UConn finishes second in Division II at NCWA national championships

With three All-Americans, the UConn club wresting team finished second in Division II at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s national championships in Texas over the weekend. (Photo courtesy Sam Janicki)

Former Terryville High wrestler George Andrews earned All-American honors for the third time and helped the University of Connecticut’s club wrestling team finish second in Division II at the 2019 National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s national championships Saturday in Allen, Texas.

Andrews was one of three All-American wrestlers for the Huskies, who finished one point behind the Penn State Wrestling Club, 62-61 in the Division II title race. UConn finished second in Division II for the second time in three years.

Liberty University won their second straight NCWA championship with five individual champions in competition at the Allen Event Center. Apprentice School from Newport News, Virginia was second with 164 points while Central Florida finished third with 129½ points.

The Huskies finished 10th overall – their best-ever finish in the NCWA championships — in the tournament that includes both Division I and Division II teams competing together. Division I teams have more rules and regulations to follow in terms of organizing and competing.

“We had two goals entering the tournament,” UConn’s second-year head coach Chris Warran said. “Top 10 in the tournament and D2 national champions. We achieved one and fell one point short of the other.”

Andrews finished third at 184 pounds with junior Brandon Caffrey (133) of Pomfret finishing eighth and graduate student Joseph Carbonaro (235) of Oxford finishing sixth to earn All-American honors.

Andrews (23-2) went 5-1 in the tournament. His only loss came to eventual champion Jabari Irons of Florida Gulf Coast in the semifinals, 6-4. Irons’ takedown with seven seconds left made the difference.

Andrews finished third with a 4-2 win over Joshua Fevier Bacher of Middle Tennessee State. Trailing 2-0 after two periods, Andrews escaped and got a takedown with 1:37 left to take a 3-2 lead. He added a point for riding time.

UConn’s George Andrews, right, earned NCWA All-American honors for the third time at the NCWA national championships in Dallas. (Photo courtesy Sam Janicki) 

Andrews is the second UConn wrestler to earn NCWA All-American honors three times. Stevan Webb, a current UConn assistant coach, was a four-time All-American who made the finals three times (2016-18) and won a national title in 2017.

Carbonaro (11-6) was pinned in his first match of the tournament but he won five straight consolation round matches to earn a medal and All-American honors. Caffrey (11-4) went 3-3 in the tournament. He got a takedown with 40 seconds left to beat Caleb Smith of Gray’s Harbor College in Michigan to earn a 5-3 decision and All-American honors.

Jacob Berry of Somers competed for Springfield Technical Community College and was sixth at 174 pounds. Berry advanced to the semifinals before he gave up a takedown with two seconds left and dropped a one-point decision.

In the NCWA women’s tournament, Yale’s Daisha Roberts finished fourth in competition at 191 pounds.

UConn went 11-1 this season in dual meets competing against a variety of clubs throughout New England including junior college, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III teams. “We try to travel and see the best competition we can,” Warran said.

The Huskies finished second in the NCWA’s Northeast Conference behind Springfield Technical CC and had 10 wrestlers earn bids to wrestle at the national championships. Andrews won a Northeast Conference championship at 184 pounds while Carbonaro (235) and Berlin’s Vincent Biscoglio (197) each finished second.

Avon’s Anthony Tripodi (149), Haddam-Killingworth’s Mackay Revis (165) and Caffrey (133) each took third at the Northeast Conference meet. The Huskies had 10 wrestlers qualify for the national tournament.

The NCWA was founded in 1997 to provide collegiate athletes with an opportunity to compete in wrestling at a regional and national level. The NCWA helps develop programs under the school’s athletic departments, student services department and sport club departments.

Programs operate in several ways with some teams having established coaches while other teams are student-run organizations. The UConn club has been in existence since 2007.

UConn dropped their varsity wrestling program following the 1981 season.

