Rutgers Wrestling Places Six at Nittany Lion Open
Dec 05 | Wrestling
HAPPY VALLEY. Pa. (December 5, 2010) – The Rutgers wrestling team put forth a strong performance en route to seeing six wrestlers place at this year’s Nittany Lion Open on the campus of Penn State.
RU was led by No. 10 Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) who took first in the 149 pound bracket with a 3-2 decision over No. 2 Frank Molinaro of Penn State. Mason went 6-0 on the day, recording four decisions and two majors to claim the open crown.
The Scarlet Knights also got strong performances out of their grapplers at 125 pounds as both Joe Langel (Howell, N.J.) and Matt Fusco (Belleville, N.J.) placed in the top four of their bracket. Langel used a tech fall, two majors and a decision to advance to the finals, while Fusco picked up a pair of decisions and a major before falling in the semis to No. 18 Frank Martellotti of Penn State.
Alex Caruso (Green Brook, N.J.) continued his strong wrestling coming in third in the 174 pound bracket. Caruso claimed victories over Luke Jones (Michigan State), Canaan Bethea (Penn), No. 18 Ethan Headlee (Pittsburgh) before losing a tight 2-1 decision to No. 8 Mike Letts (Maryland). Caruso rebounded in the third place match dominating No. 9 Scott Griffin of Penn, 7-1.
Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) and Carl Buchholz (Malvern, Pa.) also put in good showings as they placed fourth and sixth in their respective weight classes. At 141, Melde used victories over Seth Beitz (UNA-Penn State), Mike Tully (Pittsburgh) and Ray Borja (Navy) to advance to the semifinals where he fell to No. 20 Zack Kemerer of Penn. While at 285, Buchholz rallied through the consolation bracket after a second round loss in the main bracket.
The Scarlet Knights return to action next Saturday, Dec. 11, when they host Princeton and George Mason in double-dual action at College Ave. Gym.
RU Wrestlers Placing at the Nittany Lion Open
125: Joe Langel (2nd), Matt Fusco (4th),
141: Trevor Melde (4th)
149: Mario Mason (1st)
174: Alex Caruso (3rd)
285: Carl Buchholz (6th)
