CASTLETON, Vt. – The seventh-ranked Vermont State University Castleton wrestling team continued to dominate the opposition on Friday night, posting a 49-3 victory over Plymouth State in the Spartans' home finale at Glenbrook Gym.
 
VTSU Castleton won each of the first nine bouts before Plymouth secured its only victory of the night. The Spartans were victorious in four out of five exhibition matchups as well. VTSU Castleton is 19-3 on the season with one more dual match to go when they travel to Williams College next Friday night, February 16, at 7 p.m.
 
Friday's dual began at 184 pounds, with Andrew Filip leading off for the Spartans against Carlos Barrios. Filip wasted no time at all, needing only 1:55 to pin Barrios and give the Spartans a 6-0 lead. Josh Negron followed up with a technical fall only 15 seconds into the second period, claiming a 16-1 win for an 11-0 edge. Evan Day did was he's done numerous time this season, earning a first-period pin at the heavyweight division at the 2:39 mark. The Spartans led 17-0 through three bouts.
 
Flipping the lineup back over to 125 pounds, Avi Berg kept the pedal to the metal for the Spartans with a 16-0 shutout, claiming a third-period tech fall for a 22-0 edge. Kaya Bogle notched the night's fastest pin in just 32 seconds in the 133-pound showcase, extending the lead to 28-0. After Plymouth forfeited at 141 pounds to push the VTSU Castleton edge to 34-0, Jashon Holmes tacked on five more points with Castleton's third tech fall of the evening. The sophomore was a 19-3 winner in the second period. Jacob Caricato was next up at 157 pounds for the Spartans, netting a pin just before the whistle at the end of the first period to make it 45-0 in favor of the hosts.
 
The 165-pound bout was one of the closest of the night, with Connor Gregory dueling Tyler Miller. Gregory got ahead early with a takedown, but a Miller escape and takedown of his own had Gregory chasing a point. He escaped late in the period to be level at 4-4 after one. Gregory chose bottom to start the second period, notching a quick escape and another takedown to move ahead 8-4. Miller escaped late in the frame to go into the final period with Gregory on top 8-5. After choosing bottom position, Miller escaped to close the gap to 8-6 and then took Gregory down for a 9-8 edge, but an escape by Gregory leveled the score at 9-9. With the riding time bonus point in his back pocket, Gregory just needed to hang on for the final minute. With Miller pressing for a takedown, Gregory capitalized and notched another takedown to pad his lead to 12-9 before tacking on four back points for a 16-9 lead. The riding time bonus point made it a 17-9 final and a major decision victory for the Spartan rookie.
 
The final dual matchup of the night came at 174 between Corbin Maraia and Chase Anestis. After a scoreless first period, Anestis chose bottom position and earned an escape point for a 1-0 lead. A takedown by Anestis made it 4-0 and six back points before the end of the period pushed his lead to 10-0 going to the last. Maraia chose neutral to start the third period and notched two takedowns but ran out of time to complete his comeback. Anestis won the 12-6 decision to put the match at 49-3 in favor of Castleton.
 
In exhibition action, Joseph Kennedy, Syrus Colon and Caleb Rojas were winners via pin—each of them coming in the first period. Darius Mangiafico won a 12-4 major decision to round out the Spartans that were victorious on the night.