FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2003

Rhode Island College 2002-03 Wrestling Season Summary

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

2003 Pilgrim Wrestling League Champions

Providence, RI—Head Coach Jay Jones’ Anchormen closed out the 2002-03 season with a seventh place finish (15 teams), and had four grapplers earn All-New England honors, at the 2003 New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championships, hosted by Roger Williams University, on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22-23.

The Rhode Island College wrestling team posted a 14-10 overall record and a 9-6 mark in the NECCWA during the regular season. RIC captured its first-ever Pilgrim Wrestling League title, finishing the season with a perfect 6-0 record.

Senior Mike Riley (Lowell, MA) closed out his collegiate wrestling career at the NCAA Div. III National Championships, hosted by Ohio Northern University, on Mar. 7-8.

Riley drew a tough opponent in the first round, facing third-seeded Ozzie Saxon from Wartburg, and falling 11-3. His next match was against sixth-seeded Barry Wise from Delaware Valley, losing by fall at 3:46. Riley was leading the match 10-8 and posted a near-fall, but Wise made a quick move to gain the pin. Both Saxon and Wise went on to earn All-American status, placing second and third respectively.

Riley had an outstanding senior season in 2002-03, becoming the New England Champion at 133 lbs. at the NECCWA Championships. It was Riley’s first New England title and his third consecutive season earning All-New England honors. For his career, he posted a 79-16 record with 332 points, 294 takedowns, 20 reversals, 106 escapes, 51 near-falls and six pins.

The team captain was 31-5 at 133 lbs. with 129 points, 134 takedowns, six reversals, 36 escapes, 24 near-falls and two pins on the season. Riley had won 13 consecutive matches heading into the National Championships. During the regular season, he placed first at 133 lbs. at the Roger Williams Invitational and second at the Doug Parker Invitational.

As a junior in 2001-02, Riley earned All-New England honors at 133 pounds, placing third at the 2002 NECCWA Championships. Riley had a 28-match winning streak stopped at the championships. The co-captain was 37-6 (.860) with 163 points, 128 takedowns, ten reversals, 48 escapes, 21 near-falls and four wins by fall on the year. Riley established a new school record for wins in a season with 37. He placed first at the Citrus Invitational, second at the Scranton Invitational, third at the Roger Williams Invitational and fourth at the Doug Parker Invitational.

As a sophomore in 2000-01, he qualified for the Div. III NCAA National Championships as a wild-card selection at 133 lbs. Riley earned All-New England honors, placing second at 133 lbs. at the 2001 NECCWA Championships. Riley was 11-5 with 40 points, 32 takedowns, four reversals, 22 escapes and six near-falls on the season.

Prior to coming to RIC, Riley competed for the University of Lowell for one season. He is a finance major and a 1997 graduate of Greater Lowell Technical High School.

Senior assistant captain Mike Penza (Cranston, RI) closed out his Anchormen wrestling career as the first four-year grappler under Coach Jones’ coaching staff. His work ethic gained him tremendous respect and his will to place the team first reflected his unselfish attitude. He received the first-ever James Quinn Most Dedicated Award and is a member of the Rusty Carlsten 3.0 (GPA) Club.

As a senior in 2002-03, Penza was 6-17 at 149 lbs. with 27 points, eight takedowns, 27 escapes and two pins on the season.

As a junior in 2001-02, he was 3-10 at 157 and 165 pounds with 18 points, one takedown, four reversals, 26 escapes, one near-fall and one win by fall on the year.

As a sophomore in 2000-01, Penza was 3-11 at 157 and 165 lbs. with 12 points, one takedown, two reversals and 31 escapes on the year.

As a freshman in 1999-00, he finished the season 1-23 (.042) with six points, six takedowns, three reversals, 30 escapes and one win by fall at three different weight classes (174, 184 and 197).

Penza is an English major with a minor in secondary education and a 1998 graduate of Cranston High School East.

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

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.

Sophomore assistant captain 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).

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.

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).

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 on the season.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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 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.

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

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