The RPI Wrestling Club traveled to the University of New Hampshire for the NCWA Northeast Conference Championships on March 1. In what was a very strong showing in the club’s first appearance in the tournament, five wrestlers qualified for the NCWA National Championships. At 141 lbs., Kurt Munz had a great performance with a fourth place finish. Munz defeated third-seeded Chris Collins from University of Delaware 15-6, before barely falling to Bryan Topping of UNH, 11-9, in a real nail-biter. Bryan Sullivan also had a solid performance in the final tournament of his RPI career. Sullivan barely missed qualifying for the Nationals in a very tough 157 lb. weight class. Ben Meyer recorded the club’s fastest pin of the year by sticking Corey Lee of Baptist Bible College in 0:24. Meyer went on to place sixth at 165 lbs.
At 184 lbs, John Hannah wrestled back to seventh place by scoring a 6-2 victory over 2002 National Qualifier John Eddy of Northhampton Community College.
The 235 lb. weight class had two RPI wrestlers competing. Mike Sell, the club’s president, clinched eighth place by pinning Jonathan Rivers of second-ranked Apprentice in 5:47.
The RPI wrestler of the tournament was undoubtedly Jon Pappas, the other 235 lb. wrestler. Pappas wrestled an outstanding tournament, placing highest from RPI and finishing with a 5-1 record on the day. After defeating his “nemesis” from UNH, John Condesta by a score of 4-3, Pappas clinched third place by defeating Matthew Hinzpeter of Lafayette College with a score of 9-4.
The RPI Wrestling Club finished the regular season ranked number 25 in the nation. The upcoming National Championships will be held at Lafayette College in Easton, PA on March 13-15.
