FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2007

Mike Bonora Places Sixth at National Championships
RIC Wrestling’s 1^st All-American in 13 Years

Dubuque, IA—Rhode Island College junior Mike Bonora (Nutley, NJ) placed sixth, earning All-American honors, in the 141 lbs. weight class at the NCAA Div. III Wrestling National Championships, hosted by Loras College on Mar. 2-3.

Bonora received a bye in the first round, then went on to defeat Zach McKray from Wartburg, 5-0. He then defeated Myanganbayer Batsukh from St. John’s, 8-6. Both matches were on Friday, Mar. 2.

He fell, 7-4, to Ricky LaForge from Delaware Valley in the semifinals on Saturday, Mar. 3. LaForge went on to take second overall. The loss stopped a 34-match win streak for Bonora. He fell to Jared Creason from Coe, 10-5, before losing to Springfield’s Mike Gaeta, 6-5, in the fifth/sixth place match.

The win over Batsukh assured Bonora of All-American status, the first Rhode Island College wrestler to earn this honor in 13 years. He wraps up the season with a 48-6 record, establishing a new school record for wins in a season.. Bonora was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championships on Feb. 18, capturing the 141 lbs. title and earning All-New England honors for the third time.

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