Senior Dan Del Gallo caps outstanding career by winning first wrestling national championship in USM history

POSTED MARCH 14, 2017

Senior Dan Del Gallo capped a historic weekend and an outstanding career as a member of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' wrestling team by ascending to the pinnacle of his sport winning the national title at 149-pounds at the 2017 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships hosted this weekend at the La Crosse Center by the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse.

Making his third consecutive appearance at the NCAA National Championship, Del Gallo achieved a number of milestones during his historic run to a national title. He established a new all-time win record for USM wrestling, earned the third All-American honor in program history and became the University of Southern Maine's first wrestling national champion. With his national championship secure, Del Gallo now joins track and field athletes Jamie Ruginski (Buxton, Maine) and Peyton Dostie (Standish, Maine) as the Huskies' only three individual sport national champions in USM history.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet, completely," said Del Gallo in an interview with staff writer Drew Bonifant and the Portland Press Herald. "It's been an awesome journey. Not even just these past four years, but ever since I can remember."

A double major in philosophy and sociology, Del Gallo is a two-time (2015, 2016) NCAA Elite 90 award winner. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.

Del Gallo, a Gardiner, Maine native, entered the 2017 National Championship tournament seeded fourth in the 149-pound weight class, and claimed dominant victories in his first two matches of the tournament. With his first win, a 13-1 major decision over Concordia-Moorhead's Ty Johnson, Del Gallo celebrated the 134th victory of his career, making him the Huskies' all-time wins leader, surpassing the previous record of 133 held by current USM head coach Mike Morin, a former Husky All-American (2009, 2010) at 165 pounds. Del Gallo then vaulted himself in the championship semifinals while assuring himself All-American status for the first time in his career with a win by fall over Wesleyan's Carter Armendarez in 4:54.

In the championship semifinals, Del Gallo faced off against top-seed and two-time defending national champion Kenny Martin of Wartburg College with a spot for the championship bout on the line. Wrestling a smart match, Del Gallo came away with a hard-won 7-5 decision and a chance for a national title. In the championship match, Del Gallo took on Aaron Engle of Cornell College. After a scoreless first period, Del Gallo record a single-point in the second period with an escape, before going ahead of Engle 3-0 in the third with a takedown. Engle earned a single point with an escape in the period, before Del Gallo defended his way to a 4-1 win with riding time for the title.

Del Gallo finishes the 2017 National Championship with a 4-0 record, and completes his outstanding four-year career with the Huskies with a remarkable record of 137-19. Del Gallo completed his senior season with a near-perfect record of 45-1.

"It's pretty amazing when you lay your goals out and accomplish them," added Del Gallo in the Press Herald interview. "It was amazing to win there, but then after, running off the stage and into the back room, it just kind of hits you. It's just a real sense of relief and happiness, knowing that I accomplished my goal."

USM Athletic Media Relations contributed to this story.

Photo courtesy of Geoff Riccio.

To read coverage from the Portland Press Herald, click here. 

To read coverage from the Bangor Daily News, click here. 

To see coverage from WCSH 6 TV, click here. 

So. Maine: North Atlantic Wrestling Championships

University of Southern Maine seniors, Sean Fagan, Mike Frey and Jonathan Deupree! The North Atlantic Wrestling Championships held at USM was their final home meet appearance in their amazing careers at USM!

They are so appreciated and will be sorely missed!

Del Gallo, Moore shine for USM wrestling team

The Gardiner and Mt. Blue graduates picked up victories in an invitational competition Saturday.

BY TERRY DEVEREAUX SPECIAL TO THE KENNEBEC JOURNAL

Two former local high school wrestlers won their weight classes and helped the University of Southern Maine win the team championship at the Ted Reese Invitational Championship held at USM’s Hill Gymnasium on Saturday.

Gardiner native Daniel Del Gallo was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler after recording four victories in the 149-pound weight class. Del Gallo earned preliminary wins with a 20-2 technical fall and two pins before facing Springfield Tech’s Abbas Tamaradze in the finals. Del Gallo gutted out a tough 5-4 decision to claim the championship.

“I feel like I wrestled well,” said Del Gallo. “I wrestled the best I have this season but I still need to improve. As a team we wrestled well but we still aren’t where we need to be. Our coaches are working everyday to get us ready for the NCAA regionals. I am so glad that I chose to go to USM. We have some of the best coaching in New England college wrestling.”

Former Mt Blue High School wrestler Kevin Moore captured the 141 title, despite being sick during the week leading up to the event.

“I feel like I wrestled a little sloppy that day,” Moore said. “I had a tough couple of matches because I didn’t get a lot of practice that week. I had to gut it out and pretty much win in the last period of each match.”

USM coach Joe Pistone has been happy with the progress of Moore, who is a sophomore.

“Kevin has come a long way since his freshman campaign at USM,” Pistone said. “I always knew that he had the style that would best fit at the collegiate level and he has made all of the necessary adjustments in the offseason to get stronger and improve in order to have a successful season.”

The next big date on the USM schedule is the prestigious “Grapple at the Garden” on Dec 21. The event, which will be held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, features 25 collegiate teams in dual meet competition. USM is scheduled to face Stevens Institute of Technology (NY) and Muhlenberg College (PA).

• • •

The Gardiner wrestling team was dealt a severe blow when Peter Del Gallo suffered what appears to be an elbow injury that could sideline him for the entire season. The junior tore his ulnar collateral ligament while at a preseason clinic at Brown University.

“Right now I am in a brace for four weeks with three to four months of rehab,” Del Gallo said. “We are going for a second opinion soon, but I will probably be missing my whole junior year of wrestling. Wrestling is my life. But what can I do? You just have to look forward and make new goals. I am going to work hard to come back stronger than before.”

