FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2003

Rhode Island College Wrestling Update #10

(14-10 Overall; 9-6 in the NECCWA; 6-0 in the Pilgrim League)

2003 Pilgrim Wrestling League Champions

Providence, RI—The Rhode Island College wrestling team placed seventh (15 teams) at the 2003 New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championships, hosted by Roger Williams University, on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22-23.

RIC had four wrestlers earn All-New England Honors: Mike Riley (1st., 133 lbs.) Justin Deveau (2nd, 197 lbs.), Carlos Lopez (3rd, 157 lbs.) and Keith Nelson (5th, 174 lbs.). Riley will represent RIC and the NECCWA at the 2003 NCAA Division III National Championships, hosted by Ohio Northern University, on Mar. 7-8.

Springfield College placed first with 127.0 points, followed by 2. Trinity (99.0), 3. Plymouth State (75.0), 4. WPI (71.0), 5. Norwich (67.0), 6. Wesleyan (64.0), 7. Rhode Island College (62.5), 8. Bridgewater (62.0), 9. Roger Williams (58.5), 10. Williams (57.5), 11. MIT (45.0), 12. Coast Guard (40.0), 13. Johnson & Wales (39.0), 14. Southern Maine (5.0), 15. Western New England (2.0).

Head Coach Jay Jones’ Anchormen closed out the 2002-03 season with a 14-10 overall record, a 9-6 mark in the NECCWA and were undefeated in the Pilgrim Wrestling League.

Senior Mike Riley (Lowell, MA) is the New England Champion at 133 lbs., posting an undefeated 5-0 record at the 2003 NECCWA Championships. This is Riley’s first New England title. This will be his third consecutive season earning All-New England honors. With the win, Riley is an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Div. III National Championships. This is will be Riley’s second trip to the National Championships, having been selected as a wild-card during his sophomore season (2000-01).

For the season, Riley is 31-3 at 133 lbs. with 129 points, 131 takedowns, six reversals, 32 escapes, 23 near-falls and two pins. Riley has won his last 13 matches. During the regular season, he placed first at 133 lbs. at the Roger Williams Invitational (11/16) and second at the Doug Parker Invitational (11/23).

Sophomore Justin Deveau (North Attleboro, MA) earned All-New England honors for the second consecutive season, placing second at 197 lbs. He placed second as a freshman (2001-02). Deveau was 4-1 at the 2003 NECCWA Championships, losing a close match, 5-3, in the finals to Craig Buckley from Bridgewater State. The loss snapped a 22-match winning streak for Deveau.

Deveau was 33-5 at 197 lbs. with 147 points, 50 takedowns, seven reversals, 31 escapes, 18 near-falls and ten pins on the season. He placed first at 197 lbs. at the Doug Parker Invitational (11/23) and third at the Roger Williams Invitational (11/16).

Freshman Carlos Lopez (Lowell, MA) earned All-New England honors, placing third at 157 lbs. Lopez went 4-2 at the NECCWA Championships, dropping his first match, then winning four straight, and finally falling to Matt Thurston from Norwich, 4-3, in the semi-finals.

Lopez was 32-13 at 157 lbs. with 124 points, 91 takedowns, two reversals, 41 escapes, eight near-falls and four pins on the season.

Sophomore Keith Nelson (Rhinebeck, NY) earned All-New England honors, placing fifth at 174 lbs. Nelson went 3-2 at the NECCWA Championships.

Nelson was 29-18 at 174 lbs. with 112 points, 62 takedowns, nine reversals, 65 escapes, 18 near-falls and six pins on the season. He placed third at 165 lbs. at the Doug Parker Invitational (11/23) and fifth at the Roger Williams Invitational (11/16).

Sophomore Matt Kelly (Carver, MA) went 1-2 at the NECCWA Championships. He was 23-16 at 141 lbs. with 103 points, 32 takedowns, five reversals, 29 escapes, 16 near-falls and ten pins on the season. He placed fourth at 141 lbs. at the Doug Parker Invitational (11/23).

Senior Mike Penza (Cranston, RI) went 0-2 at the NECCWA Championships. He was 6-17 at 149 lbs. with 27 points, eight takedowns, 27 escapes and two pins on the season.

Sophomore Eddy German (Providence, RI) went 1-2 at the NECCWA Championships. He was 17-21 at 125 lbs. with 83 points, 52 takedowns, three reversals, 32 escapes, six near falls and two pins on the season.

Freshman Arty Privedenyuk (Springfield, MA) went 0-2 at the NECCWA Championships. Privedenyuk was 7-12 at 157 lbs. with 28 points, nine takedowns, 12 reversals, 19 escapes, 13 near-falls and two pins on the season.

Freshman B.J. Atkinson (Danbury, CT) went 0-2 at the NECCWA Championships. Atkinson was 4-13 at 285 lbs. with 21 points, seven takedowns, one reversal, 12 escapes, three near-falls and three pins on the season.

Junior Steve Signore (North Providence, RI) went 0-2 at the NECCWA Championships. Signore was 2-13 at 184 lbs. with seven points, 21 takedowns, 27 escapes and two near-falls on the season.

The rest of the 2002-03 Anchormen

Sophomore Gerard LaBonte (Harrisville, RI) was 7-12 at 174 lbs. with 29 points, 12 takedowns, three reversals, 21 escapes, eight near-falls and two pins.

Freshman Dennis Stone (Danbury, CT) was 4-9 at 165 lbs. with 18 points, 15 takedowns, three reversals, ten escapes, four near-falls and two pins.

Sophomore Ryan Klupt (North Providence, RI) was 4-18 at 184 lbs. with 12 points, ten takedowns, four reversals, 17 escapes and one near-fall.

Freshman Richard Chute (Wrentham, MA) was 6-7 at 133 lbs. with 25 points, 16 takedowns, seven reversals, 14 escapes and three near-falls.

Freshman Andrew Algarin (Leominster, MA) was 5-5 at 285 lbs. with 24 points, five takedowns, three escapes and three pins.

Sophomore Tim Robblee (Wakefield, MA) was 8-10 at 157 lbs. with 39 points, 14 takedowns, four reversals, 20 escapes, three near-falls and five pins.

Sophomore Andre LaBonte (Harrisville, RI) was 3-8 at 197 lbs. with nine points, six takedowns, three reversals, 17 escapes and three near-falls.

Freshman Todd Bloom (Wantagh, NY) was 6-10 at 141 lbs. with 21 points, 15 takedowns, one reversal, 10 escapes, four near-falls and one pin.

Junior Giovanni Calise (Hope, RI) was 1-1 at 285 lbs. with six points.

Freshman Vito Tedesco (Johnston, RI) was 2-5 at 149 lbs. with six points, four takedowns, three reversals, five escapes and two near-falls.

Sophomore Amos Traystman (Oakdale, CT) was 1-2 at 141 lbs. with three points, one takedown, and two escapes.

Freshman James Bradford (Johnston, RI) was 0-4 at 125 lbs. with one takedown, and seven escapes.

Sophomore Rob Petit (Foxboro, MA) was 0-3 at 165 lbs. with three escapes and one near-fall.

Freshmen Aleksandr Biyevetskiy (Providence, RI) and Rusty Calise (Hope, RI) were reserves on the team.

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