NCAA Northeast Regional Wrestling Preview
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 22, 2019) – The Western New England University wrestling team begins postseason competition this weekend as the Golden Bears are set to compete in the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship on Saturday and Sunday at the Wildcat Center on the Campus of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.
Action gets underway at 11 a.m. on Saturday with preliminary and first-round bouts, with championship quarterfinals, and consolation first, second and third rounds to follow at 2 p.m.
On Sunday, championship semifinals and consolation quarterfinals start at 10 a.m., followed by consolation semifinals at noon, 5th/7th place matches at 1 p.m., and championship/third place bouts at 2:30 p.m.
The top three individuals from each weight class advance to the NCAA Division III Championship, which will be held the weekend of March 8-9 in Roanoke, Virginia.
Western New England's Lineup:
125 pounds: Nick Arborio (Sophomore | Berlin, Conn.)
133 pounds: Austin Roche (Junior | Southborough, Mass.)
141 pounds: Justin DeLucia (Sophomore | Holbrook, N.Y.)
149 pounds: Andrew Piedrahita (Freshman | Westford, Mass.)
157 pounds: Ryan Monteiro (Sophomore | Wilbraham, Mass.)
165 pounds: Jeffrey Suschana (Freshman | Somers, Conn.)
174 pounds: Davey Goodall (Junior | Chelmsford, Mass.)
184 pounds: John Boyle (Junior | Rowley, Mass.)
197 pounds: Josh Nelson (Senior | Bristol, Conn.)
Heavyweight: Chase LaRusso (Junior | Enfield, Conn.)
Who to Watch For
Arborio enters this weekend's action with a 25-6 record and six wins by fall. He is ranked fourth in the latest NEWA individual rankings, and also earned honorable mention recognition in the latest d3wrestle.com national rankings.
The Berlin, Conn. native won the 125-pound title at the Will Abele Invitational for the second consecutive season, and also turned in fifth and sixth place finishes at the Ithaca Invitational and Doug Parker Invitational, respectively.
DeLucia is making his second straight NCAA regional appearance after competing for SUNY Oswego at the Mideast Regional last season. DeLucia, who is 16-7 against Division III competition this season, is ranked sixth in the latest NEWA rankings and will be a top-eight seed this weekend.
Monteiro owns a 21-3 record in his first full season as a Golden Bear with five wins by fall. He placed third at the Ithaca Invitational and fifth at the Doug Parker Invitational.
The Wilbraham, Mass. native is ranked No. 2 by NEWA and listed as a contender by d3wrestle.com.
Boyle will be looking to book his second straight trip to the NCAA Championship after finishing second at last season's regional on his way to earning All-America honors in Cleveland.
The Rowley, Mass. native is 26-5 this season with a team-leading ten wins by fall. Boyle is NEWA's No. 2 ranked wrestler in his weight class, and the third-ranked 184-pound wrestler nationally, according to d3wrestle.com.
Boyle's junior campaign was highlighted by a first place finish at the Doug Parker Invitational, as well as runner-up efforts at the Ithaca Invitational, Williams Open and Will Abele Invitational.
