WRESTLING RALLIES TO TOP UMASS 22-15

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 13, 2006) - A pin by freshman Sam Gauvine (Enfield, Conn.) in the final match of the evening capped off a comeback by American International College as it won its final three matches to post a 22-15 win over the University of Massachusetts in wrestling Monday evening at Butova Gymnasium. 

The victory was the first for first-year AIC head coach Chaz Seibert as a collegiate head coach.

The Yellow Jackets found themselves down 15-9 six matches in on the strength of a pair of victories by pin by the Minuemen, by Mike Cicchese at 149 and Mitchell Barish at 174.  Kelvin Valencia (Hartford, Conn.) got the Yellow Jacket comeback started when he posted an 11-0 win over Brandon Jeffrey in the heavyweight division, giving AIC four points and closing the gap to 15-13.

AIC took its first lead of the night at 16-15 when Jeff Haddad (Old Saybrook, Conn.) posted an 8-2 win over Jon Santiago at 133.  Gauvine would cinch the victory for the Yellow Jackets when he pinned Kraig Hengst at 141 to garner six points and the match win.

After AIC found itself down 6-0 one match in, John Mullinix (Baltimore, Md.) and Nick Laurino (Merick, N.Y.) posted back-to-back victories at 157 and 165 before Barish's pin made it 12-6.  Luis Gomez (Hartford, Conn.) would shake off an injury at 184 to defeat UMass' Gregg Cormier 9-3.  Dan Pucini (Ridgefield, Conn.) would be edged by Conner Sheridan 7-6 at 197 to make it 15-9.

In a pair of exhibition matches, Morgan Wanzer (Enfield, Conn.) topped Paul Grgrurovic 5-2, while Gonzalo Carazo (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) was defeated by Alex Carnevale 9-4.

AIC returns to action Wednesday when it competes in the Springfield Duals against Springfield College and Western New England College.  That meet is slated for a 5:30 start at Springfield College.

American International 22, Massachusetts 15

149 - Mike Cicchesse (M) pinned Bryan Cosgrove (A), 1:06, 0-6

157 - John Mullinix (A) dec. Robert Barber (M) 9-4, 3-6

165 - Nick Laurino (A) dec. Matt Clement (M) 8-4, 6-6

174 - Mitchell Barish (M) pinned Martin Thompson (A), 4:48, 6-12

184 - Luis Gomez (A) dec. Gregg Cormier (M) 9-3, 9-12

197 - Conner Sheridan (M) dec. Dan Puccini (A) 7-6, 9-15

HWT - Kelvin Valencia (A) dec. Brandon Jeffrey (M) 11-0, 13-15

133 - Jeff Haddad (A) dec. Jon Santiago (M) 8-2, 16-15

141 - Sam Gauvine (A) pinned Kraig Hengst (M), 4:45, 22-15

Records: AIC 1-0, UMass NA

Exhibition Matches

Morgan Wanzer (A) dec. Paul Grgrurovic (M) 5-2

Alex Carnevale (M) dec. Gonzalo Carazo (A) 9-4