National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NWCA)
2019 national championships
At Allen, Texas
Overall team results (top 10) — Liberty University 201½, 2. Apprentice School-Newport News, Va., 164, 3. Central Florida 129½, 4. Mott Community College-Flint, MI, 5. Grand Valley State University-Township, MI and Springfield Tech CC 110½, 7. Grays Harbor College-Aberdeen, WA 91½, 8. University of Toledo 67½, 9. Penn State WC 62, 10. UConn 61
Division I: 1. Liberty 201½, 2. Apprentice School 164, 3. Central Florida 129½
Division II: 1. Penn State WC 62, 2. UConn 61, 3. Husson University-Bangor ME 45
125
1st David Campbell (Grays Harbor College) dec. Colton Messick (The Apprentice School), 2-0
3. Kameron Kempker (Grand Valley State) dec. Erik Pawlaczyk (Mott CC), 3-1 OT
5. Elijah Nash (Kent State – Tuscarawas) win by medical forfeit over Matthew Gamble (Fresno State University WC)
7. Christian Antoine (UMass) dec. Keith Skaggs (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), 11-5
133
Final: Kolin Johnson (The Apprentice School) pin Brendan Hazelton (Grand Valley State University), 6:52
3. David Ortiz (Springfield Tech CC) dec. De’ante Evans (University of Toledo), 13-7
5. Jacob Toledo (Central Florida) dec. Jake Taylor (West Chester University), 5-3
7. Eduardo Rodriguez (Big Bend CC) dec. Brandon Caffrey (UConn), 8-2
141
Final: Danny Buteau (Husson University) dec. Marcos Mercado (Springfield Tech CC), 3-2, 3 OT
3. Wesley Hollingsworth (East Carolina University) dec. Colton Hanysak (Grand Valley State University), 8-2
5. Justin Trinh (Central Florida) dec. Chase Bates (Mott CC), 12-5
7. Charles Hudson (Liberty University) win by forfeit over Aaron Ward (Mott CC)
149
Final: Tyrae Carter (Texas A & M University) dec. Zach Blevins (University of Toledo), 11-3
3. Chad Cantrell (Liberty University) pin Tyler Sage (University of Florida), 5:44
5. Tristan Mabe (The Apprentice School) M win by forfeit over Edward Deroche (Husson University)
7. Marcus Martinez (Rutgers University WC) dec. Ryan Miller (Grand Valley State University), 6-3
157
Final: Andrew Burgette (Liberty University) dec. Chad Simmons (The Apprentice School), 7-5
3. Calvin Kopstein (James Madison University) dec. Dan Ritz (Penn State University WC), 12-3
5. Brandon Turner (Grand Valley State University) dec. Al Caserta (The Ohio State University WC), 9-4
7. Mike Clark (Springfield Tech CC) win by forfeit over Michael Klee (California Polytechnic State University WC)
165
Final: Jerrod Mullins (Mott CC) pin Mason Brestle (University of Maryland WC), 3:28
3. Clay Perry (Central Florida) dec. Luke Ely (Liberty University), 4-3
5. Stephen Illicete (Farmingdale State University) pin Peter Becher (East Carolina University), 2:35
7. Michael Euliss (Western Washington University) dec. Jacob Yatso (University of Wisconsin WC), 13-10
174
Final: Samuel Karel (Liberty University) dec. Major Moore (University of Toledo), 5-3
3. Vincent Levin (Florida Gulf Coast University) dec. Matthew Alejandro (Grays Harbor College), 3-2
5. Ethan Ahrens (Central Florida) tech fall Jacob Berry (Springfield Tech CC), 20-4 6:34
7. Cody Richmond (Liberty University) dec. Brice Locklear (University of Akron), 10-5
184
Final: Jabari Irons (Florida Gulf Coast University) dec. Jerron Thomas (Mott CC), 17-4
3. George Andrews (UConn) dec. Joshua Feuerbacher (Middle Tennessee State University), 4-2
5. Josh McIlhenny (Liberty University) pin Cullin Brendeland (Iowa State University WC), 0:26
7. Brad Kata (Central Florida) dec. Ryan Thomas (James Madison University), 8-5
197
Final: Austin Amos (Liberty University) dec. Ross Graham (The Apprentice School), 10-5
3. Jarrod Smiley (Central Florida) pin Deontay Wadley (Penn State University WC), 6:46
5. Costas Hatzipavlides (Iowa State University WC) dec. Tyler Roling (Iowa State University WC), 8-8 4:11
7. Kyler Slade (The Ohio State University WC) pin Patrick St. Martin (UMass), 4:38
235
Final: Jeffrey Allen (Liberty University) dec. William Farparan (University of Tampa), 11-3
3. Giovanni Guarnero (Winona State University) dec. Octavio Alejandre (Grays Harbor College), 3-2
5. John Pierce (The Apprentice School) pin Joseph Carbonaro (UConn), 1:50
7. David Smith (Liberty University) dec. Michael Mascioli (Rowan University), 3-2
285
Final: Dominick Johnson (Liberty University) dec. Jesse Gaudin (Central Florida), 8-4
3. Mitchell Bischoff (University of Akron) dec. Jordan Karst (University of Nevada – Las Vegas), 11-6
5. Chaasadyah St. Phard (Springfield Tech CC) dec. Lance Clapp (Mott CC), 2-0
7. Austin Wells (Middle Tennessee State University) dec. Steven Francisco (The Apprentice School), 9-5

