Rensselaer wins 1st NCWA NYS Championship

RPI won its first NCWA NYS Championship this past Saturday night at the Univeristy of Albany. RPI wrestled the host team first and came away with a tight 34-23 decision. The match started and the team was ignited by 125 pound Freshman Adam Bruce who pinned Corey Ferguson in the first match of the night. After a forfeit, the team swaped decisions until Captain Rob Venditti increased the lead with a 51 second fall. This time UAlbany was unable to catch up.
In the second match of the night, RPI fell behind after swapping forfeits and a lost decision. The lead was then cut into by newly added Freshman Ryan Michaels with a close 3-1 decision over Robert Wynn. In the next match, Captain Rob Venditti once again won in impressive fashion 12-3. The next match saw Grad student and first year wrestler Joe Crispino win his first collegiate match 7-5. After two forfeits, the match was in hand and finsihed off with a fall by Sophomore Zach Beauman.
RPI's depth was the most important feature in the matches between the NY schools. RPI only had one opening within their line-up and the rest of the team came ready to wrestle. The team looks toward this championship as a high point in the season and hopes to use this as a springboard to a high finish in the NE Conference regionals which they are hosting.