Gardiner coach Matt Hanley says Del Gallo is making the best of a tough situation.

“He’s very involved in practice and helps with demonstrating moves,” Hanley said. “He’s a great kid and it’s great having him in there.”

Del Gallo, who has been one of the most successful high school wrestlers in Maine history, was a New England champion as a freshman and is a two-time state champion. His scholastic record as a Gardiner wrestler stands at 111-2, with the only two losses being at the New England tournament his sophomore season.

• • •

The 41st edition of the Tiger Invitational will be held Saturday at Gardiner Area High School. Eleven teams will be in attendance, including the host Tigers. Wrestlers from Cony, Erskine, Maine Central Institute, Morse, Mt. Blue, Nokomis, Monmouth, Portland and Kennebunk will compete for team and individual honors.

Cony won the team title last season and appears in strong position to defend the title. The Rams will have three returning individual champions on the mats in Tre Caudill, Zeko Caudill and Elias Younes.

Gardiner’s Jake Truman and Andrew Doody-Veilleux will lead the Tigers, according to Hanley.

“Both of them looked pretty good at the (preseason) Westlake Tournament,” Hanley said.

Truman won the 182 class at the Westlake while Doody-Veilleux was second at 195 pounds. On Saturday, the two will switch weight classes.

“Andrew wrestled last season at 195, but decided to move down to 182,” Hanley said. “He should do well at that class after he settles into it. He’s a big, strong kid.”

The action is expected to begin at approximately 9:45 a.m.

USM's DEUPREE TO COMPETE ON A US WORLD TEAM!

Hello everyone, 

NCAA Regional Champion, NCAA National Qualifier Jon Deupree has been invited to represent the United States in an international wrestling meet competing in Istanbul, Turkey (Instanbul), Bulgaria (Sophia), Romania (Bucharest) and France (Paris) from May 27-June 9th.

He needed to raise $3000. for the trip and is approx $1000. short of his goal. He has created a fundraising account with gofundme.com; please check it out and please consider donating if you are in the position to. This is a well deserved honor and a chance in a lifetime trip for Jonathan!

Thank you! 

Coach Pistone and Jonathan Deupree

http://www.gofundme.com/Wrestlingtrip

-J. Pistone

Great season for Del Gallo continues

The Gardiner grappler finished second at NHSCA Nationals in the 113-pound weigh class.

By Evan Crawley 
Staff Writer

Peter Del Gallo had hoped for a better showing at this winter’s New England High School Wrestling Championships.

click image to enlarge

GOOD DAY: Peter Del Gallo, left, wrestles Tyler Craig, of Skowhegan, at a match earlier this season. Del Gallo capped a standout season by finishing third at nationals in the 113-pound weight class last weekend at Virginia Beach.

Contributed photo

A Maine and New England champ in the 106-pound weight class as a freshman, the Gardiner High School sophomore was looking for a similar performance after taking the state title at 113 a few weeks prior. Unfortunately for the Tigers’ sophomore, he came out on the wrong end of a couple close matches and settled for fifth.

For most wrestlers, New Englands marks the end of the wrestling season, but for Del Gallo it served as a springboard towards success — not that he hadn’t enjoyed plenty already in his young high school career.

“It definitely did,” Del Gallo said by phone Tuesday evening of his finish at the Providence Career and Technical Academy in Providence, RI. “It was a motivator.”

This past weekend he traveled to Virginia Beach, VA for the 25th Annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships, and came away with an impressive runner-up performance at 113-pounds in his age group. Del Gallo fell in the finals 4-3 on a last-second reversal against Missouri Class 2 champion Josh McClure, who went 34-0 this season.

Del Gallo was taken down in the opening period to fall behind 2-0, but quickly earned an escape in the second to cut the deficit in half. The Gardiner sophomore continued to push the pace, and managed to get a takedown before the end of the period to take 3-2 lead into the third. McClure chose down looking to get an escape to tie the match, but Del Gallo rode out the Fulton, MO grappler to maintain his lead.

Unfortunately for Del Gallo, the National title was not in the cards, as McClure hit a Peterson Roll with just two seconds remaining in the match to turn a one-point deficit into a one-point lead for the 113-pound championship.

While the result was not what Del Gallo had hoped for, it was nonetheless an impressive turnaround from New Englands as he put on a show in the opening rounds at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Del Gallo opened the tournament by demolishing Sean Watson of Chaminade High (NY) 16-1, trouncing Thomas Worthington High’s (OH) Tyler Norris 9-1 and rolling over Isaiah Whitley of Davie High (NC) 16-0 to make the quarterfinals.

“I was just in the groove,” Del Gallo said. “I felt good. I was on my offense a lot more than usual.”

In the quarters Del Gallo was tested for the first time in the tournament, as he battled Suffolk Division I champ John Arceri of Huntington High (NY) to a standstill through the first period. Arceri chose neutral for the second, but it was Del Gallo that got the upper hand with a takedown. He later doubled his advantage with a reversal in the third for the 4-0 victory. The semifinals proved to be more like the first three rounds for Del Gallo, as he crushed Ozzy Lugo of South Dade High (FL) 16-0 to book his date in the finals.

While the trip didn’t end with a championship, it was an experience both he and Gardiner coach Matt Hansen believe will do wonders for his confidence when he returns to wrestle in Maine.

“It gives you so much confidence when you come back into the state,” Hansen said Tuesday. “He does want to wrestle at the next level at Division I, and it’s such a tough accomplishment to wrestle at that level. This gives him the exposure he needs to maybe open some eyes.”

Only a sophomore, that next level is still a ways away, and for the time being Del Gallo’s focus is on becoming even better. He says he intends to next wrestle at the Empire Nationals Wrestling Festival Saturday, April 12 at the Brockport State Athletic Center in New York, as well as a handful of other tournaments during the spring and summer.

