New England coaches poll, preseason
Results of the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Division III coaches poll. Record and First Place Votes in Parentheses.
PRESEASON POLL, Nov. 1
Team
Rec Pts.
1. Roger Williams (13) 0-0 157
2. Johnson & Wales (3) 0-0 147
3. WPI 0-0 120
4. Coast Guard 0-0 105
5. Wesleyan 0-0 98
6. Williams 0-0 76
7. Springfield 0-0 58
8. Southern Maine0-0 43
9. Norwich University 0-0 34
10. Rhode Island Coll 0-0 29
Others receiving votes: Plymouth State, Western New England, Castleton, Trinity
Preseason rankings, October 31
125 Pounds:----
1. Bobby Jordan, Johnson & Wales
2. Matt Morris, Williams
3. Brian Amato, WPI
4. Nicholas Barbaria, Roger Williams
5. Earl Roberts, Coast Guard
6. Zack Murrill,o Wesleyan
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133 Pounds:----
1. Jay Albis, Johnson & Wales
2. Jacob Forsman, Norwich University
3. Joe Aumann, Plymouth State-
4. Ben Morton Williams
5. Steve Jendritz WPI
6. Steve Masi, Rhode Island College
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141 Pounds:----
1. Zak Hale, Castleton
2. Joe Ferinde, Johnson & Wales
3. Justin Cochran, Roger Williams
4. Pete Nash WPI
5. Brendan Weir, Southern Maine
6. Matt McAllister Coast Guard
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149 Pounds:----
1. Danny Downes-Roger Williams
2. Dan Del Gallo, Southern Maine
3. Brendan Seyfried Williams
4. Jack Nigro WPI
5. Matt Vieira Coast Guard
6. Carter Armendarez, Wesleyan
157 Pounds:
1. Ty Herzog Roger Williams
2. Chris Sullivan Coast Guard
3. Zach Joseph Springfield
4. CJ Luth Southern Maine
5. Dan McBrinn Johnson & Wales
6. Robert Rosenberg Wesleyan
165 Pounds:
1. Alec Golner Roger Williams
2. Mike Gargano Johnson & Wales
3. Mike Palomba Coast Guard
4. Geovanni Medina Springfield
5. Roy Forys Wesleyan
6. Pat McCurdy Norwich University
174 Pounds:
1. Steve Jarrell Johnson & Wales
2. Dan Fiorvanti Coast Guard
3. Lucas Muntz WPI
4. Dominic Pirraglia Wesleyan
5. Andrew Cole Western New England
6. Carl Sangree Williams
184 Pounds:
1. Joe Albina Roger Williams
2. Chris Perreault Plymouth State
3. Mike Labell Johnson & Wales
4. Dan Wensley WPI
5. Mike Gallagher Rhode Island College
6. David Rogers Norwich University
197 Pounds:
1. Devon Carrillo Wesleyan
2. Khamri Thomas Johnson & Wales
3. Phil Azzari Coast Guard
4. Martin Strenk Williams
5. Mike Curtis WPI
6. Victor Zabalu Rhode Island College
285 Pounds:
1. Kyle Foster Roger Williams
2. Austin Shrewsbury WPI
3. Frankie Girolamo Norwich University
4. Jonah Aurelio Johnson & Wales
5. Isaiah Bellamy Wesleyan
6. Mike Risti Southern Maine
Experienced group of wrestlers return for New England teams
Thirty All-New England NCAA Division III Region wrestlers and 11 wrestlers who qualified for the NCAA Division III national tournament, return to schools this season in New England. There looks to be significant competition at 125 and 149 pounds.
