Williamsport, Pa. - January 13, 2023 - The Springfield College wrestling team went 2-1 in the opening day of at the Budd Whitehill Duals hosted by Lycoming College on Friday.

For the Pride, it was its first appearance at the Whitehill Duals since 2020 and they opened up the competition with a 24-18 win over Lycoming, cruised past Penn College, 36-6, before falling to nationally-ranked Ohio Northern, 31-15.

Versus Lycoming, the Pride jumped out a 24-3 advantage as it strung together six consecutive wins in the match.  After dropping a decision at 125, Springfield rattled off the next six wins, starting with a second-period pin by Gianni Manginelli (Dumont, N.J.) at 133.  Joey Parsons (Waldwick, N.J.) used a late escape in the third to earn a 3-2 triumph at 133, and Chase Parrott (Stamford, Conn.) rebounded for an early 5-1 deficit to rally for a 6-5 win at 149.  Jacob Deguire (Schenectady, N.Y.) put his opponent on his back in 2:50 for the Pride's second pin of the day before Max Grzymala (Goldens Bridge, N.Y.) stormed back from a 6-3 hole in the third to earn a hard-fought 7-6 win at 165.  Brayden Grim (Gales Ferry, Conn.) closed out the Pride's point scoring in the match following his 6-5 win at 174 as Lycoming would go on to win the final three bouts. 

Plenty of new faces saw action in the win over Penn College as Isiac Paulino (Athol, Mass.), Brayan Mendez-Membren (Port Chester, N.Y.), Ryan Kozdra (Mahwah, N.J.), and Luke Temple (Jackson, N.J.) opened up the match with decisions before Myles Leonard (Waldwick, N.J.) needed just 19 seconds to pin his opponent at 157. Gryzmala added another decision at 165, and following a first-period pin by Grim and a forfeit at 184, the Pride's lead ballooned to 33-0. A setback at 197 for the Pride would set up its final victory as Ben Katz (Medford, N.Y.) prevailed by a 3-2 decision at 285.  

Squaring off against No. 13 Ohio Northern, the Pride benefitted from a forfeit at 125 an a 10-2 major decision by Gianni Manginelli at 133 to earn a 10-0 lead. A pinfall at 141 and decision at 149 pulled ONU within 10-9, only to have Deguire notch his second pin of the day as he posted a pinfall in 2:13.  From there, Ohio Northern would win the final five bouts, including two pins, to close out the dual. 

Springfield will wrestle against Washington & Lee on Saturday at 10:30 am.

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