The goal will be to make a similar move in weight class by next season to the one he did this past winter.

“I see him jumping about one a year, but I’m, not worried if he jumps more than one,” Hansen said. “He’s strong, and he’s stronger than he looks. He’ll do the same thing probably next year that he did this year. Start at 126 and eventually work his way down to 120. He might even stay up in 126. He could wrestle [126] next year very easily and do outstanding.”

No matter what weight class he ends up settling in, it seems like the Peter Del Gallo’s best days still lay ahead.

Gardiner wrestler takes 2nd in 113 pounds at nationals

By Ernie Clark, BDN Staff

Peter Del Gallo, a two-time state champion from Gardiner Area High School, earned All-American honors over the weekend by placing second in his weight class at the 25th annual National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Va.

Del Gallo, competing in the sophomore 113-pound division, won five straight decisions by a combined score of 61-1 to reach Sunday’s championship final, where he was edged by Josh McClure of Fulton, Mo., 4-3.

Del Gallo earned All-American honors for the second straight year after placing fourth in the freshman 106-pound division last spring. He also was the Class B state champion at 113 pounds this winter after winning the state Class B and New England 106-pound titles in 2013.

Del Gallo was one of 15 Maine high school wrestlers to compete at this year’s nationals and one of three to earn All-American honors.

Cody Hughes and Bradley Beaulieu, teammates at Marshwood High School of South Berwick, also posted top-eight finishes in their weight classes.

Hughes, the 2013 national champion in the sophomore 152-pound division, finished third in the same weight class as a junior this year to earn All-American honors for the third straight season. He was fourth in at 138 pounds as a freshman.

The three-time Maine Class A individual champion won his first five matches to reach the championship semifinals before dropping a 3-1 decision to New Mexico’s Miguel Barreras. Hughes then won two consolation-round matches, including a 12-4 major decision over Florida’s Isaiah Crosby in the third-place match.

Beaulieu earned his All-American status with a seventh-place finish in the freshman 113-pound division, pinning New York’s Anthony Cirillo at 5:10 of the seventh-place match.

Among other Maine wrestlers who competed at the nationals were Trent Goodman, Dagan Berenyi and Connor Petros, all teammates at Ellsworth High School and the local Wrestler’s Way wrestling club.

Goodman went 3-2 in the freshman 145-pound weight division, while Berenyi won two of his four matches in the sophomore 138-pound class and Petros went 0-2 in the sophomore 145-pound division.

Two central Maine wrestlers, Aaron Lint of Winslow and Julian Sirois, went 0-2 in their appearances at the nationals, Lint in the senior 285-pound class and Sirois in the sophomore 132-pound division.

Other Mainers at the nationals were senior Tyler Everett of Massabesic of Waterboro (0-2 at 126 pounds); juniors Jackson Howarth of Marshwood (3-2 at 160), Michael Rista of Massabesic (2-2 at 195), Michael Curtis of Wells (1-2 at 195), Brett Gerry of Marshwood (0-2 at 182) and Tanner Andrews of Massabesic (0-2 at 220); and freshman Trevor Walton of Massabesic (0-2 at 170).

Click to view BRACKETS

Huskies' Deupree Competes at NCAA Division III National Championship

Huskies' captain Jon Deupree concluded his outstanding season with a record of 29-4 winning the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship at 184 pounds.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Junior Jonathan Deupree (Ozona, Fla./Countryside) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' wrestling team completed his season at the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament this Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

            Deupree posted a record of 1-2 in his first trip the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament to complete his season with an outstanding record of 29-4. Deupree earned his ticket to the National Championship by winning the 20134 NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championship in the 184-pound bracket.  Following the Northeast Regional, Deupree was named the co-Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tourney, becoming the first Husky grappler to earn the honor.

            Deupree's appearance at the 2014 National Championship made him the sixth Huskies' wrestler to advance to the pinnacle tournament, joining Adam Farrington (1999 and 2001), Steve Valastro (2007), Mike Morin (2008, 2009, 2010), Matt Ulrich (2010) and Billy Cole (2011).  Both Morin and Ulrich earned All-American honors during their trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship with Morin earning it in 2009 and 2010. 

            Seeded sixth, Deupree opened the tournament with a win by forfeit over Centenary's Giovanni Santiago to advance to the quarterfinals.  In the quarterfinals, Caleb Malychewski of Pacific earned an 8-2 decision over Deupree.  Pushed to the consolation finals, Deupree faced off against David Welch of Roger Williams.  Deupree, who had defeated Welch in overtime to claim the Northeast Regional title, put up a strong fight but fell in a narrow 3-1 decision.

NCAA DIII National Championship Results

184 - Jonathan Deupree (29-4).

Champ. Round 1 - Jonathan Deupree (Southern Maine) won by forfeit over Giovanni Santiago (Centenary (NJ)) (For.)

Quarterfinal - Caleb Malychewski (Pacific (OR)) won by decision over Jonathan Deupree (Southern Maine) (Dec 8-2

Cons. Round 2 - David Welch (Roger Williams) won by decision over Jonathan Deupree (Southern Maine) (Dec 3-1)

HS ALL-STATE and Marshwood wrestler proves that dedication pays off

Cody Hughes accepts his lone loss and moves on.

By Steve Craig scraig@pressherald.com
Staff Writer

Cody Hughes has proven he is among the top high school wrestlers not only in Maine but in New England.

click image to enlarge

Cody Hughes of Marshwood went undefeated in Maine this season, winning the 160-pound class for his third straight state title, then reached the New England final before suffering a 2-1 loss in overtime to the Massachusetts champion.

