NEW LONDON, Conn. – Vermont State University Castleton wrestling's James Rodriguez was named NEWA Wrestler of the Week Thursday afternoon, following his first-place finish at the North Central Invitational.
 
Rodriguez entered a tough 141-pound weight class in the invitational, wrestling his way to a finals appearance. Rodriguez faced No. 7 Evan Onstad of Wisconsin-Whitewater and defeated him via decision, 8-6. Earlier in the season, Rodriguez fell to Onstad at the Roger Williams Tournament via tiebreaker. Rodriguez improved to 14-4 following his first-place finish on Saturday.
 
Castleton sits No. 1 in the latest NEWA team tournament rankings with 118 points. Johnson & Whales sits second with 92 points, followed by Coast Guard with 81, Wesleyan with 62, and Williams College with 52 rounding out the top five.
 
The Spartans have 10 wrestlers ranked in the top four of their weight classes following NEWA's latest individual ranking release. Sampson Wilkins (184) and Evan Day (285) rank first in their respective weight classes, with Gavin Bradley (125), Rodriguez (141), Nathaniel Camiscioli (157), and Desmond McLaughlin (174) ranking second. Jashon Holmes (165) and Haven Tatarek (197) rank third in their weight classes, with Drew Marchese (133) and Elijah Cyr (149) ranking fourth, rounding out the Spartans ranked wrestlers.
 
Castleton moved up one spot in the Open Mat rankings this week, going from seventh to sixth in the team tournament rankings, and sitting seventh in team dual rankings. Wilkins (184) still ranks first, and Bradley (125) still sits fourth. Day (285) sits eighth. Rodriguez (141) moved up one spot to 10th. Camiscioli (157) ranks 12th, Marchese (133) ranks 14th, and Cyr (149) and McLaughlin (174) rank 20th in their respective weight classes.
 
The Spartans head to Johnson & Wales on Saturday, December 21 for the East Coast Duals beginning at 1 p.m.