2018 Northeast Region Preview
Jay Albis is aiming to go one step higher on the podium
Date – Saturday and Sunday, February 24-25, 2018
Location – Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Teams (17) – Bridgewater State, Castleton, Coast Guard, Johnson & Wales, New England, Norwich, NYU, Plymouth State, Rhode Island, Roger Williams, Springfield, Trinity, University of Southern Maine, Wesleyan, Western New England, Williams, WPI
Top Ten Ranked Individuals (2017 All-Americans in bold)
125 – Peter Del Gallo (Southern Maine, 2), Jay Albis (Johnson & Wales, 5)
133 – Joao Vicente (Johnson & Wales, 6)
141 – Joe Ferinde (Johnson & Wales, 6)
149 –
157 – Ray Jazikoff (NYU, 9), Chris Sullivan (Coast Guard, 10)
165 –
174 –
184 – Khamri Thomas (Johnson & Wales, 3)
197 – Devon Carrillo (Wesleyan, 7), Michael DiNardo (Johnson & Wales, 8)
285 – Isaiah Bellamy (Wesleyan, 4)
Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
5. Johnson & Wales
19. Wesleyan
25. Southern Maine
Johnson & Wales had the best season in program history last year when they finished in 4th place at the NCAA championships with five All-Americans and a pair of finalists. They will be heavily favored in the Northeast region consisting of New England schools plus NYU. Two All-Americans return for JWU, and five of their wrestlers are ranked in the top ten. Jay Albis made an unexpected run to the 133 lbs. final last year, and he has dropped to 125 this year to seek the top spot on the podium. Joe Ferinde returns as well for the Wildcats after a 6th place finish a year ago. Those two, along with Brendon Seyfried of Williams, are the only 2017 All-Americans in this region.
Wesleyan is the only other team with multiple ranked wrestlers in Devon Carrillo at 197 and Isaiah Bellamy at 285 to lock down the top two weights. Carrillo was in the round of 12 last year, while Bellamy has come on strong in his senior year to be ranked in the top four. The upper weight duo also takes the top two spots in falls for all of Division III. Teammate Carter Armendarez was a qualifier and round of 12 finisher last year as well. Roger Williams, WPI, and Coast Guard also have strong teams with depth throughout the lineup that will serve them well in the team standings.
Peter Del Gallo of Southern Maine is one of the few undefeated wrestlers in Division III this year. The sophomore is 34-0, and his best win is over the then-#1 ranked Jonathan Haas of Brockport at the end of last month. His older brother Daniel won the 149 lbs. championship last year for Southern Maine, and Peter hopes to follow in his footsteps to give Southern Maine and the Del Gallo family a second NCAA champion.