Jill Brady/Staff Photographer

click image to enlarge

Cody Hughes

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ALL-STATE WRESTLING TEAM

Cody Craig, Skowhegan, freshman, 106

Craig won the Class A and New England qualifying titles, was undefeated in Maine and finished 50-2 overall.

Peter Del Gallo, Gardiner, sophomore, 113

The New England 106-pound champ as a freshman, Del Gallo ran his career record to 100-0 before suffering his first loss at the New Englands, where he finished fifth.

Tyler Craig, Skowhegan, junior, 120

Won his third Class A title and added the New England qualifier title in a 51-4 season that included two wins at the New England championships.

Tyler Everett, Massabesic, senior, 126

Everett claimed his second Class A title and won the New England qualifier. He was 55-4 this season.

Dagan Berenyi, Ellsworth, sophomore, 132

Berenyi came back from an injury at the Noble Invitational that led to his only in-state loss (by default) to sweep his way through Class B and the New England qualifier in a 25-3 season.

Dominick Day, Biddeford, junior, 138

Day won the Class A and New England qualifier in one of the state’s toughest divisions in a 42-5 season that included two pins and a sixth-place finish at the New Englands.

Kaleb Brown, Skowhegan, junior, 145

After being upset at the Class A state championships, Brown came back to win the New England qualifier and went 2-2 at the New England meet to cap a 44-3 season.

Jackson Howarth, Marshwood, junior, 152

Howarth won his third straight Class A title and the New England qualifier before finishing fifth in New England to complete a 49-3 season. His career record is 142-16.

Cody Hughes, Marshwood, junior, 160

En route to a third straight Class A title, the repeat All-Telegram pick went 49-1, losing in overtime in the New England final, 2-1. Hughes has a 149-9 career record.

Malik Geiger, Oxford Hills, junior, 170

Class A runner-up and Eastern champ, Geiger won the New England qualifier and went 48-5 this season.

Brett Gerry, Marshwood, junior, 182

A repeat All-Telegram choice, Gerry also repeated as the Class A 182-pound champ, going 49-3 overall. His only in-state loss was to Michael Curtis of Wells.

Michael Curtis, Wells, junior, 195

Curtis won every tournament he entered except the New England championships, where he finished third. His only other loss in a 50-2 season was to Gerry.

Michael Garland, Ellsworth, senior, 220

Garland won his first state title and added a win at the New England qualifier. He finished the season 41-2.

Aaron Lint, Winslow, senior, 285

Lint went 54-0 this season. The three-time state champ at 285 pounds did not wrestle at this year’s New England championships. His career record is 160-26.

Coaches of the Year

Brooks Thompson and Tenney Noyes, Skowhegan

Co-coaches for the past five years, Thompson and Noyes took the Indians to another level this season, winning the Eastern A title with seven individual champions and then finishing as runner-up to three-time champ Marshwood at the state meet. Seven Skowhegan wrestlers advanced to the New England qualifier, with six wrestling at the New England championships.

With three state titles, a national sophomore championship and three top-six finishes at the New England championships on his resume, the Marshwood High junior also proved he could accept the lone loss of his junior season, learn from it and move on.

Hughes was 49-0 this season when he went to the mat for the 160-pound final last Saturday at the New England championships. He competed with the Massachusetts champion, Jonathan Viruet, to a 1-1 tie through regulation and the first 1:56 of overtime. Then, with four seconds left in the second 30-second segment of the second overtime, from a restart, Viruet executed a quick escape for the winning point.

“I’ve watched that finals match already so many times,” Hughes said a few days later. “I have to be honest with myself. The reason I lost the New England title is he did a quick escape and got out. I let go of him and end of story.

“You’ve got to be able to face that and correct it, and not make the same mistake twice.”

Mistakes were few for Hughes this season. He dominated opponents at both 170 and 160 pounds, where he won his third straight Class A title, and rolled through Maine’s top Class B and C wrestlers while winning Maine’s first New England qualifier.

He also won prestigious tournament titles at the Noble Invitational, the Spartan Wrestling Tournament in Sanford and in Essex Junction, Vt.

Hughes’ tactical skill and devotion to his sport make him the Sunday Telegram Wrestler of the Year.

“It means a lot,” Hughes said when told of the honor. “I know how much work I put in, going to practice every day of the week during the season and most days in the offseason. If people are starting to recognize that and seeing me as one of the better individuals, you know what you’re doing is paying off.”

Marshwood Coach Matt Rix pointed to Hughes’ increased work in the weight room as bringing an added strength element to an already sharp game, honed by offseason training and competing.

“He searches out practices and continues to challenge himself,” Rix said.

Other top contenders for the award were Gardiner’s 113-pound sophomore Peter Del Gallo and Wells’ 195-pound junior Michael Curtis.

Del Gallo, like Hughes, was unbeaten in Maine, suffering his first career loss at the New Englands, where he finished fifth. Curtis, the Class B champ, went 50-2 overall and placed third in New England.

Hughes has a career record of 149-9 and has been part of three straight Class A championship teams.

Hughes, fellow three-time champ Jackson Howarth and two-time champion Brett Gerry will be back next season as seniors to lead the quest for a fourth title.

“I can’t say I would do as well without the team,” Hughes said. “Without Jackson and Brett and Justin Stacy, without Coach (Matt) Rix and Coach (Pat) Howard, it wouldn’t be the same. It’s not just an individual or two.”

Rix said Hughes sets the tempo on a daily basis. The veteran coach said on the morning of the Class A state championships, Hughes was the first wrestler to arrive at 6 a.m. As each of his groggy teammates entered, Hughes hit them with high-fives and screams of encouragement.

“I knew by the energy in that locker room the morning of states that it was going to be a great day,” Rix said.

Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or at:

scraig@pressherald.com

Twitter: SteveCCraig 

NCWA Championships - Victor Irwin, Eastern Maine CC takes 7th

Grand Canyon had already whipped most of the field in rolling to a 55-point lead after two days, and with seven finalists, the team title was all but secured. So snagging as many individual titles as they could was the focus of GCU coach R.C. LaHaye.

ALLEN, Texas – The finals matches as a whole proved to be a formidable foe for Grand Canyon. But the Antelopes’ blistering start to the NCWA Championships the first two days were enough that Saturday’s 4-3 record in the finals did little to take the luster off of a dominating 83-point margin of victory.

“That was the plan all along, win early and grab as many bonus points as we could,” LaHaye said. “Once we got the big lead, it was up to the guys to try and win as many titles as we could. We all figured winning the individual brackets would be harder than taking the team title.”

The tournament opened with the 141-pound final, holding off the 133 title match between two undefeated wrestlers until the end. At 141, GCU’s Zach Zehner cruised to a 9-0 win over Grand Valley State’s Kyle Horr. Mike Hamel followed with another win, 7-1 over Luke Bilyeu of West Chester. 

But that’s where the Antelopes’ streak stopped, as defending NCWA champion Santiago Martinez edged GCU’s Bryant Wood 4-3 to score back-to-back championships. Other wrestlers took the cue as well, and at 174 the U.S. Military Academy’s Parker Maytrott won over GCU’s Martin Fabbian, 5-3. And at 184, Shorter’s Terrence Smith gritted out a 5-4 win over Austin Gaun of Grand Canyon. 

Suddenly, a quick 2-0 start for the ‘Lopes turned into a 2-3 standing halfway through the afternoon. Nonetheless, the points kept rolling in for GCU, which got third-place finishes from Juan Carlos Maynes at 165 and Marcus Haughian at 197 while the championship results were turning south.

GCU eventually took a 4-3 record from its seven finalists after Peter Angel Anguiano won the heavyweight title with a second-period fall, and AJ Salazar shut down Shorter’s Ben Smith with a 3-0 count.

In all, wrestlers from seven different schools won national titles.
More on the NCWA Championships will come on Sunday.

MENS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
125 lbs.
Ch. – AJ Salazar, Grand Canyon, def. Ben Smith, Shorter, 2-0
3rd – Drew Romero, U.S. Air Force Prep, def. Buddy Poyner, Mott CC, 14-10
5th -- Sean Badua, U.S. Military Prep, def. Jacob Wasserman, Florida, 7-4
7th – Michael Dauterive, Texas-Arlington, def. Anthony Patnode, Middle Tennessee, 6-5

133 lbs.
Ch. – Ryan Diehl, Liberty, def. Sam Shames, MIT, 15-10
3rd – John Lino Estrado, Grand Canyon, def. Eric Feuerbacher, Middle Tennessee, 7-4
5th – Nick Anthony, Central Florida, def. Bryan Mongiello, Alfred State, by fall 1:52
7th – Jimmy Hughes, Penn State-Mont Alto, def. Zachary Vatalare, Michigan, 4-0

141 lbs.
Ch. – Zach Zehner, Grand Canyon, def. Kyle Horr, Grand Valley State, 9-0
3rd – Collin Lewis, Liberty, def. Austin Souders, Texas A&M, 3-2
5th – Chad Baumann, North Florida, def. Antonio Martinez, Texas, 5-2
7th – Joshua Gaspard, Georgia Southern, def. Tyler Aldinger, Alfred State, injury default

149 lbs.
Ch. – Mike Hamel, Grand Canyon, def. Luke Bilyeu, West Chester, 7-1
3rd – Robert Walker, U.S. Air Force Prep, def. Nick Cegelski, USC, 4-3
5th – Gabriel Stepanovich, Grand Valley State, def. Peter Tatanish, Liberty, by fall 2:59
7th – DeAndre Beck, Marion Military Inst., def. Greg Artalona, Auburn, 5-2 TB-1

157 lbs.
Ch. – Santiago Martinez, Central Florida, def. Bryant Wood, Grand Canyon, 4-3
3rd – Chase Boontjer, Liberty, def. Nick Bendon, Central Washington, 4-3
5th -- James Peterson, Montana Western, def. Samuel Kreimier, U.S. Air Force Prep, by fall 5:55
7th – Austen Brower, William and Mary, def. Codie Nichols, Alfred State, 4-1

165 lbs.
Ch. – Drew Daniels, US Naval Prep, def. Wally Figaro, Shorter, 3-2
3rd – Juan Carlos Maynes, Grand Canyon, def. Conner Burns, RPI, by fall 1:54
5th – Michael Billingsley, U.S. Air Force Prep, def. Brett Johnson, Washington State, 5-4
7th – Frankie McKeown, Alabama, def. Danny Apgar, NW Missouri State, 10-6

174 lbs.
Ch. – Parker Maytrott, US Military Prep, def. Martin Fabbian, Grand Canyon, 5-3
3rd – KeyShaun Ward, Liberty, def. Dalton Lane, Shorter, by fall 6:53
5th -- Giovanni Jiovenetta, Florida Gulf Coast, def. Robert Manier, U.S. Naval Prep, 3-2 TB-1
7th – Eric Dietz, Grand Valley State, def. Jon Williams, Wayne State, 6-2

184 lbs.
Ch. – Terrence Smith, Shorter, def. Austin Gaun, Grand Canyon, 5-4
3rd – Royal Brettrager, Liberty, def. Jadaen Bernstein, U.S. Naval Prep, by fall 2:46
5th – Steban Cervantes, U.S. Naval Prep, def. Jack Wedholm, U.S. Military Prep, by fall 6:40
7th – Matt Reynolds, Liberty, def. Jonathan Roberts, Middle Tennessee, by fall 1:38

