CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton wrestling team moved up to No. 5 in The Open Mat's weekly dual rankings, then proceeded to back up the recognition with a 51-0 victory against Division II American International College on Friday evening at Glenbrook Gym.
 
The Spartans also moved up to No. 8 in The Open Mat's weekly tournament rankings, matching their current standing within the NWCA tournament rankings. The victory was also a milestone win for head coach Scott Legacy, who earned his 100th career victory at Castleton. Legacy and his staff started the program from scratch in 2016, showing incremental improvement each year before skyrocketing up the national rankings in each of the last three seasons. Legacy's crew this season is off to a 5-0 start in dual matches and has won each of the three tournaments they have entered.
 
VTSU Castleton jumped out to a fast lead on Friday, beginning with Drew Marchese at 133 needing only 3:38 to pin AIC's Joseph Aldrich for a 6-0 Spartan edge. Kaya Bogle followed with a pin of his own at the 2:52 marker at 141 pounds, doubling the lead to 12-0 through two bouts. At 149 pounds, Tylik Epps extended the lead to 17-0 when he picked up a 19-3 win via technical fall just over a minute into the second period. Jacob Caricato then notched a pin at 157, needing only 1:45 to stick Kyrie Williams and make it 23-0 Spartans.
 
Syrus Colon kept the good times rolling for Castleton, blanking Alfred MacNeill with a 9-0 major decision at 165 before Caleb Rojas netted a 23-7 win via technical fall at 174. Cruz Henton wrestled the tightest match of the night, claiming a 4-2 win via decision over Markys Lissaint. Henton had a big first-period takedown that ignited the home crowd and rode that momentum to victory. A 197, Josh Negron took a 13-3 major decision to extend the lead to 39-0. AIC forfeited at both 285 and 125 to end the evening, giving Shea Garand (285) and Avi Berg (125) victories and pushing the final dual score to 51-0 in favor of the Spartans.
 
Castleton concludes the first half of the schedule on Sunday when it hosts Southern Maine in Glenbrook Gym. Exhibitions start at noon with varsity matches beginning at 1:15 p.m.