PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton wrestling team swept the Little East Conference Quad, taking down Rhode Island College, Plymouth State, and Southern Maine.
In match one the Spartans dropped one weight class to take a commanding 39-2 win over Rhode Island College to start the day. In match two, the Spartans fared well yet again, dropping just two matches to take down the host squad Plymouth, 46-10. In the final match of the day. The Spartans took down Southern Maine, 40-8, with junior Gavin Bradley going 3-0 on the day and clinching his 100th career win, the first Castleton junior to ever achieve that milestone.
VTSU Castleton 39, RIC 2
Bradley kicked off the day for the Spartans with a 5-4 win by decision at 125 pounds, followed by Kaya Bogle winning via decision at 133 pounds to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead. James Rodriguez took down Hunter Lundberg, pinning him in 1:27 at 141 pounds, followed by Elijah Cyr winning by tech fall at 149 pounds to lengthen the lead to 17-0 for Castleton.
Nathaniel Camiscioli won via tech fall at 157 pounds and Jashon Holmes did the same at 165 pounds to give the Spartans a 27-0 lead before dropping the only bout of the match at 184 pounds to give the Anchormen 3 points. Corbin Maraia took down Anthony Fernandez via decision at 184 pounds, and Haven Tatarek won by tech fall at 197 pounds. Evan Day rounded out match one for the Spartans, taking down Michael Alfonso by major decision to give the Spartans 39 points. The Anchormen finished with 2 points due to a team penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
VTSU Castleton 46, Plymouth 10
Bradley clinched his second win of the day at 125 pounds, pinning his opponent in 2:46 to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead. Elijah Farias pinned his opponent in 2:14 at 133 pounds, and Tylik Epps won via pin in 4:37 at 141 pounds giving Castleton an 18-0 lead. Dropping the match at 149 pounds, Jacob Caricato won via tech fall at 157 pounds to lengthen the lead.
Caleb Rojas earned a win by tech fall at 165 pounds, and Colby Celuck pinned his opponent in 1:22 to bring the Spartans up to a 34-6 lead. Castleton dropped the match at 184 pounds, with Josh Negron winning at 197 pounds via forfeit. Alaq Dowd-Grant closed out the match with a win via pin in 6:23, to clinch the 46-10 win for the Spartans in bout two of the day.
VTSU Castleton 40, USM 8
Bradley finished the day 3-0, pinning his final opponent of the day in 0:52 at 125 pounds. Dropping the match at 133 pounds, Rodriguez earned his win via major decision at 141 pounds to put the Spartans up 10-4. The match at 149 was dropped, while Camiscioli took down his opponent 15-0 at 157 pounds to lengthen the lead.
Holmes earned a win via major decision at 165 pounds to put the Spartans up 19-8. Connor Gregory took down his opponent 19-4 at 174 pounds, and Blake Chapman won via major decision at 184 pounds. Tatarek won via forfeit at 197 pounds, with Abbas Abdulrahman pinning his opponent in 1:49 to give the Spartans the 40-8 victory.
The Spartans head to Johnson & Wales for the Wildcat Open on Saturday, January 25 for a 9:30 a.m. start.
