Ithaca, N.Y. - November 4, 2023 - Led by an individual title at 174 pounds by Jacob Deguire (Schenectady, N.Y.), the Springfield College wrestling program began the 2023-24 season with a third-place finish at the Ithaca Invitational.
As a team, the Pride totaled 127.5 points on the weekend and had nine student-athletes place in the tournament. Castleton won the two-day event with 187 points, followed by Baldwin Wallace's total of 150.5.
In his first action since taking third at the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships at 157 pounds where he set a record for most pinfalls in the national tournament, Deguire picked up right where he left off to begin his junior campaign. Making his debut at 174 pounds, last year's national pin leader produced three this weekend en route to finishing atop the podium. In a bracket that featured the nation's third-ranked wrestler, Deguire advanced to the finals after two pins and a decision before needing just 41 seconds to put Castleton's Desmond McLaughlin on his back for the win.
Springfield had a dominant showing at 125 pounds, led by Isiac Paulino (Athol, Mass.) who took second as he had to medical forfeit in a championship match in which he was leading. The sophomore started off his year with three-consecutive major decisions for his setback in the finals. Jack Callahan (Tewksbury, Mass.) won five matches, including a trio of technical falls, as he placed third in the weight class, while Ariel Escalante (Philadelphia, Pa.) wrestled tough in his collegiate debut, earning for victories, including two by major decision en route to sixth place at 125 pounds.
Myles Leonard (Waldwick, N.J.) had an impressive start to the season, producing four pins, including over a nationally-ranked wrestler from Baldwin Wallace, as he placed third on the weekend at 165 pounds. Ty Stewart (Dracut, Mass.) also notched four victories by pinfall as he placed fourth at 149 pounds, while Luke Temple (Jackson, N.J.) notched four wins of his own as he placed sixth in the weight class.
At 133 pounds, Jaden Colwell (Lords Valley, Pa.) won his first three matches of his college career en route to taking fifth, while Nicholas Rogers (Watertown, N.Y.) strung together three victories at 197 pounds for a fourth-place finish.
Up next will be the City of Springfield Championships next weekend against American International, Western New England, and Springfield Technical CC.
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