Women’s NCWA Championship
Team results (top 10): Grays Harbor College-Aberdeen, WA 65½, 2. Schreiner University 63, 3. Springfield Technical CC 36, 4. Liberty University 34, 5. Big Bend CC 32½, 6. University of North Texas 27, 7. Texas A&M 26, 8. Richland College 23½, 9. Pacific Lutheran 22½, 10. Michigan-Dearborne 21
Other teams: 25. Yale University 2
101 LBS
Final: Cecilia Saavedra Los Angeles, CA (Grays Harbor College) pin Alexis Perez Denton, TX (Univ of North Texas), 4:43
3. Mai Xiong Fresno, CA (Fresno State Univ) pin Gissel Avellaneda College Station, TX (Texas A & M Univ), 5:47
109 LBS
Final: Maria Reyes Moses Lake, WA (Big Bend CC) pin Alicia Messer San Antonio, TX (Schreiner Univ), 4:04
3. Marina Aguayo Los Angeles, CA (Univ of California – Los Angeles) dec. Kiana Herder St. George, UT (Dixie State Univ), 7-5 OT
116 LBS
Final: Luciana Schement Austin, TX (Univ of Texas) dec. Chelsea Wilson Troy, NY (Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute), 6-3
3. Allie Mahoe Waianae, HI (Schreiner Univ) pin Kira Emma Arlington, TX (Univ of Texas at Arlington), 3:28
123 LBS
Final: Marina Goocher Dearborn, MI (Univ of Michigan – Dearborn) pin Erin Aragon Newport News, VA (The Apprentice School), 1:58
3. Lynette Samano Moses Lake, WA (Big Bend CC) pin Rossana Aguilar Fresno, CA (Fresno State Univ), 3:53
130 LBS
Final: Josselinne Campos Springfield, MA (Springfield Technical CC) pin Sophie Stegenga College Station, TX (Texas A & M Univ), 3:31
3. Serena Cervantes McAllen, TX (Schreiner Univ) dec. Arianna McDonald Santa Barbara, CA (Univ of California – Santa Barbara), 9-2
136 LBS
Final: Tara Linneman Springfield, MA (Springfield Technical CC) pin Rebecca Beal Tallahassee, FL (Florida State Univ), 1:24
3. Ariel Floro Hermosa Beach, CA (Univ of California – Los Angeles) win by forfeit
143 LBS
Final: Charisse Manley Lynchburg, VA (LIberty University) pin Christina Ellis Dallas, TX (Richland College), 1:07
3. Jazlyn Villalona Tallahassee, FL (Florida State Univ) win by forfeit
155 LBS
Final: Lena Flanagan Roy, WA (Pacific Lutheran Univ) pin Maxine Knetter Madison, WI (Univ of Wisconsin), 3:52
3. Jessica Carbajal Dallas, TX (Richland College) dec. Tatiana Molinero-ceras Bonney Lake, WA (Pacific Lutheran Univ), 15-6
170 LBS
Final: Cendall Manley Lynchburg, VA (LIberty University) pin Genesis Simpson Denton, TX (Univ of North Texas), 4:48
3. Audrey Bucher Kenosha, WI (Grays Harbor College) pin Liliana Madani Kerrville, TX (Schreiner Univ), 0:34
191 LBS
Final: Mariah Stewart Seattle, WA (Grays Harbor College) pin Miriam De la garza San Benito, TX (Schreiner Univ), 0:35
3. Jasmin Olvera Houston, TX (Univ of Houston) dec. Daisha Roberts New Haven, CT (Yale Univ), 9-0
235 LBS
Final: Alyssa Alvarez Prosper, TX (Schreiner Univ) dec. Jackie Castro Kirkland, WA (Grays Harbor College), 7-0
3. Christie Hur Shoreline, WA (Grays Harbor College) pin Keauna Pass Dallas, TX (Richland College), 0:50

