PROVIDENCE, R.I., Febraury 3, 2007 - Springfield College junior Elliot Smith (Richville, N.Y.), ranked eighth individually in the nation at 184 pounds, went a perfect 3-0 on the day as the Pride picked up two victories and lost juse once in a quadrangular meet at 12th-ranked Johnons & Wales University this afternoon at the Harborside Recreation and Athletic Center.
In the first dual of the day, SC edged Plymouth State University by a 24-21 margin, as senior Phillip McGeough (Clifton Park, N.Y.) won a 6-2 decision over PSU's Shaun Wilbert in the heavyweight division to lift the Pride over the Panthers.
SC then followed up its close win with a 31-17 dual victory over Trinity College. The Pride was then matched up against the host Wildcats, ranked 12th as a team in the latest NCAA Division III poll. Johnson & Wales capped its perfect 3-0 afternoon with a 25-14 dual victory over SC.
Pride senior Mark DeCiccio (Cranston, R.I.) had a solid day for SC, going 3-0 with victories over Plymouth State's Nick Fantony, Trinity's Max Weisz, and Johnson & Wales' James Eggie in the 157-pound weight class. Senior Ryan Hannigan (Wyantskill, N.Y.) went 2-1 on the afternoon with victories at 125 pounds over Plymouth State's Frederick Wilkinson and Trinity's Keith Hernandez.
Other strong performances came from junior Jake Tyler (Gouverneur, N.Y.) at 165 pounds, going 2-0 at the meet, and junior Greg Dussol (Amston, Conn.), going 2-1 at 174 pounds with pins over Plymouth State's Steve Gaughan and Trinity's Joe Hern.
After the 2-1 weekend, the Pride is now 10-12 overall on the season with one final dual meet remaining on the docket. SC will host Boston University on Tuesday evening, February 6th, in a 7:30 p.m. start in Blake Arena.
Jason Holder will enter his second season as head wrestling coach in 2012. 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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