197 lbs.
Ch. – Paul Ardila, Georgia, def. Tyrell Walker, Central Florida, 3-2
3rd – Marcus Haughian, Grand Canyon, def. Aaron Thompson, Liberty, 3-2 TB-1
5th – Carl Brown, Auburn, def. Scott Schretzenmaier, Pittsburgh, 12-3
7th – Jacob Laux (M.I.T.), def. Wayne Sanders, Saginaw Valley State, by fall 2:52

235 lbs. 
Ch. – Andrew Ewers, Shorter, def. Stuart Maddox, North Florida, 8-3
3rd – Josh Woods, Central Florida, def. Parm Dhesi, Douglas College, 9-6
5th – Jim Eavenson, Montana Western, def. Dave Stratton, Washington State, 4-3
7th – Victor Irwin, Eastern Maine CC, def. Ryan Kreppel, West Chester, 4-2

285 lbs. 
Ch. – Peter Angel Anguiano, Grand Canyon, def. Rashied Rayford, Middle Tennessee, by fall 3:26
3rd – Donald Shovestull, U.S. Naval Prep, def. Ian Jones, Apprentice, 2-1
5th – Dean Lusk, Penn State - New Kensington, def. Marlen Morgan, Shorter, 6-2
7th – Greydon Pavlik, Bowling Green, def. John Long, Marion Military Inst., by fall 6:12

Most Outstanding Wrestler – Ryan Diehl, Liberty, 133 lbs.
Coach of the Year – Michael Letts, U.S. Naval Academy Prep

FINAL STANDINGS
DIVISION I
1. Grand Canyon 254.5
2. Liberty 171.5
3. Shorter 162.5
4. Central Florida 122
5. Grand Valley State 90.5
6. U.S. Naval Academy Prep 85.5
7. Middle Tennessee 84.5
8. Apprentice 75
9. U.S. Air Force Academy Prep 70
10. U.S. Military Academy Prep 65
11. North Florida 60
12. Alfred State 55
13. Mott Comm. Coll. 48
14. West Chester 41.5
15. Marion Military Inst. 41
16. Penn State-Mont Alto 35.5
17. Mercer 34.5
18. Md.-Baltimore County 27
19t. Douglas College 21.5
19t. Georgia Southern 21.5
21. Penn State-DuBois 21
22. East Tennessee State 20.5
23. Wichita State 19
24. Penn College 17.5
25. New Hampshire 17
26t. Penn State-New Kensington 16
26t. Southern Virginia 16
28. Tennessee Temple 14.5

DIVISION II
1. Florida Gulf Coast , 67.5
2. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology 60.5
3. Montana Western 58
4. South Florida 42.5
5. Central Washington 41
6. Washington State 39
7. Texas 37.5
8t. Auburn 35
8t. RPI 35
10. Georgia 34.5
11. Wayne State 23.5
12t. USC 21.5
12t. Toledo 21.5
14. Florida 19.5
15t. Glendale Comm. Coll. (Ariz.) 18.5
15t. Texas-Arlington 18.5
17. Dixie State 18
18. NW Missouri State 17.5
19. Michigan 16.5
20t. Pittsburgh 14.5
20t. Saginaw Valley State 14.5
20t. Texas A&M 14.5
23t. Eastern Maine Comm. Coll. 13.5
23t. William and Mary 13.5
25. Stony Brook 13
26. Colorado State 12.5
27. Maine 12
28. Bowling Green 11.5
29. Tennessee 11
30. BYU 10.5
31t. Henry Ford Comm. Coll. (Mich.) 10
31t. Slippery Rock 10
33. Virginia Military 9.5
34t. Massachusetts 9
34t. Washtenaw Comm. Coll. (Mich.) 9
36. Alabama 8.5
37. Connecticut 8
38t. Memphis 7.5
38t. Western Washington 7.5
40. East Carolina 7
41. Yale 6.5
42. Lafayette 5
43. Montclair State 4.5
44t. Illinois State 4
44t. James Madison 4
46t. Bridgewater 3
46t. Evergreen State 3
48t. Albany 2.5
48t. Texas State 2.5
48t. Texas-Pan American 2.5
51. South Puget Sound CC (Wash.) 1
52t. Eastern Washington 0
52t. Florida A&M 0
52t. Rutgers 0
52t. UC Santa Barbara 0
52t. SUNY Westchester 0

WOMENS FINAL STANDINGS
1. Southwestern Oregon CC 84
2t. West Chester 31
2t. South Florida 31
4. Middle Tennessee 30
5t. North Florida 14
5t. Texas State 14
7. Stony Brook 11
8. Massachusetts 10
9t. Md.-Baltimore County 7
9t. Winona State 7

WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
105 – Ch.: Mikayla Pico, SW Oregon CC, def. Victoria Stottlemyer, Middle Tennesse, by fall 0:55. No third-place.
112 – Ch.: Gabby Long, South Florida, def. Franchesa Ybarra, SW Oregon CC, 5-3. No third place.
121 – (round robin) 1. Yolanda Lawes (3-0), SW Oregon CC; 2. Kelsey Larkin, West Chester (2-1); 3. Rylie Klinski (1-2), Winona State; 4. Victoria Ontiberos (0-3), Texas State.
130 – (round robin) 1. Katy Dawson (3-0), SW Oregon CC; 2. Jasmine Cothran (2-1), Middle Tennessee; 3. Stefanie Choh (1-2), Md.-Baltimore County; 4. Amena Asar (0-3), Stony Brook.
139 – (round robin) 1. Serena Castro (2-0), SW Oregon CC; 2. Karina Aguilar (1-1), Texas State; 3. Abigael Lopez-Gay (0-2), Stony Brook.
148 – (round robin) 1. Shannon Reeves (3-0), North Florida; 2. Cassie Corey (2-1), Massachusetts; 3. Johanna Diaz (1-2), West Chester; 4. Vivian Bazan (0-3), SW Oregon CC.
159 – 1. Aysha Schwinden, SW Oregon CC, def. Jasmine Grant, South Florida, by fall 6:24. No third-place.
176 – 1. Kimberly Spiegel, West Chester, def. Clarissa Ceffalo, Middle Tennessee, by fall 0:20. No third-place.

