By Stephen Cooney
Four nationally ranked wrestlers anchor the Pride wrestling team. Lou Ruggirello, Charles Griffin, Alton Lucas, and Joe Rovelli are all ranked among the nation’s top 20 in their respective weight classes.
Ruggirello a sophomore is currently ranked second in the nation in the 133-pound weight class. Throughout the season Ruggirello has garnered a 12-2 record in individual matches , while also posting a 5-0 victory in the Pride’s dual matches. Ruggirello finished fifth this past weekend in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The 5th place finish was good enough to keep Ruggirello in the top ten but did drop him from his previous number one ranking.
Griffin a senior has posted a 10-2 individual record with a 4-1 record in dual matches. Griffin is currently ranked 5th in the 141-pound weight class. Griffin placed 3rd in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas invitational but this was not enough to keep his previous ranking of 3rd. Griffin was the number one seeded wrestler in he weight class, and his third place finish was enough to lower his ranking but not remove him from the nations top five in the weight class.
Lucas a junior has managed to create a 5-0 record in all of the Pride’s dual matches. This achievement has also garnered Lucas a top 15 ranking in the 174-pound weight class. Lucas and his undefeated record have managed a 13th ranking and have been a crucial part of the Prides success. Lucas has managed to control his matches and gain points for the Pride.
Rovelli a senior wrestler in the 197-pound weight class has posted a 4-1 record in the Pride’s dual matches. His performance has garnered him a top ten ranking in his weight class. Rovelli has been ranked as the 7th wrestler in his weight class.
These four ranked wrestlers have been a strong point and a key to the Pride’s success. When all of the wrestlers manage victories the Pride have been able to gain points and victories in dual matches. These wrestlers and the development of the young wrestlers are crucial to the success of the program for the remainder of the season.
If Ruggirello, Griffin, Lucas, and Rovelli continue to wrestle at their current levels and the Pride can make a strong case for the CAA conference championship and an NCAA tournament appearance.