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Wrestlers Place Fourth At Virginia Duals; Trio Complete Perfect Weekends
January 16, 2006 | Wrestling
Jan. 16, 2006
HAMPTON, Va. - Despite perfect weekends from seniors Matt DeNichilo (174) and Jake Butler (197) and sophomore Eric Marcotulli (141), the Princeton wrestling team couldn't leave the Virginia Duals with an American College Division title. Princeton took fifth overall after losses to both SUNY-Brockport and Franklin & Marshall.
Following a quarterfinal victory over Anderson College, the third-seeded Tigers faced perennial Division III powerhouse SUNY-Brockport for the right to compete for the Virginia Duals title. The experienced Brockport squad took it to Princeton immediately, claiming a 16-3 lead after six matches. Only Marcotulli's 6-5 victory got Princeton on the scoreboard during that stretch, but DeNichilo claimed a 7-4 win at 174 pounds to give Princeton some hope.
It wouldn't last long, though, as Brockport earned a 10-3 win at 184 pounds to clinch the match. Butler's 12-3 major decision at 197 pounds got Princeton to double digits in team points, but it wasn't enough to clinch the team goal, a berth in the finals.
Instead, Princeton found itself in a consolation round rematch with Franklin & Marshall. The Diplomats had already claimed a 20-14 win over Princeton this season, so the Tigers knew they'd have to trim some points from Franklin & Marshall or add some of their own to change the outcome.
They did both. They just didn't do enough of either.
Franklin & Marshall clinched third place with a tight 3-2 win at heavyweight. It was the second time this month that Princeton held a slight edge going into the final match, only to see their upset bid fall just short. Earlier in the season, it was Rutgers who did the trick.
Princeton started much quicker against the Diplomats. Following a loss to open the match at 125 pounds, freshman Danny Scotton earned a pin 6:26 into the match to open a 6-3 lead, and Marcotulli doubled the lead with a 4-1 win the next match. The Diplomats regained the lead with three straight wins, a streak that DeNichilo ended with a 7-1 win. A loss at 184 pounds left Princeton trailing 16-12, but Butler was up to the challenge and got five points for a 17-2 technical fall over Nico Somers. Both teams needed a win in the final match, and it was the Diplomats' Shawn Coughlin who pulled it off with a 3-2 decision. It was the second time this season Coughlin has topped Princeton's Ian Roncoroni by one point.
Princeton is off for exam period and will next compete Friday, Feb. 3, at Harvard.
Brockport St. 26, Princeton 10
125 Vaccaro, Rob(BrockportSt) MD Benitez, Robert(Princeton) 21-11
133 D`Ambra, Tony(BrockportSt) DEC Scotton, Danny(Princeton) 14-8
141 Marcotulli, Eric(Princeton) DEC Flynn, Pat(BrockportSt) 6-5
149 Ooton, Donny(BrockportSt) DEC Iannuzzi, Andrew(Princeton) 6-2
157 Bradshaw, Shaheim(BrockportSt) DEC Palermo, Jesse(Princeton) 4-0
165 Williams, Donald(BrockportSt) DEC Everin, Marty(Princeton) 9-4
174 DeNichilo, Matthew(Princeton) DEC Van Patten, Eric(BrockportSt) 7-4
184 Giehl, Brett(BrockportSt) DEC Lowe, Logan(Princeton) 10-3
197 Butler, Jake(Princeton) MD Spieseleire, Steve(BrockportSt) 12-3
285 Bennett, Patrick(BrockportSt) MD Siegele, Zach(Princeton) 15-1
Franklin & Marshall 19, Princeton 17
125 Ritchey, Doug(FM) DEC Benitez, Robert (Princeton) 9-4
133 Scotton, Danny(Princeton) FALL Dixon, Trent(FM) 6:26
141 Marcotulli, Eric(Princeton) DEC Kelly, Chris(FM) 4-1
149 Gianforti, Al(FM) MD Iannuzzi, Andrew(Princeton) 14-4
157 Smith, Andrew(FM) DEC Palermo, Jesse(Princeton) 8-3
165 Herbert, Justin(FM) DEC Everin, Marty(Princeton 10-6
174 DeNichilo, Matthew(Princeton) DEC Schulz, James(FM) 7-1
184 Norley, R.P.(FM) DEC Lowe, Logan(Princeton) 8-1
197 Butler, Jake(Princeton ) TF5 Somers, Nico(FM) 17-2
285 Coughlin, Shawn(FM) DEC Roncoroni, Ian(Princeton) 3-2