125
Two-time New England Regional finalist Bobby Jordan of Johnson and Wales (JWU) is the top returning wrestler at 125. Jordan is a two-time NCAA Div. 3 national qualifier and was a match away from All American honors last year. He is looking to win his second New England regional championship and earn a place on the podium come March at the NCAA tournament. Williams’ Matt Morris, who finished fourth in the New England Region, returns. Morris had an outstanding sophomore season with over 30 wins. Currently ranked 3rd at 125 is the only returning All American in the conference is WPI’s Brian Amato (Newington). Two years ago, Amato was 3rd at the New England Region in 2015 and went to earn All American honors. Amato was up and down last year and looks to find his way back to the NCAA tournament. Roger Williams’ Nick Barbaria is a returning All Region wrestler and another wrestler with over 25 wins who is back at 125. Coast Guard’s Earl Roberts and Southington’s Zack Murillo of Wesleyan highlight the list of contenders that look to challenge the top of the weight class.
133
Jay Albis of JWU is ranked No. 1 in New England. Albis was having an outstanding freshmen season, which included being ranked as high as No. 3 nationally, but an injury cut his season short. The talented freshman is up a weight this year and will definitely be a top contender for a region championship. Jacob Forsman of Norwich University moves up to 133 after making All-Region at 125 last year. Forsman got better as the year went on and was a match away from the NCAA tournament. Joe Aumann of Plymouth State is making the bump up to 133 as well. Aumann had an early season win over Forsman but slowed down at the end of the season and fell short of making All-Region. Ben Morton of Williams, Steve Jendritz of WPI, and Steve Masi of Rhode Island College headline a list of contenders that hope to make All Region and earn a trio to the NCAA tournament.
141
Zak Hale of Castleton is ranked No. 1 at 141 pounds. Hale joins Scott Legacy and the new program at Castleton in their first year as a program. Castleton went out and got one of the best coaches in the high School ranks when they hired Legacy, who built a regional power at Mt. Anthony in Bennington. Hale is a ranked ahead of returning NCAA Div. 3 national qualifier Joe Ferinde of Johnson and Wales. Ferinde the returning conference Rookie of the year had a great first year for the Wildcats at 133 and now looks to make it back to the NCAA tournament. Roger Williams’ Justin Cochran is ranked No. 3 at 141. Cochran has already broken numerous pin records going into his junior year. Cochran is very dangerous on top and in his third year at the weight class he is primed to make a big jump. Pete Nash of WPI, Brenden Weir of WPI, and Matt McAllister of Coast Guard all had outstanding seasons and hope to earn all Region honors this season.
149
Roger Williams’ Danny Downes is ranked No. 1 as the returning regional champion at 149. It will be a tough weight class with three returning NCAA Div. 3 national qualifiers. Downes, who lost in the All-American round last year at the NCAA tournament, a four-year starter for the Hawks; Downes has been a three-time All-Conference wrestler. Southern Maine’s Daniel Del Gallo is ranked No. 2 at 149. He was second in the region in 2015 and third last year. Del Gallo is extremely tough and looks to win his first regional Ccampionship this year. Ranked third is returning NCAA Div. 3 national qualifier Brendan Seyfried of Williams. Seyfried had a slow start to the season but came on strong for the Ephs. Last year as a freshman, he was unseeded and made the regional finals knocking off the No. 5, 4 and 1 seeds on his way to the NCAA tournament.
157
At 157, Roger Williams’ Ty Herzog is a two-time NCAA Div. 3 national qualifier and regional medalist. Herzog is another Hawk who has wrestled a lot of matches and was close to All American Honors. Coast Guard’s Chris Sullivan is ranked No. 2 and is a returning conference place winner. Sullivan is ranked No. 7 in the nation in Division III. He had a record of 28-8 last season with 11 pins and has a career record of 49-24 with 19 pins to his credit. Zach Joseph of Springfield College is ranked No. 3 at 157. He was at 149 last year, was seeded No. 1, he made All Region honors after being upset in the semifinals by Downes of Roger Williams. Ranked No. 4 is Southern Maine’s C.J. Luth (Milford). Luth is a very dangerous wrestler and he is already a two-time All Conference wrestler for the Huskies. Dan McBrinn of JWU and Robert Rosenberg of Wesleyan lead the list for contenders at the weight.