Most Outstanding Wrestler – Yolanda Lawes, SW Oregon CC, 121 lbs.
Coach of the Year – Scott Sherman, North Florida

Wrestler Inspires With Sportsmanship After Losing In State Title Match

A high school wrestler's amazing gesture after a loss in the state championship match brought tears to the eyes of many spectators, and it's not hard to see why. After falling to Mitchell McKee in Minnesota's 120-pound class, Malik Stewart went over and embraced McKee's father, Steve, who is battling terminal cancer. "I got a little teary because I lost the match, and I knew the hard times he was going through," Stewart told KARE 11. "The crowd went wild and I heard a couple people say after I did it -- that was pretty classy -- but I just did it straight from the heart." As it turns out, Stewart can relate to what Mitchell McKee is going through. Stewart's father suffered a heart attack and died when Stewart was 7. "It was a big match for him and to be able to hug my dad like that and not be mad and storm off like a lot of kids do," McKee said. "Really respectful." For more of this story, here's KARE's report:

2014 HS New England Results

1.  Mt. Anthony                        121.0

2.  Danbury                             108.0

3.  Exeter/West Greenwich     71.0

4.  Londonderry                       67.0

5.  Timberlane                         56.5

6.  Lincoln-Sudbury                 55.0

7.  Marshwood                        55.0

8.  Springfield Central             51.0

9.  North Andover                    44.5

10.  Fairfield Warde

HS - 106

1st Place - Michael Aquino of Catholic Memorial

2nd Place - Paulo Freitas of Danbury

3rd Place - Colin Cardosa of Mt. Hope

4th Place - Matthew Dowler of St. Bernard

5th Place - Zachary Murillo of Southington

6th Place - Calvin Call of Mt. Anthony

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Michael Aquino (Catholic Memorial) won in tie breaker - 1 over Paulo Freitas (Danbury) (TB-1 6-2)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Colin Cardosa (Mt. Hope) won by decision over Matthew Dowler (St. Bernard) (Dec 7-0)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Zachary Murillo (Southington) won by decision over Calvin Call (Mt. Anthony) (Dec 10-8)

HS - 113

1st Place - Mac Hamilton of Lincoln-Sudbury

2nd Place - Cam Kelly of Franklin

3rd Place - Kyle Lindner of New Milford

4th Place - Jeremy Fields of Danbury

5th Place - Peter DelGallo of Gardiner

6th Place - Bradley Beaulieu of Marshwood

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Mac Hamilton (Lincoln-Sudbury) won by decision over Cam Kelly (Franklin) (Dec 4-3)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Kyle Lindner (New Milford) won by decision over Jeremy Fields (Danbury) (Dec 3-2)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Peter DelGallo (Gardiner) won by decision over Bradley Beaulieu (Marshwood) (Dec 1-0)

HS - 120

1st Place - Troy Gassaway of Mt. Anthony

2nd Place - Nick Derosa of Billerica

3rd Place - Peter Robinson of Saint John`s Shrewsbury

4th Place - Chris Bryant of Danbury

5th Place - Ryan Monteiro of Minnechaug Regional

6th Place - Tyler Fitzpatrick of Timberlane

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Troy Gassaway (Mt. Anthony) won by decision over Nick Derosa (Billerica) (Dec 3-1)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Peter Robinson (Saint John`s Shrewsbury) won by decision over Chris Bryant (Danbury) (Dec 12-9)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Ryan Monteiro (Minnechaug Regional) won in sudden victory - 1 over Tyler Fitzpatrick (Timberlane) (SV-1 6-4)

HS - 126

1st Place - Kevin Jack of Danbury

2nd Place - Cross Cannone of Trumbull

3rd Place - Jon Ryan of Dracut

4th Place - Daniel Ebert of Fairfield Warde

5th Place - Nick Widmann of John Stark

6th Place - Eric Kerr of Lynnfield North Reading

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Kevin Jack (Danbury) won by major decision over Cross Cannone (Trumbull) (Maj 15-4)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Jon Ryan (Dracut) won by decision over Daniel Ebert (Fairfield Warde) (Dec 7-0)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Nick Widmann (John Stark) won in sudden victory - 1 over Eric Kerr (Lynnfield North Reading) (SV-1 4-2)

HS - 132

1st Place - Jean-Luc Lemieux of Londonderry

2nd Place - Derek Bohle of Timberlane

3rd Place - Brendan Weir of Hampshire

4th Place - Emmett LiCastri of Immac/JB Co-op

5th Place - Anfernee Green of Lawrence

6th Place - Andrew Howard of Moses Brown

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Jean-Luc Lemieux (Londonderry) won by major decision over Derek Bohle (Timberlane) (Maj 10-0)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Brendan Weir (Hampshire) won by decision over Emmett LiCastri (Immac/JB Co-op) (Dec 5-4)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Anfernee Green (Lawrence) won in the ultimate tie breaker over Andrew Howard (Moses Brown) (UTB 4-2)

HS - 138

1st Place - Christian Monserrat of Methuen

2nd Place - Quinn Merrigan of Canton

3rd Place - Ryan Peters of Timberlane

4th Place - Will Chowanec of Xavier

5th Place - Max O`Connell of Cranston West

6th Place - Dominick Day of Biddeford

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Christian Monserrat (Methuen) won by decision over Quinn Merrigan (Canton) (Dec 9-2)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Ryan Peters (Timberlane) won by decision over Will Chowanec (Xavier) (Dec 4-3)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Max O`Connell (Cranston West) won by decision over Dominick Day (Biddeford) (Dec 3-1)

