Princeton University Athletics
Small Victories for Tiger Wrestlers
March 16, 2001 | Wrestling
March 16, 2001
IOWA CITY, IOWA - For the first time in ten years, a Princeton wrestler stepped onto the mats at the NCAA championship tournament. In a year where two Tigers competed in the final match of the EIWA championships and proved to many that the program at Princeton is back, three Tigers wrestled yesterday against the nation's top talent. Senior, Ryan Bonfiglio, junior Juan Venturi, and sophomore Greg Parker represented Princeton at the NCAA championships.
Juan Venturi (133 lbs.) faced No. 9 ranked Kevin Black of Wisconsin in the first round of the tournament. Venturi lost by fall to black at 1:50. Venturi was placed into the "Wrestle-Back" bracket where he went against Joe Alexander of Virginia. Alexander defeated Venturi by a 20-12 decision. Venturi finishes the season at 19-9, a season highlighted by a second place finish at the EIWA championships and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Ryan Bonfiglio lost to Nick Lawrenz of Northern Iowa in the first round of the 165 lbs. weight class. In the "Wrestle-Back", Bonfiglio defeated Mark Fee of Appalachian State 21-13. Standing at 1-1 in the tournament, Bonfiglio wrestled Ian Nelms, ranked 12th in the tournament, of Cal-Baker. In an extremely close match, Bonfilglio was defeated 7-5. Bonfiglio's career at Princeton is highlighted by his selection as first-team all Ivy in 1998. He then took a year off and came back to place second at the EIWA championship this year where he lost to the top seeded Matt Picarsic of Harvard.
Greg Parker will wrestle today in the 174lbs. In the opening round of the tournament, Parker lost to Cassidy Shults of Bloomsburg 7-3. Parker was moved to the "Wrestle-Back" bracket where he has defeated, Steve Strang Cal-Poly., 17-8 and Rob Anspach of Hofstra, 7-5. Parker will face Mark Becks of Penn State later today.