WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The seventh-ranked Vermont State University Castleton wrestling program wrapped up its dual match slate on Friday night with an emphatic victory, coasting past Williams College by a final score of 42-5.
 
The win was a continuation of the Spartans' historic season that has seen the program reach new heights nationally. The victory was the 20th of the year, setting a new program single-season record for dual match victories. The Spartans scored more than 40 team points in 10 of their 20 wins this season, suffocating opponents from start to finish across all weight classes.
 
The night began with a quick lead after Williams forfeited the 125-pound bout, giving Gavin Bradley a victory. Drew Marchese followed up with a 17-2 win via tech fall at 133 pounds, extending the lead to 11-0 Spartans. James Rodriguez followed suit at 141 pounds, dominating all three periods for an 18-5 major decision and a 15-0 lead for the visitors.
 
At 149 pounds, Elijah Cyr battled back from an early deficit to claim a 5-4 win via decision. He was taken down early in the first, but escaped and earned a takedown of his own. After Williams earned the escape point in the second to level the bout, Cyr returned the favor with an escape of his own in the third to earn the win. Nathaniel Camiscioli wasted little time extending the Spartans' lead, notching a first-period pin to run the lead to 24-0 at the midway point of the match.
 
Williams claimed its only win at 165 pounds, with Henry Forte besting Syrus Colon with a tech fall. Desmond McLaughlin got the Spartans back in the win column at 174 pounds, wrestling one of the tightest bouts of the evening. The match was scoreless into the second period until Williams earned an escape point after choosing bottom position, but not before McLaughlin registered more than 90 seconds of riding time. McLaughlin notched a quick escape in the third and tacked on the riding time bonus to claim a 2-1 decision and a 27-5 lead.
 
Sampson Wilkins continued the dominance at 184 pounds, taking an effortless 8-0 major decision. Darby McLaughlin racked up a number of takedowns on his way to a 19-3 tech fall at 197 pounds, outing the lead at 36-5 heading to the final bout of the night. Evan Day got the draw at 285 for the Spartans and led from the jump. Day netted an early takedown before turning his opponent and sticking him for the pin and a 42-5 final score.
 
The Spartans are off until next Sunday, February 25, when they compete at the NEWA Futures event in Springfield, Mass.