John Boyle to Represent Golden Bears at NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships
Sophomore finished second in 184-pound weight class at Northeast Regional Championships
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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 8, 2018) – Sophomore John Boyle (Rowley, Mass.) will be representing Western New England University at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Cleveland Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio.
How He Got Here
Boyle earned his spot in the national tournament by virtue of his second-place finish at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships the weekend of February 24-25 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
He went 3-1 at the Northeast Regional, clinching an NCAA berth with an 11-2 major decision victory over Connor Humphries of Roger Williams in the semifinals before dropping a hard-fought, 4-3 overtime decision to Khamri Thomas of Johnson & Wales in the championship bout. The top-three individuals in each weight class qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Season Review
Boyle enters the NCAA Championships with a 34-5 record that includes 15 wins by decision, 12 by fall and three by major decision.
He opened his sophomore campaign with a third-place finish at the Ithaca Invitational on November 4, before going 5-0 en route to the 184-pound championship at the Doug Parker Invitational two weekends later.
Boyle also posted a runner-up finish at the Williams College Open on January 6 and a third-place effort at Ursinus College's Will Abele Invitational the following weekend.
The Triton Regional High School and Smitty's Wrestling Barn product entered the national rankings (No. 10) in his weight class on January 23 following his 4-0 showing at the New England Wrestling Association Duals. He climbed as high as No. 8 in the final edition of the rankings, which were released on February 19.
Western New England at the NCAA Championships
Boyle is the first Golden Bear to qualify for the NCAA Tournament since Jamison Sacco, who accomplished the feat in both 2010 and 2013.
Boyle is looking to become the ninth Western New England student-athlete to earn All-America honors and first since Abdul Shabazz, who finished fourth in the 118-pound weight class at the conclusion of the 1996-97 season.
Three Golden Bears have earned multiple All-America accolades, highlighted by Gary Solomon, a four-time All-American. Brian Solomon and two-time Olympian Rodney Smith achieved the distinction twice.
Weekend Schedule
Boyle, who is seeded seventh in the 184-pound bracket, is set to take on York (Pa.) College's Francis Krauss (28-5) on Friday morning. With a win, Boyle will wrestle Friday night against either Humphries (Roger Williams, 23-13), Jake Ashcraft (Ithaca, 34-3) or Hunter Bates (Wabash, 24-17). A loss will send him to the consolation bracket on Friday night.
Boyle needs to win two bouts to earn All-America honors and advance to Saturday's action. He is looking to become Western New England's first national champion in any sport.
