ITHACA, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton wrestling team is off to a strong start in the early sessions of the Ithaca Invitational, as the Spartans conclude day one with 12 wrestlers remaining in contention for the title in their respective weight classes, good enough for second place, behind the host squad, Ithaca.

Castleton currently sits second with 88.5 team points from 31 wrestlers, as the home team is in first with 105 team points. Pennsylvania College of Technology earned 63 team points, good enough for third, while Springfield sits fourth with 53.5 team points, and Norwich rounds out the top five with 35.5 team points out of nine teams.
 
Aidan Shufelt and Nathaniel Camiscioli finished opening day 3-0, while 10 Spartans went 2-0 as the invitational got underway. Shufelt continued his winning streak after a 4-0 debut last weekend. The rookie picked up his first win via tech fall, his second via major decision, and his third via decision. He outscored his opponents 31-6 in the 133-pound bracket. Camiscioli went 3-0 with three pins, and his fastest came in just 28 seconds at 157 pounds. He will face teammate Justyce Mercado in tomorrow's opening match.
 
Drew Marchese (125) outscored opponents 30-3, with a tech fall and a major decision. Avi Berg (125) opened with a pin in 5:23, then a 12-5 decision win. Joseph Kennedy (149) picked up a 10-4 decision and a 12-2 major decision to continue on to day two. Nicolas Balella had two wins at 149 pounds. Mercado also won twice at 157 pounds and will face Camiscioli in the quarterfinals.

Dom Lapier (157) had two statement wins, with an 18-3 tech fall victory and a 1:44 pin to make his way to the quarterfinals, while Colby Celuck (174) had two pins, 1:44 and 1:50, to push him through to tomorrow's quarterfinals. Jake Long (184) took two wins via decision, putting him into the quarterfinals to face off against Desmond McLaughlin (184), who put up a 1:09 pin and a 1:03 pin to continue to tomorrow. Evan Day (285) wraps up the Spartans' quarterfinal wrestlers, after a 2-0 day, with a 38-second pin and a 41-second pin.
 
The Spartans have 15 wrestlers in the consolation brackets of their respective weight classes. Viktor Banda (141), Elijah Farias (141), and Isaiah Grant (165) all went 3-1 on the day. Of the 15 wrestlers, six went 2-1 on the day, to continue on to tomorrow, with Hunter Lines (141), Stone Farnsworth (141), John Marcellus (149), Dylan Vanegas (157), Zach Olden (165), and Lucas Schell (174) competing tomorrow. Josh Negron (197), Logan Frank (197), Jack Brown (197), Keonta Crawford (285), and Colton Perkins (285) all finished day one 1-1 and have moved on to the consolation bracket. Braeden Gray finished day one 0-1, but earned a first-round bye in the consolation bracket at 184 pounds, moving him onto tomorrow's matches.
 
Saturday (November 8) wraps up the Ithaca Invitational, with action beginning at 10 a.m.