Wrestling Takes Third at Doug Parker Invitational with Arborio Winning the 133 Bracket
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 20, 2021) – The Western New England wrestling team traveled up the road to Springfield College to participate in the 2021 Doug Parker Invitational where the Golden Bears claimed third as a team with Nick Arborio leading the way winning at the 133-pound weight class.
The Coast Guard Academy won the meet with 162.5 points while Centenary took second (99), Western New England earned third (84.5), Williams claimed fourth (83.5) and Southern Maine placed fifth (80).
Arborio opened the day against Plymouth where he had a dominating first match defeating his opponent 24-7 to earn his first tech fall of the day. He then went onto the next round where he defeated Williams in a 19-8 major decision. Arborio maintained his momentum into his third match of the day with an 11-4 decision over Coast Guard to advance to the first-place match. Arborio was set to face another Coast Guard wrestler who had to forfeit giving Arborio the first-place victory at 133 pounds.
Corey Cope also wrestled at 133 today starting the tournament off with a win via fall in just 2:58 over Springfield. Cope went on to win a 6-4 decision over Southern Maine before falling to Coast Guard 6-3 to head to the consolation bracket. There he opened with a pin in just 53 seconds over Plymouth to stay alive. Cope defeated Wesleyan 7-0 to advance himself to the fifth-place match where he faced Williams. Cope took sixth after falling 9-1 to Williams.
Colby Reilly wrestled for the Golden Bears at 141. He opened the invitational with a 10-4 win over Plymouth before falling 18-2 to Trinity to head over to the consolation bracket. There he recorded his first of three falls on the day in 1:43 over Bridgewater. His second win via fall came against New England College in 1:13. Reilly won via fall again against a different New England College wrestler in 2:51. Reilly then went on to defeat Wesleyan in a 4-3 decision to advance to the fifth-place match. He faced Messiah in the fifth-place match and lost to take sixth place at 141.
Luke Pinzino wrestled at 157 for Western New England. He opened the day with a 16-1 tech fall victory over Plymouth before recording his first win via fall. He defeated Bridgewater in 6:27 before dropping to Coast Guard to be moved over to the consolation bracket. In Pinzino's first match in the consolation bracket he defeated Southern Maine with an 18-3 tech fall and then won with a 5-4 decision over Johns Hopkins. In the fifth-place match, Pinzino fell in a close 11-9 match with Williams to claim sixth on the day.
Darby McLaughlin had a strong performance today at 197 pounds. He started with a win via fall in just 2:16 over Plymouth. McLaughlin went on to record another fall, this time in just 51 seconds over Southern Maine to continue to advance in the championship bracket. He then won again via fall over Johns Hopkins this time in 5:43 to move on to the championship match for the 197-pound weight class. There he faced Coast Guard and lost in a low scoring match 2-1 to take second place at 197 pounds.
Spencer Dickinson represented the Golden Bears in the heavyweight bracket where he opened the day against Coast Guard. Dickinson won his first match 3-1 before falling to Rhode Island College 3-2 to be sent to the consolation bracket. There he began his battle against Springfield where he won with a 2-1 decision. Dickinson then recorded his only win via fall today over Southern Maine in just 2:05. He then went on to face Williams in the fifth-place match where Dickinson was unable to keep momentum and lost via fall to take sixth place in the heavyweight bracket.
Up Next:
The Golden Bears are back in action on Friday, December 3rd when they head to Rhode Island College for a 7 p.m. match.