Brackets and results on FloWrestling

2019 NCWA Northeast Regional in Springfield

2019 NCWA Northeast Conference Regional
At Springfield, Mass. (March 2)
Team results – 1. Springfield Technical Community College 192½, 2. UConn 129½, 3. SUNY-Stony Brook 79, 4. Maine 69½, 5. MIT and UMass 63, 7. Yale 56½, 8. RPI 45, 9. Rhode Island 44, 10. Husson-Maine 43, 11. Northeastern Univ. 36½, 12. New Hampshire 25½, 13. Maine Maritime and Southern New Hampshire University 22½, 15. SUNY-Farmingdale 18½, 16. Fairfield University 9
Individual results
125 lbs.
Final: Keith Skaggs (MIT) dec. Christian Antoine (UMass), 7-5, OT
3. Chris Vega (STCC) dec. Whatt Sluga (Yale), 8-4
133 lbs.
Final: David Ortiz (STCC) dec. Kenny Cracchiola (SUNY Stony Brook), 8-2
3. Brandon Caffrey (UConn) dec. Michael Sprague (Maine), 6-4, OT
5. Laszlo Gendler (Yale) pin Stephen Masotti (SUNY Stony Brook), 2:00
141 lbs.
Final: Marcos Mercado (STCC) dec. Danny Buteau (Husson), 6-4
3. Jacob Routon (Maine Maritime) dec. James Baccala (Rhode Island), 15-11
5. Moroni Guevara (SUNY Stony Brook) pin Chang young Chan (Yale), 5:44
7.  Anthony Devanny (UConn) dec. Brian Gembarski (RPI), 11-6
149 lbs.
Final: Edward Deroch (Husson) pin Jacob Adams (MIT), 3:44
3. Anthony Tripodi (UConn) dec. Andrew Cantatore (SUNY Stony Brook), 10-5
5. Jean-souvern Rioux (RPI) pin Damian Figueroa (STCC), 2:59
7.  Ryan Harrington (New Hampshire) pin Ryan Williams (STCC), 2:30
157 lbs.
Final: Mike Clark (STCC) dec. Justin Perez (STCC), 3-1
3. Connor Muilenburg (Northeastern) pin Jay Best (SUNY Stony Brook), 3:46
5. Alan Mashkovich (UConn) pin Cameron Smith (Maine), 2:48
7.  Mark Borak (New Hampshire) dec. Clark Stan (UConn), 8-6
165 lbs.
Final: Josh Fontanez (STCC) dec. Stephen Illicete (SUNY Farmingdale), 5-4
3. Mackay Revis (UConn) pin Alexander Jang (Yale), 2:52
5. Eli Goldfarb (Rhode Island) FOR Josh Thorton (Maine)
7.  Luke Beaulieu (Southern NH) pin Michael Salter (SUNY Stony Brook), 1:44
174 lbs.
Final: Jacob Berry (STCC) dec. Zachery Woods (UMass), 15-8
3. Dakota Stephens (Northeastern) dec. Keith Brown (UConn), 5-1
5. Ricardo Pierre Magny (Maine) MD Neil Ryan (UMass), 14-6
7.  Gabriel Vega (UConn) dec. Caleb Cejka (New Hampshire), 3-1 SV
184 lbs.
Final: George Andrews (UConn) tech fall Frank Soucy (MIT), 22-7 6:16
3. Kyle Brown (Snhu) forfeit over Stephano Pierre Magny (Maine)
5. Auston Tighe (RPI) forfeit Zachary Faskianos (Maine Maritime)
7.  Ali Zebian (STCC) dec. Michael Gaudoin (UConn), 10-3
197 lbs.
Final: George Hargrove (STCC) pin Vincent Biscoglio (UConn), 1:03
3. Oliver Feagin (RPI) pin Patrick St. Martin (UMass), 2:46
5. Lucas Peckham (Rhode Island) forfeit over Joe Decaro (Fairfield)
7.  Derrick Pommills Jr. (Rhode Island) pin David Corsi (UConn), 0:36
235 lbs.
Final: Davyn Peterson (STCC) pin Joe Carbonaro (UConn), 6:48
3. Reagan Billingsley (Maine) pin Zachary Gilstrap (Yale), 3:45
285 lbs.
Final: Chassadyah St. Phard (STCC) dec. Daniel Chambers (UMass), 3-0
3. Jeffrey Kraemer (SUNY Stony Brook) forfeit over Jonathon Brown (MIT)