Smith Wins 82nd Annual Wilkes University Open
Dec 30 | Wrestling
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Redshirt junior heavyweight Billy Smith (Wantage, N.J.) stayed undefeated for the season Sunday, placing first at the 82nd Annual Wilkes University Open on Dec. 28 at the Martins Center. 165-pounder Nicholas Gravina (Allendale, N.J.) and 184-pounder Anthony Pafumi (Westfield, N.J.) took second in the tournament, while sophomore 184-pounder Anthony Messner (Somerset, N.J.) finished fourth.
Full Results Smith became the 15th open champion in the last three years for the Scarlet Knights, taking home his first-career title to improve his record to 8-0 this season. In 2014 alone, RU has sent nine open champions to the podium.
Gravina's runner-up finish made him a placewinner for the first time in his career. Pafumi, meanwhile, posted his second runner-up finish, and has now placed in the top-three at three opens this season.
Messner placed for the second time this season, finishing fourth.
Seven other Scarlet Knights competed unattached Sunday, with six finishing with records of .500 or better for the day.
R-Fr. Josh Patrick - 125 pounds (3-2)
Patrick Skinner (Sacred Heart) L-D, 5-1
Jonathan Murray (Rhode Island) W-Med. Forf.
Jacob Donato (NYU) W-D, 8-1
Michael Russo (Brown) W-MD, 8-0
Patrick Skinner (Sacred Heart) L-F, 5:51
R-Fr. Michael Underwood - 149 pounds (2-2)
Derek Arnold (Ursinus) L-D, 7-2
James Palys (Wilkes) W-D, 2-0
Danny Graham (Buffalo) W-D, 6-2
Shane Arechiga (Maryland) L-D, 6-4
R-Fr. Dylan Painton - 157 pounds (4-2)
Stephen Turner (Wilkes) W-D, 8-1
Tyler Herzog (Roger Williams) L-MD, 8-0
Justin Martinez (NYU) W-TF, 16-1
Cameron Brown (Virginia Tech) W-F, 2:30
Daniel Downes (Roger Williams) W-F, 6:18
Casey Mitchell (Sacred Heart) L-D, 7-0
R-Fr. Nicholas Gravina - 165 pounds (3-1) Second Place
Tom Grosso (Sacred Heart) W-MD, 8-0
John Messinger (NYU) W-MD, 8-0
Zach Heeter (West Virginia) W-D, 2-1 (TB)
Garrett Peppelman (Virginia) L-D, 7-5 (SV)
R-So. Mikey Simmons - 165 pounds (3-2)
Mason Mcintyre (Wilkes) L-D, 5-3
Ryan Dougherty (Bloomsburg) W-F, 2:37
Ryan Therrien (Buffalo) W-F, 2:09
John Messinger (NYU) W-F, 1:51
Duely Espinal (Nassau CC) L-D, 3-1
R-So. Anthony Pafumi - 184 pounds (3-1) - Second Place
Jake Koch (VMI) W-F, 2:44
Mark Tracy (Binghamton) W-F, 5:54
Taylor Jackson (Rutgers) W-Med. Forf.
Zack Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) L-D, 6-1
So. Anthony Messner - 184 pounds (2-2) - Fourth Place
Nick Corba (Cleveland State) W-D, 5-2
Zack Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) L-D, 3-1
Elliot Antler (Sacred Heart) W-MD, 12-0
Nick Corba (Cleveland State) L-D, 4-2
R-Fr. Taylor Jackson - 184 pounds (2-0)
Josh Durso-Finley (Brown) W-F, 1:45
Gio Santiago (Nassau CC) W-MD, 11-2
Tony Pafumi (Rutgers) L-Med. Forf.
Nick Corba (Cleveland State) L-Med. Forf.
Fr. Ralph Normandia - 197 pounds (1-2)
Sebastien Levin (Brown) L-D, 6-3
Kanez Omar (Cleveland State) W-D, 11-10
Freddy Vidal (Nassau CC) L-F, 1:43
R-Jr. Billy Smith - 285 pounds (3-0) - First Place
Mike Silvis (Buffalo) W-D, 8-1
Alex Foley (Drexel) W-D, 8-1
Connor Calkins (Binghamton) W-MD, 11-0
Mauro Correnti (Broncs Wrestling Club) W-MD, 14-0*
*does not count toward career record
Fr. Nicholas LaShell - 285 pounds (2-2)
Ryan Kail (Maryland) W-D, 4-0
John Hartnett (Sacred Heart) W-F, 3:51
Mauro Correnti (Sacred Heart) L-D, 12-4
Alex Foley (Drexel) L-D, 1-0
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