GRANTHAM, Pa., December 3, 2005 - Springfield College junior Mike Gaeta (Manalapan, N.J.) and sophomore Elliot Smith (Richville, N.Y.) each captured individual titles in their respective weight classes (141, 184) as the No. 8 Pride finished second out of 11 competing squads at this past weekend's Petrofes Invitational, hosted by Messiah College.
SUNY Brockport won the team title with a final total of 160 points. SC finished second at 152.5 points, with Heidelberg coming in third at 122.5 points and host Messiah College rounding out the top four with 114.5 total team points.
Gaeta, ranked second in the nation at 141 pounds, won a 5-4 decision in the finals over Messiah's Matt Gorkos. Smith recorded a 15-5 victory in the finals of the 184-pound division over Bridgewater State's James Quinlan.
Other top performances for the Pride included junior Mark DeCiccio (Cranston, R.I.), currently ranked eighth in Division III at 149 pounds, who finished second in his respective weight class, and sophomore Greg Dussol (Amston, Conn.) who also finished second in the 174-pound weight division.
Senior Derek McNerney (Baldwin, N.Y.) defeated SUNY Oneonta's Scott Gorman by a 6-4 margin to take third at 125 pounds, and sophomore Jake Tyler (Gouverneur, N.Y.) defeated SUNY Brockport's Andrew Grillo, also by a 6-4 margin, to finish third at 157 pounds.
Senior Scott Faivre (East Islip, N.Y.) chipped in with a fourth-place finish at 174 pounds, and sophomore Scott Heinze (Miller Place, N.Y.) took fifth in the 165-pound weight class.
SC will next travel to Worcester, Mass., to take on WPI in its first dual meet of the 2005-2006 season on Wednesday, December 7.
Final Team Standings - Petrofes Invitational - Hosted by Messiah College
Jason Holder will enter his third season as head wrestling coach in 2013. Holder had a standout first season at the helm of the Pride, leading Springfield to the NEWA Duals Championship and taking three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships.
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