By Jhett Laurie
Staff Writer
The College’s wrestling team secured their sixth-consecutive regional championship on Feb. 28 in the Rec Center. This effort was led by six different Lion wrestlers who qualified for the National Championship tournament.
Junior Garrett Totten secured the 133-lbs. bracket with a win against New York University. Totten pinned his opponent late in the first round of the semi-finals. This proved to be enough to lift him to the championship as his opponent from Arcadia was forced to withdraw from the tournament. With this win, Totten secured his spot in the national tournament and took home his second region championship.
Junior Vinnie Santaniello picked up his first region championship in the 141-lbs. weight division. Santaniello dominated his opponent from Albright and secured a tech fall early in the second period with a takedown. This lifted Santaniello to the championship and advanced him to the national tournament.
Junior Hunter Mays came out victorious in a clash of unbeaten 174-lbs. wrestlers against NYU. Mays was able to scrape together enough points to secure a 7-5 victory and his second consecutive region championship. With this victory, he also lifted himself to his second national tournament appearance.
Junior D.J. Henry joined his teammates as the fourth Lion to secure their regional championship. Henry secured an underdog victory against an unbeaten York wrestler after taking him to a 10-3 decision. This gave Henry his second tournament appearance as well as his second regional championship.
Juniors J.J. Giordano and Matthew Griffin each aided the Lion’s road to victory, each securing a victory in their respective third place matches. Each was rewarded with a trip to the National Championship with their other four teammates for their efforts.
Henry’s superhuman victory over the previously No. 1 ranked York wrestler earned him the Outstanding Wrestler award. In one of his most dominant seasons during his historic tenure as the College’s wrestling coach, Joe Galante was named the Region III Coach of the Year.
The National Championship takes place over the weekend of March 13-14 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The College looks to produce its 25th National Champion this upcoming weekend.
