BRISTOL, R.I. – In the team's first action in over 20 months, the Wesleyan wrestling team started off strong in a return to action, placing fourth out of 10 teams at the Roger Williams Tournament on Saturday. Led by titles from
Aaron Goldman '23 at 157 and
Marco Gaita '23 at 174, the Cardinals saw six place overall in day's brackets. No. 8 nationally-ranked Johnson & Wales took first place with 182.5 points followed by No. 19 Castleton (159.5), Roger Williams (140.5) and Wesleyan slotted in at fourth place with 102 points. The fourth place showing is tied for the highest team finish in eight all-time appearances in the Roger Williams Tournament.
The Wesleyan wrestling team gathered after competing for the first time in since March 1, 2020
Goldman won the 157-pound bracket in the first competition of the new season, going 4-0 in the 30-man field. He toppled NEWA No. 1 ranked and 2020 Northeast Regional Finalist Darius Joyce of JWU 7-2 in the semifinals, then pinned Tyler Albis of JWU in the finals at the 5:20 mark. The title match was a rematch of sorts for Goldman, who lost to Joyce in the Northeast Region semifinals in 2020.
Gaita, the 2020 Northeast Region Champion, returned to the mat in a big way as he coasted to the finals where he defeated a foe from Stevens by a dominating score of 13-4. Gaita went 4-0 on his way to the season-opening title in the 30-man, 174-pound field. The junior was set to make his first career appearance at the NCAA Championships in 2020 but the pandemic struck in the week leading up to his appearance, now allowing the Cardinal standout to compete in the national tournament.
Goldman (left) and Gaita (right) posing after their championship runs on Saturday
Four other Cardinals placed in the Saturday tournament as
Greg Fischer '23 went 3-2 on his way to a fifth place showing at 125,
Dario Molina '24 also went 3-2 on his way to fifth place at 149,
Shailen Savur '25 and
Jack Reusing '25 both impressed in their first collegiate tournament as the pair of first-years went 4-2 at 133 and 157, respectively, to earn sixth place finishes. Finally,
Felix Clayton '24 posting a winning record of 4-2 at 157 to show well in his first collegiate tournament.
The Cardinals have a quick turnaround for their next competition as the prestigious Doug Parker Invitational is to be held on Saturday, November 20 at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Wesleyan won the team title in 2017 and have finished at least sixth or better in the tournament every year since 2014.
