Coast Guard’s Paul Detwiler is NEWA wrestler of the year

Coast Guard sophomore Paul Detwiler (184) is the New England Wrestling Association’s wrestler of the year. (Photo courtesy Coast Guard Academy)

Coast Guard sophomore Paul Detwiler was named the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) wrestler of the year by the organization.

Detwiler, who wrestled at 184 pounds for the Bears, went 28-0 this year including 18 victories with bonus points (major decision, near fall or pin). He was just the second Coast Guard wrestler to win an All-Academy championship in a tournament with the other military teams (Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marine).

Detwiler won individual championships at the Doug Parker, Ted Reese and Jim Aguilar tournaments and was the Outstanding Wrestler at the NEWA Duals. He won the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional was the No. 2 seed for the NCAA Division III national championship tournament that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

A sophomore from Fleming Island in Florida, he is a Marine and Environmental Science major with a 3.74 GPA. He was also named Scholar All-American.

Detwiler was one of four Coast Guard wrestlers named to the NEWA first team along with Phil Rogers (165), Jon Wagner (197) and Patrick Irwin (285). Freshman Noah Caskey of Montville (141) earned honorable mention honors.

Wesleyan sophomore Paul Gaita (174) was named to the NEWA first team.

Foley honored: Coast Guard assistant coach Dylan Foley was named NEWA Assistant Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Foley has been with the Bears for two seasons.

“Dylan has made a tremendous impact in raising the level of Coast Guard wrestling,” said Kevin Bratland, who just completed his sixth season with the Bears. ” It is exciting to see his efforts rewarded.”

Coast Guard went 7-2 in dual meets and finished the season ranked No. 7 in Division III. The Bears finished second in the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional for the second consecutive year and had six wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Division III national championships.

Arborio honored: Junior Nick Aborio of Western New England University in Springfield was named to the All-NEWA first team. Arborio, a junior from Berlin, went 21-0 at 125 pounds for WNEU and won the NCAA Div. 3 Northeast Regional title, the first Bear to achieve this feat since 2013. He was the No. 3 seed at the NCAA national tournament.

Teammate Alex Starr (Lebanon) was named a NWCA Scholar All-American while D.J. Tartsinis (Colchester) and Alec Arnold (Wethersfield) were named to the NEWA All-Academic team.