Coast Guard’s Paul Detwiler, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country at 184 in Division III, earned his 50th collegiate win Friday night. (Photo courtesy Coast Guard Academy wrestling)
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Feb. 19, 2021 – No. 2 Coast Guard won eight of 10 matches including four victories by technical fall to beat Rhode Island College, 38-7 in their season-opening dual meet Friday afternoon.
It was the first action that the Bears have seen on the mat in over a year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year’s season ended after the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional in late February and the NCAA Division III national championships in March were cancelled.
“We had three seniors in the lineup tonight,” said Coast Guard head coach Kevin Bratland. “It’s been a crazy season for them, always wondering when their first match will be and when their last match will be. I am excited that our administration granted them the opportunity to wrestle someone other than their practice partner. All three seniors showed why they are leaders on this team with their performances.”
Senior Parker Brunkala (125) and AJ Pagliarulo (141) both won by technical falls with Liam Logue recording a pin in just 50 seconds at 133 pounds as the Bears jumped out to a quick 16-0 lead with three straight victories. Brunkala won in just 1:31 while Pagliarulo need only 1:49 to record the win.
RIC (1-1) would pick up back-to-back decisions at 149 and 157 as the Anchormen cut the deficit to 16-6.
No. 5 ranked Phil Rogers, a returning NWCA All-American for Coast Guard, won with a pin in 5:49 over RIC’s Eric Zane (Waterford) before teammate David McCullough (174) won by technical fall, 18-2, in 3:49 to remain undefeated (10-0) in his collegiate career.
Another returning NWCA All-American, Coast Guard’s Paul Detwiler, the top ranked Division III wrestler at 184 pounds, won the 50th match of his career with a 21-6 technical fall win in 6:47. Detwiler now has a career record of 50-7.
Coast Guard senior Jon Wagner, who is ranked No. 2 in the country at 197 and a returning All-American, earned a hard fought 3-2 decision before heavyweight senior Thomas Sidener closed out the match with a 4-1 win in double overtime.
Montville’s Noah Caskey (149) gave up a takedown and near fall with 35 seconds left in the match and dropped a 5-4 decision to Rhode Island College’s Dominic Bonanno.
Coast Guard 38, Rhode Island College 7
At Providence, R.I.
125: Parker Brunkala (CG) tech. fall Christopher Lavallee, 16-0, 1:31
133: Liam Logue (CG) pin Julien Vivas, 0:50
141: AJ Pagliarulo (CG) tech fall. Lance Peters, 16-0, 1:49
149: Dominic Bonanno (RIC) dec. Noah Caskey, 5-4
157: Nathan Lackman (RIC) major dec. Tony Ulaszek, 9-1
165: Phil Rogers (CG) pin Eric Zane, 5:49
174: David McCullough (CG) tech. fall Nathan Stemple, 18-2, 3:49
184: Paul Detwiler (CG) tech. fall Jett Tancsik, 21-6, 6:47
197: Jon Wagner (CG) dec. Dan Sblendorio, 3-2
285: Thomas Sidener (CG) dec. Edison Guarcas, 4-1, 2 OT
Record: Coast Guard 1-0, Rhode Island College 1-1
