2017 Northeast Region Preview
Date – Saturday and Sunday, February 25-26, 2017
Location – Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island
Teams (19) – Bridgewater State, Castleton, Coast Guard, Cortland, Ithaca, Johnson & Wales, New England College, Norwich, Oneonta, Plymouth State, Rhode Island, Roger Williams, Springfield, Trinity, Southern Maine, Wesleyan, Williams, Western New England, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Top Ten Ranked Individuals (2016 All-Americans in bold)
125 – #4 Jordan (JWU), #6 Kaishian (Ithaca)
133 – #5 Albis (JWU)
141 – #7 Wahba (Ithaca),
149 – #3 Del Gallo (Southern Maine), #4 Schneider (Ithaca)
157 – #1 Dierna (Cortland), #2 Joseph (Springfield), #5 Sullivan (Coast Guard)
165 – #3 Jarrell (JWU), #6 Velez (Ithaca)
174 – #6 Barber (Cortland)
184 – #3 Chorzepa (Williams), #9 Espinal (Cortland)
197 – #3 Thomas (JWU), #4 Carrillo (Wesleyan), #5 Toribio (Ithaca)
285 – #4 Bethel (Oneonta), #5 Foster (Roger Williams), #9 O’Brien (Ithaca)
Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
#2 Ithaca
#4 Johnson & Wales
#9 Cortland
#17 Roger Williams
#26 Springfield
#28 Southern Maine
The Northeast regional could see a tight battle between Ithaca and JWU, a pair of top five teams with designs on a team trophy in La Crosse. Ithaca has five wrestlers ranked in the top ten, while JWU has four of its own. With three returning All-Americans, Ithaca hopes to defend its title from last season while bringing a strong contingent to Wisconsin. Johnson & Wales has taken a step up this year and will be a force. #9 Cortland will also be in the mix with strong competitors at every weight including the only returning NCAA Champion in the tournament in Bobby Dierna at 157.
A couple of former All-Americans are looking to make a return trip to the podium after missing out last season. Chorzepa (Williams) is a two time All-American who missed the podium during his junior season. Bethel (Oneonta) placed as a freshman but did not compete last year at all. Both of them are ranked to place in La Crosse but will face stiff tests in a tough region. A pair of familiar foes will again match up at the 125 lbs. weight class as Jordan (JWU) and Kaishian (Ithaca) should be the top two seeds. They have gone back and forth over the years. Last season Jordan was the #2 seed at the NCAA Championships but failed to place while the #6 seed Kaishian came home with a seventh place finish. The next few weeks are their last chance to meet up, as Kaishian is a senior.
Southern Maine has relied on a pair of brothers to lead the team this year. Senior Daniel Del Gallo is looking for his first All-American award after qualifying each of the past two years. The two time Elite 90 award winner (given to the NCAA qualifier with the highest overall GPA) is ranked 3rd and will be aiming to go out on a high note. His brother, freshman Peter Del Gallo, is 31-1 with a single overtime loss. The Maine Wrestler of the Year in 2016 is hoping to join his older brother to give the Huskies multiple qualifiers from the same family in 2017.