LOUISVILLE, KY – The RIT Wrestling team finished 15th out of 24 Division III team at the NWCA National Duals in Louisville this weekend.

After winning their first match, 20-19, over No. 15 Coe College, the Tigers then fell to No. 5 North Central, 25-12, and No. 16 The College of New Jersey, 29-9. On Saturday, the Tigers lost to No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 29-18, before defeating No. 24 Millikin on a tiebreaker after finishing the dual 23-22. 

Senior Colby Giroux (184 lbs.) led the way for RIT, winning all three matches he had on Friday. Senior Ben Dougherty (174 lbs.) as well as sophomores Josh Harkless (197 lbs.) and Nate DeGroff (285 lbs.) finished the day 2-0. 

The Tigers started the duals with a 20-19 victory over Coe College in the preliminary round. Graduate student Christopher Horton (141 lbs.) won RIT's lone of major decision of the match when he defeated Bryce Park, 11-0. Seniors James Ost (141 lbs.), Austin Lamb (165 lbs.), Dougherty (174 lbs.), Giroux (184 lbs.) and the sophomore Harkless (194 lbs.) also had victories. The two squads were tied at 19 at the end of the matches, but RIT advanced with a final point because they had won six matches to Coe's four. 

RIT lost the following dual, 25-12, to North Central College. Dougherty, Giroux, Harkless, and DeGroff all won their matches by decision in the defeat as the Tigers dropped to 1-1 in the tournament.

Giroux, DeGroff, and first-year Nick Smith (197 lbs.) were the Tiger winners in the 29-9 loss to the College of New Jersey.

Horton and Harkless had the Tigers' first pins of the tournament in their wins during the Tigers' 29-18 loss to Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Saturday, 29-18. DeGroff won his match by forfeit. 

RIT concluded their duals with a win over Millikin, finishing the matchup tied 22-22 but winning on a tiebreaker decided by number of points won in matches that didn't end in pins, forfeits, or another maximum point finish. Giroux and DeGroff had pins, while Ben Dougherty won by major decision. Horton and Harkless also beat their Milliken counterparts.

The Tigers will return to campus on Jan. 21, when they host the New York State Intercollegiate Open at Gordon Field House. 

RIT 20, Coe College 19
125: Cade Hornback (Coe) pin. Seth Russo (RIT) 4:18
133: Alex Friddle (Coe) maj. Lee Rubin (RIT) 12-0
141: Christopher Horton (RIT) maj. Bryce Parke (Coe) 11-0
149: Riley Wright (Coe) dec. Mike Glynn (RIT) 5-4
157: James Ost (RIT) dec. Gabe McGeough (Coe) 5-3
165: Austin Lamb (RIT) dec. Will Esmoil (Coe) 3-2
174: Ben Dougherty (RIT) dec. Ryker Kurimski (Coe) 5-2
184: Colby Giroux (RIT) over Tristin Westphal (Coe) SV-1 9-7
197: Josh Harkless (RIT) dec. Jared Voss (Coe) 4-2
285: Kaleb Reeves (Coe) wins by forfeit
RIT wins 20-19 after earning tie-breaker point for winning more matches

North Central 25, RIT 12
125: Christian Guzman (North Central) tech. John Freebern (RIT) 16-0
133: Robbie Precin (North Central) pin. Lee Rubin (RIT) 2:35
141: Bradley Rosen (North Central) maj. Christopher Horton (RIT) 11-2
149: Javen Estrada (North Central) maj. Mike Glynn (RIT) 9-0
157: Alex Villar (North Central) dec. James Ost (RIT) 4-3
165: Cole Cervantes (North Central) dec. Liam Strouse (RIT) 7-6
174: Ben Dougherty (RIT) dec. Casey Aikman (North Central) 10-6
184: Colby Giroux (RIT) dec. Payton Geigner (North Central) 2-1
197: Josh Harkless (RIT) dec. Elijah Brockie (North Central) 5-1
285: Nate DeGroff (RIT) dec. Max Ness (North Central) 7-2

The College of New Jersey 29, RIT 9
125: Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) tech. Seth Russo (RIT) 16-0
133: Kyle Nase (TCNJ) maj. Isaiah Shafer (RIT)  14-2
141: Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) dec. Christopher Horton (RIT) 6-0
149: Michael Conklin (TCNJ) maj. Mike Glynn (RIT) 8-0
157: Matthew Sacco (TCNJ) dec. James Ost (RIT) 8-2
165: Nicholas Sacco (TCNJ) def Austin Lamb (RIT) 5:00 by medical default
174: Reid Colella (TCNJ) maj. Tyler Balent (RIT) 13-2
184: Colby Giroux (RIT) dec. Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) 4-3
197: Nicholas Smith (RIT) dec. Joe Daddario (TCNJ) 6-3
285: Nate DeGroff (RIT) dec. Chris Stavrou (TCNJ) 9-3

University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire 29, RIT 18
125: Carter Schulz (WEC) pin. John Freeman (RIT) 2:57
133: Tyler Fleetwood (WEC) tech. Lee Rubin (RIT) 17-2
141: Christopher Horton (RIT) pin. Ryan Goddard (WEC) 2:02
149: Zach Sato (WEC) dec. Mike Glynn (RIT), 6-2
157: Zach Schneider (WEC) pin. James Ost (RIT) 4:20
165: Tristan Massie (WEC) dec. Liam Strouse (RIT) 7-1
174: Jared Strickler (WEC) dec. Ben Dougherty (RIT) 7-2
184: Niall Schoenfelder (WEC) dec. Colby Giroux 3-2
197: Josh Harkless (RIT) pin. Sam Melton (WEC) 5:52
285: Nate DeGroff (RIT) wins by forfeit

RIT 23, Millikin 22 
125: Tommy Russell (Millikin) pin. John Freebern (RIT) 2:45
133: Coby Haney (Millikin) pin. Lee Rubin (RIT) 2:22
141: Christopher Horton (RIT) dec. Jordan Carson (Millikin) 4-1
149: Peter McCucker (Millikin) dec. Mike Glynn (RIT) 7-2
157: Nathan Callaway (Millikin) maj. Joey Brillo (RIT) 10-2
165: Dejon Glaster (Millikin) dec. Liam Strouse (RIT) 2-0
174: Ben Dougherty (RIT) maj. Nick White (Millikin) 8-0
184: Colby Giroux (RIT) pin. David Navarra (Millikin) 2:54
197: Josh Harkless (RIT) dec. Cade Scott (Milikin) 5-0
285: Nate DeGroff (RIT) pin. Leno Capbell (Milikin) 6:27
RIT wins on tiebreaker for scoring more points in matches that didn't end in pins, forfeits, or another maximum point finish.