Six Mariners Put In Strong Performances At Nationals

ranked U.S. Merchant Marine Academy wrestling team had six wrestlers compete at the NCAA National Tournament in Iowa this weekend. With a strong all-around field, all six Mariners lost in the opening round but two individuals pulled through to get a victory in their next matches. Philip Greene and Eric Vincent both were able to get one victory in the tournament. Head Coach Greg Ilaria was also named Rookie Coach of the Year.

Jordan Alfaro went 0-2 in the tournament with his first loss coming to the number seven seed. The number seven seed, Mark Kist from Wartburg, defeated Alfaro in a 12-3 major decision. Alfaro then fell in his next match when Max Oldenburg from UW Whitewater was able to pin him in 4:29. At the 133-pound weight class, Greene went 1-2 overall. He lost his first match to the number two seed, Brandon Bell of Coe. Greene then pinned the number seven seed Nichalos Cucciniello of John Wales in 2:50. After the pin, Greene was then pinned himself by the number one seed, Travis Lang of Augsburg in 1:19.

James Beshada went into the tournament as the number five seed but dropped both of his matches at the 141-pound weight class. He lost a 7-3 decision to Jordan Lov of Loras and then fell to Nick Garber of Waynesburg in a 15-3 major decision. Dan Twito took a bye in the first round as the seven seed but then fell in a 7-2 decision to Dale Fava of Delaware Valley. In his second match of the tournament, Twito lost a 5-0 decision to Andrew Fardella of Case Western Res.

At 165-pounds, Vincent Renaut lost his only two matches of the NCAA Tournament by a total of three points. Renaut’s first lost of the tournament came to the number three seed Ben Youel of North Central in an 8-6 decision. In his second match he fell to Orlando Ponce of Augsburg in a close 7-6 decision. At 197-pounds, Vincent received a bye in the first round of the tournament but then fell to the number eight seed Andy Moore of UW LaCrosse in a 5-3 decision. Now in the lower bracket, Vincent again received a bye. In his second match, he pinned Zach Pizarro of Wilkes in 6:34 but then was pinned in 3:14 by Bill Schindel of Mount Union in this third match.