Wrestling | 2/10/2019 2:48:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – The No. 19 RIT wrestling team (12-2) set a new program record for dual wins in a season, earning a pair of decisive victories versus Alfred State College (53-0) and Pennsylvania College of Technology (38-9) on Sunday afternoon from Clark Gym.
RIT's 12 wins surpass the previous school mark of 11, set in the 1958-59 season. With Earl Fuller, legendary former head coach (1948-1998) and leader of the 1958-59 team in attendance, RIT wasted little time in setting the record.
Before the match, RIT honored seniors
Vincent Buscemi (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia),
Connor Calkins (Almond, NY/Alfred-Almond),
Joe Cutugno (Ventnor, NJ/Atlantic City) and
Wyatt Morris (Eaton, NY/Morrisville-Eaton).
"This is a testament to the type of guys we have," said RIT head coach
Jason Bovenzi. "The guys put themselves in a position to break the record, we are proud it and we hope it is another step forward in the type of program we want to be."
Versus Alfred State,
Seth Martin (Ephrata, PA/Conestoga Valley) and
Chris Horton (Athens, PA/Athens Area) got things started with identical 17-2 technical fall wins to give RIT an early 10-0 edge. After a forfeit,
Zach Stedeford (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) picked up a 14-0 win at 149 lbs. and
Kaidon Winters (Athens, PA/Athens Area), ranked third in Division III at 157 lbs., picked up a win after his opponent suffered an injury 1:10 into the match.
Dempsey King (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford),
Joe Lupisella (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Calkins followed with technical fall wins, sandwiched around two forfeits.
The Tigers scored the first 38 points en route to the record-setting win over Penn. Tech. Horton, Winters and King all recorded falls, while
Shane Murphy (Mt. Olive, NJ/Mt. Olive) and Cutugno recorded wins by major decision and Stedeford and Lupisella picked up victories as well.
Winters improved to 27-0 on the season with 14 falls. He finished 14-0 in dual matches. Horton improved to 24-6 overall and 13-1 in dual competition. King and Calkins have 22 wins, while Cutugno moved to 21-5.
RIT has now three wins by shutout this season, which is a team record.
The Tigers are right back in action on Saturday at Muhlenberg College to compete in the Mideast Southeast Futures Tournament.
