Bears Open Season at RWU Invite – Coast Guard

Bristol, Rhode Island –  The Coast Guard Academy Wrestling team officially kicked off their season today with fourteen wrestlers in action at the Roger Williams Invitational.  There were several new faces taking the mats for the Bears at the event, led by first-year heavyweight Carl DiGiorgio. The Pennsylvania native went undefeated on the day en route to winning the championship in the 285lb weight class. DiGiorgio was the #5 seed entering the tournament and used a 13-3 major decision over Louis Padilla of Castleton University before upending #4 seed Will Ogbebor in the quarterfinals by a score of 4-2. In the semi-finals, DiGiorgio defeated Norwich’s Mason Sprinkel 11-6 to set up a finals match with #2 seed Shea Garand of Castleton. The rookie used a first period takedown and amassed over three minutes of riding time to cruise to a 4-0 decision victory to take the crown.  Also competing hard with 141lb sophomore Charlie Gruen who went 2-2 on the day for the Bears. Wrestling for the first-time in a Coast Guard singlet were Joey Martin (133lbs), Jacob Woodburn (149lbs), Thomas Rhodes (149lbs), Brendan Mattingly (157lbs), and Kevin Pandorf (285lbs). All won at least one match in their collegiate debuts. 
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