Wrestling | 11/1/2016 9:35:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT wrestling team opened the 2016-17 season on Tuesday with a dual meet with Niagara County Community College at Clark Gym. The Tigers rallied to defeat the Thunderwolves 23-15.

"I thought it was a solid first outing for the year," said RIT head coach Jason Bovenzi. "There is a lot to improve on, but that is to be expected this early in the season."

Zach Burke opened the meet with a 7-3 win over Connor Wilkins (Livonia, NY/Livonia) at 125 lbs. Freddy Eckles kept the streak alive for NCCC, defeating Isaiah Ocasio (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) 10-3 at 133 lbs.

The Tigers came alive when Jake Sepor (Stafford, NY/Pavilion) pinned Roger DeJesus at 141 lbs. in 4:58. The most exciting match of the night came at 149 lbs. RIT's Colby Hall (Deposit, NY/Deposit) came back with a last second takedown of Alex Salvaggio to give him a 9-8 win. Dempsey King (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) defeated Dakota Gardner at 157 lbs. with a 5-2 decision.

Ryan Sebasta beat RIT's Tommy Follman (Albion, NY/Albion), 9-4 at 165 lbs., and Troy Keller pinned RIT's Joe Lupisella (Webster, NY) at 4:35 to give the Thunderwolves a 15-12 lead.

Nicholas Greenquist (Spring Lake, NJ/St. Rose) answered with a technical fall win over Eugene Latson at 184 lbs., winning 17-1. Joe Messare (Ballston Lake, NY/Burnt Hills) won a tight 2-1 match over Elijah Sampo at 197 lbs. Sam Weinger (Blooming Grove, NY/Washingtonville) clinched the match for the Tigers with a 4-1 win over Chibueze Onwuka at 285 lbs.
 
Wilkins, Hall, Follman, Lupisella, and Messare all made their collegiate debuts for the Tigers.

RIT returns to action on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5 when the Tigers begin action at the Ithaca Invitational. Matches begin on Friday at 3 p.m.

 
RIT 23, Niagara C.C.C. 15
125 – Zach Burke (N.C.C.C) (RIT) dec. Connor Wilkins (Livonia, NY/Livonia)
133 – Freddy Eckles (N.C.C.C) dec. Isaiah Ocasio (Vineland, NJ/Vineland), 10-3
141 – Jake Sepor (Stafford, NY/Pavilion) (RIT) pinned Roger DeJesus (N.C.C.C.), 4:58
149 – Colby Hall (Deposit, NY/Deposit) (RIT) dec. Alex Salvaggio (N.C.C.C.), 9-8
157 – Dempsey King (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) (RIT) dec. Dakota Gardner (N.C.C.C.), 6-2
165 – Ryan Sebasta (N.C.C.C) dec. Tommy Follman (Albion, NY/Albion) (RIT), 9-4 
174 – Troy Keller (N.C.C.C) pinned Joe Lupisella (Webster, NY) (RIT), 5:35
184 – Nicholas Greenquist (Spring Lake, NJ/St. Rose) (RIT) Tech. Fall Eugene Latson (N.C.C.C.), 17-1
197 – Joe Messare (Ballston Lake, NY/Burnt Hills) (RIT) dec. Elijah Sampo (N.C.C.C.), 2-1
285 – Sam Weinger (Blooming Grove, NY/Washingtonville) (RIT) dec. Chibueze Onwuka (N.C.C.C.), 4-1