HS - 145

1st Place - Eric Reyes of Dedham

2nd Place - Jonathan Carrera of Milton

3rd Place - Howard Kilpatrick of Bacon Academy

4th Place - Favion Williams of Hartford Co-op

5th Place - Nolan Viens of Bellows Falls/Hartford

6th Place - Brett Leonard of New Milford

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Eric Reyes (Dedham) won by decision over Jonathan Carrera (Milton) (Dec 13-9)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Howard Kilpatrick (Bacon Academy) won by decision over Favion Williams (Hartford Co-op) (Dec 10-3)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Nolan Viens (Bellows Falls/Hartford) won by fall over Brett Leonard (New Milford) (Fall 2:23)

HS - 152

1st Place - Christian LaBrie of Exeter/West Greenwich

2nd Place - Rick Viruet of Springfield Central

3rd Place - Anthony Falbo of Newtown

4th Place - Emmanuel Borsay of Hope

5th Place - Jackson Howarth of Marshwood

6th Place - Christian Zotti of Newington

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Christian LaBrie (Exeter/West Greenwich) won by decision over Rick Viruet (Springfield Central) (Dec 6-4)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Anthony Falbo (Newtown) won by decision over Emmanuel Borsay (Hope) (Dec 7-3)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Jackson Howarth (Marshwood) won by fall over Christian Zotti (Newington) (Fall 3:00)

HS - 160

1st Place - Jonathan Viruet of Springfield Central

2nd Place - Cody Hughes of Marshwood

3rd Place - Andrew LaBrie of Exeter/West Greenwich

4th Place - Fritz Hoehn of North Andover

5th Place - Keegan Pearsall of Vergennes

6th Place - Will Bean of Londonderry

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Jonathan Viruet (Springfield Central) won in tie breaker - 1 over Cody Hughes (Marshwood) (TB-1 2-1)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Andrew LaBrie (Exeter/West Greenwich) won by decision over Fritz Hoehn (North Andover) (Dec 6-1)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Keegan Pearsall (Vergennes) won by decision over Will Bean (Londonderry) (Dec 2-0)

HS - 170

1st Place - Brad Drover of North Andover

2nd Place - Juan Garcia of Danbury

3rd Place - Grant Poston of Champlain Valley

4th Place - Dovydas Simanskis of Farmington

5th Place - Keaton Peterson of Manchester Central

6th Place - Dylan Barreiro of Pinkerton

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Brad Drover (North Andover) won by decision over Juan Garcia (Danbury) (Dec 6-4)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Grant Poston (Champlain Valley) won by decision over Dovydas Simanskis (Farmington) (Dec 7-6)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Keaton Peterson (Manchester Central) won by decision over Dylan Barreiro (Pinkerton) (Dec 3-0)

HS - 182

1st Place - Khamri Thomas of ESW Co-op

2nd Place - Nico Dionisotti of Lincoln-Sudbury

3rd Place - Austin Price of Mt. Anthony

4th Place - David Burke of Exeter

5th Place - Cody Carrillo of Middletown

6th Place - Michael Gallagher of Narragansett

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Khamri Thomas (ESW Co-op) won by decision over Nico Dionisotti (Lincoln-Sudbury) (Dec 5-2)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Austin Price (Mt. Anthony) won by decision over David Burke (Exeter) (Dec 5-3)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Cody Carrillo (Middletown) won by major decision over Michael Gallagher (Narragansett) (Maj 10-2)

HS - 195

1st Place - Joe Chimelski of Nashua North

2nd Place - Tyler Mattison of Mt. Anthony

3rd Place - Michael Curtis of Wells

4th Place - Richard Biladeau of Londonderry

5th Place - Joe Fallon of Winchester

6th Place - Griffin Tighe of Franklin

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Joe Chimelski (Nashua North) won by decision over Tyler Mattison (Mt. Anthony) (Dec 7-1)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Michael Curtis (Wells) won by decision over Richard Biladeau (Londonderry) (Dec 2-0)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Joe Fallon (Winchester) won by injury default over Griffin Tighe (Franklin) (Inj. 0:00)

HS - 220

1st Place - Ian Butterbrodt of St. Johns Prep

2nd Place - Carl Neff of Exeter/West Greenwich

3rd Place - Imran Gholizadeh of Woburn

4th Place - Andrew Cavanna of Glastonbury

5th Place - Andrew Marino of Trumbull

6th Place - Kevin Ell of Pinkerton

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Ian Butterbrodt (St. Johns Prep) won by decision over Carl Neff (Exeter/West Greenwich) (Dec 6-5)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Imran Gholizadeh (Woburn) won in the ultimate tie breaker over Andrew Cavanna (Glastonbury) (UTB 3-2)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - Andrew Marino (Trumbull) won by fall over Kevin Ell (Pinkerton) (Fall 3:36)

HS - 285

1st Place - Jesse Webb of Mt. Anthony

2nd Place - Ahmed Hourani of Fairfield Warde

3rd Place - Austin Shrewsbury of Westfield

4th Place - Nicholas Crowle of Fairfield Prep

5th Place - John Lachowicz of Hampshire

6th Place - Owen Murray of Barnstable

1st Place Match

1st Place Match - Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony) won by decision over Ahmed Hourani (Fairfield Warde) (Dec 5-3)

3rd Place Match

3rd Place Match - Austin Shrewsbury (Westfield) won by fall over Nicholas Crowle (Fairfield Prep) (Fall 2:14)

5th Place Match

5th Place Match - John Lachowicz (Hampshire) won by decision over Owen Murray (Barnstable) (Dec 9-4)