Posted: Mar 11, 2022

Arborio, Pinzino, McLaughlin Headline Day One of NCAA DIII Regional Northeast Championships

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 26, 2022) – The Western New England wrestling team saw Nick Arborio, Lucas Pinzino, and Darby McLaughlin win matches to get into the second day of the NCAA DIII Regional Northeast Championships, hosted by Springfield College on Saturday afternoon. The three Golden Bears look to qualify for the national stage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 11^th, and 12^th.

How it Happened:

Ten Golden Bears represented Western New England at the NCAA DIII Regional Northeast Championships on Saturday, with three Golden Bears grabbing victories to head into day two of the championships on Sunday. In the 125 lb. weight class, Nick Arborio defeated Diego Perez of Hunter College via tech fall in 2:52 to move into the next match. Arborio would continue his dominance, as he has done all season long in the weight class, defeating Allan Beato of the United States Coast Guard Academy via pinfall in 4:39 to move into the semifinal match which will take place on Sunday, February 27. Arborio will take on Christopher DeRosa of New England College to head into the championship match to face either Justin Lopez of Johnson & Wales University or Joey Manginelli of Springfield College.

In the 157 lb. weight class, Lucas Pinzino started off the afternoon with a win of Najee Hall of New England college via pin fall in 3:45. Pinzino would move into the quarterfinal match with Nathan Lackman of Rhode Island College, who would defeat Pinzino in via 7-1 decision, to move Pinzino into an opportunity to play for third place in the tournament and an opportunity to qualify for the National Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pinzino will finish at any spot from third to eight today, with third place qualifying for the NCAA Tournament and finishing 3-8 will recognize Pinzino for all-region.

Also looking to qualify for Cedar Rapids is Darby McLaughlin, who will compete for a third-place finish in the 197 lb. weight class. McLaughlin defeated Joshua Kohhayev via major decision to move into the quarterfinal match where he would be dropped by Chance LaPier via 6-1 decision. McLaughlin has a chance to finish third on Sunday, which will send him to the NCAA Tournament. A 3-8th place finish recognizes McLaughlin for all-region.

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