165
At 165, Roger Williams’ Alec Golner is a returning regional finalist. He had an outstanding season last year that fell short at the NCAA tournament. Golner was dominant the entire year and did not lose a match in New England. Ranked second at 165 is Mike Gargano of Johnson & Wales. Gargano was a late move last year by the JWU staff and the moved paid off. Gargano earned all Region honors with a top 6 finish and looks to earn an NCAA berth this year. He will be challenged by returning All Conference wrestler Mike Palomba of Coast Guard. Palomba had a great season a year ago and is one of seven ranked wrestlers for Coast Guard this year. Springfield’s Geovanni Medina (New Britain), Wesleyan’s Roy Forys, and Norwich’s Pat McCurdy lead the contender list at 165.
174
Defending New England regional champion and NCAA Div. 3 national qualifier Steve Jarrell of Johnson & Wales leads the way. Jarrell had a great junior year and is physical, wrestling well in all positions. Ranked second is Coast Guard’s Dan Fiorvanti, who won some big matches for the Bears last winter. The rest of the weight class is wide open. WPI’s Lucas Muntz (Conard-West Hartford), Dominic Parraglia (down from 184), Andrew Cole of WNEU, and Carl Sangree of Williams all had strong seasons in 2015-16 and look to contend this year for region placing.
184
At 184, Roger Williams’ Joe Albina leads the way. Albina is a two time Conference place winner and was one win shy of earning an NCAA tournament berth last year. Albina is a physical wrestler who was limited by a shoulder injury towards the end of last season. Two wrestlers who were out last year will challenge Albina for the top spot. Chris Perreault of Plymouth State is a two-time conference place winner and is back after a season-ending injury early last year. Also back for Johnson & Wales is Mike Labell, who upset the No. 2 seed at the New England regional two years ago and was one win away from the NCAA tournament. Dan Wensley of WPI, Mike Gallagher of Rhode Island College, and David Rogers of Norwich University are all looking to make the podium at the regional tournament this year.
197
Two-sport star Devon Carrillo of Wesleyan leads the way at 197. Carrillo (Middletown) was a high school All American in wrestling at Middletown High but took almost four years off before coming out last year. He took third at the region placing behind two national champions. Carillo is currently a member of the Wesleyan football team where as a wide receiver, he has thrown two touchdown passes and caught seven TD receptions. Carrillo will be challenged by Johnson & Wales sophomore Khmari Thomas (Windsor Locks). Thomas had an outstanding freshmen season winning over 30 matches and finishing fourth at 197 in the region. Two other region place winners are also at 197. Coast Guard’s Phil Azzari returns at 197 and Martin Strenk of Williams bumped up from 184 to earn All Region honors at 285 last year for the Ephs. Strenk upset No. 1 seeded Kyle Foster to make it to the semifinals last year and finished one win away from the NCAA tournament. WPI’s Mike Curtis and Rhode Island College’s Victor Zabalu both had great seasons last year and look to place at the regional tournament this year.
285
Roger Williams’ Kyle Foster (Somers) is the No. 1 wrestler at 285. Foster was ranked No. 1 in the region all year and in the country the entire season. Foster had to come back for third after being upset by Strenk just to make the NCAA tournament. Foster should great toughness coming back and the senior has his eyes on the podium this year at the NCAA tournament. WPI’s Austin Shrewsbury is ranked No. 2. Shrewsbury only a freshmen and got better and better as the season went on. He took fourth in the region and will definitely push for a region championship this year. Frankie Girolamo of Norwich is also a returning region place winner. Jonah Aurelio of JWU, Isaiah Bellamy of Wesleyan, and Mike Risti of Southern Maine all had strong year last season and look to push for a regional championship this year. Bellamy was fourth in the region at 197 two years ago before heading up to 285 late last season.
