Wrestling Hosts Annual ESU Open

By Nicholas Saccaro
Staff Writer

On Sunday, Nov. 15 at Koehler Fieldhouse, ESU hosted the 49th annual ESU Open, one of the oldest and toughest wrestling tournaments in the nation.

Teams from all over the nation participated in the tournament including wrestling powerhouses Penn State University, Lehigh University and Old Dominion University.

All three teams are currently ranked in NCAA’s Div. 1 poll. Penn State is No. 2, Lehigh University is No. 7 and Old Dominion University is No. 15.

ESU had one unattached wrestler in the tournament, Gavin Arredondo, who wrestled in the 149-pound weight class.

Arredondo did not place in the tournament. He lost both of his matches to non-NCAA wrestlers. Arredondo lost an exciting match to Dan Ritz of the Silverback Gorillas wrestling club by a score of 2-1. Arredondo then lost to Matt Russo of Finger Lakes Prep by pin in 17 seconds.

Overall, Arredondo wrestled tough. He kept his composure and made sure to hold himself with class throughout both his matches. This young man has a bright future ahead of him in wrestling.

Penn State had one tournament winner and two wrestlers who took second place.

Garrett Hammond won the 165-pound weight class by defeating fellow Nittany Lion Cody Law on a medical forefeit. Law was hurt and could not wrestle in the finals. Therefore, Hammond was the winner at 165, and Law took second place.

Meanwhile in the 157-pound weight class, Zach Beitz of Penn State took second place, losing to Brian Hamann of North Carolina State by a score of 8-2.

Penn State had five other wrestlers in the tournament as well. Redshirt freshman George Carpenter, sophomore Kade Moss, freshman Triston Law, junior Geno Morelli and junior Caleb Livingston all had a combined record of 11-9.

Other winners of the tournament included Justin Patrick of Buffalo. He defeated Alex Madrigal of Old Dominion by a score of 13-6 at 125 pounds.

At 133 pounds, Scott Parker of Lehigh defeated Zeke Salvo of Brown by a score of 10-5.

In the 141-pound weight class, Nick Zanetta of Pitt defeated Robert Rizzolino of North Carolina State by a score of 14-6.

Tommy Forte of Buffalo, 149 pounds, defeated Steven Galiardo of Brown by a score of 10-8.

Andrew LaBrie of Brown, 174 pounds, defeated Ben Harvey of Army West Point by a score of 4-1.

Alexander Deciantis of Drexel, 184 pounds, defeated Gavin Berkley of Army West Point by a score of 4-2.

At 197 pounds, Nathan Dow of Army West point defeated his counterpart Rocco Caywood also of Army West Point by a score of 11-4.

Lastly, in the heavyweight (285 pounds) class, Christian Colucci of Lehigh defeated Nick Mabry of Navy by pin at 1:08.

Email Nicholas at:
nsaccaro@live.esu.edu