Bridgewater, Mass.-Rhode Island College snapped a nine-match losing streak to longtime nemesis and cross-city rival, Johnson & Wales, en route to a fifth place finish at the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) "Headlock for Hunger" Dual Meet Championships, hosted by Bridgewater State.
Match One: Rhode Island College 33, Southern Maine 15
125: Brandon Gauthier (RIC) won by forfeit
133: Billy Cole (USM) pinned Josh Baker (RIC) at 1:52
141: Mike Trasso (RIC) dec. Cinjin Goewey (USM), 6-2
149: Kevin Sutherland (RIC) dec. Logan Russell (USM), 5-1
157: Ryan Rheaume (RIC) pinned George Robles III (USM) at 6:28
165: Brendan Guarino (RIC) dec. Peter Gilman (USM), 4-3
174: Brohen Krsulic (RIC) pinned Dakota Jewett (USM) at 4:21
184: Joe Chartier (USM) dec. Joseph Mahoney (RIC), 13-10
197: Travis Spencer (USM) pinned Jesse Posl-Rhinehart (RIC) at 1:12
285: Brandon Regnault (RIC) pinned Matthew Bubar (USM) at 1:28
Rhode Island College held a 10-3 lead on Springfield College after senior captain Kevin Sutherland (Dauphin, PA) win at 149 lbs. The Pride went on a role to win the next five bouts and gain a 22-10 advantage. Freshman Brandon Regnault (Johnston, RI) picked up a pin at heavyweight to end the match on a bright note in a losing effort.
Match Two: Springfield 22, Rhode Island College 16
125: Dru Thomas (SC) dec. Brandon Gauthier (RIC), 2-1
133: Travis Drappi (RIC) dec. Jesse Sgaglione (SC), 13-1
141: Mike Trasso (RIC) dec. Blaze Chatham (SC), 2-1
149: Kevin Sutherland (RIC) dec. Ryan McGilvray (SC), 2-1 TB1
157: Steve Flathers (SC) dec. Ryan Rheaume (RIC), 6-3
165: Derrick Longo (SC) dec. Brendan Guarino (RIC), 6-2
174: Michael Fish (SC) dec. Brohen Krsulic (RIC), 10-2
184: Nicholas Camera (SC) dec. Chris Dean (RIC), 8-3
197: Jeremy Burns (SC) pinned Adam Lynch (RIC) at 1:50
285: Brandon Regnault (RIC) pinned Brandon DiDonato (SC) at 2:43
The Anchormen scored a 24-12 victory over their longtime cross-city rivals in the semifinals for fifth place match. RIC set the tone early with seven consecutive wins out of the gate. Junior Brandon Gauthier (Lowell, MA) opened the match with a pin at 125 lbs. Krsulic's decision at 174 lbs. assured RIC of the win. The last time RIC had defeated JWU was a tight, 21-20, victory on Feb. 10, 2004.
Match Three: Rhode Island College 24, Johnson & Wales 12
125: Brandon Gauthier (RIC) pinned Joe Pronk (JWU) at 3:11
133 Travis Drappi (RIC) dec. John Donaleski (JWU), 1-0
141: Mike Trasso (RIC) dec. Colby Clarke (JWU), 7-2
149: Kevin Sutherland (RIC) dec. TJ Webster (JWU), 7-5
157: Kevin Barrucci (RIC) dec. Ethan Farrell (JWU), 11-4
165: Dustin Wilcox (RIC) dec. Jack Hamilton (JWU), 12-7
174: Brohen Krsulic (RIC) dec. Justin Sclaise (JWU), 6-2
184: Brennan Ward (JWU) pinned Joseph Mahoney (RIC) at 0:54
197: William Mulligan (JWU) dec. Adam Lynch (RIC), 3-1
285: Humphrey Swift (JWU) dec. Devin Callahan-Cormier (RIC), 3-2
The Anchormen smacked Bridgewater State, 30-13, in the fifth place match, as Gauthier and junior Mike Trasso (Lyndhurst, NJ) earned pins at 125 and 141 lbs., respectively. Major victories by freshman Kevin Barrucci (Burlington, MA) at 157 lbs. and Guarino at 165 lbs. helped seal the win.
Match Four: Rhode Island College 30, Bridgewater State 13
125: Brandon Gauthier (RIC) pinned Dan Palmer (BSU) at 2:36
133: Travis Drappi (RIC) dec. Steven McCarthy (BSU), 16-5
141: Mike Trasso (RIC) pinned Jerry Joubert (BSU) at 2:06
149: Sean Fields (BSU) dec. Remington Alves (RIC), 13-5
157: Kevin Barrucci (RIC) dec. Steven Ciaccio (BSU), 9-1
165: Brendan Guarino (RIC) dec. Gene Michael Deary (BSU), 14-4
174: Zachary Bates (BSU) dec. Dustin Wilcox (RIC), 10-4
184: TJ Valle (BSU) dec. Chris Dean (RIC), 4-2
197: Andrew Frazer (BSU) dec. Adam Lynch (RIC), 10-3
285: Brandon Regnault (RIC) pinned Samuel Fritz (BSU) at 4:23
Sutherland, Trasso, Regnault and senior Travis Drappi (West Orange, NJ) all went unbeaten on the day.