ROANOKE — The University of Southern Maine wrestling program continued its impressive run on Friday as junior Peter Del Gallo secured his spot on the podium at the NCAA Division III Championships.
Del Gallo went 2-1 on Friday to guarantee himself All-American status, which makes him the fourth wrestler in USM history to earn that honor.
One of just five Husky wrestlers in the program’s history to earn multiple berths to the NCAA National Championship, Del Gallo, the sixth-seed in the tourney, opened his trip to nationals with an 11-7 win over Brockport’s Matt Caccamise to vault into the bracket’s quarterfinals.
In his quarterfinal match, Del Gallo lost in sudden victory 7-1 to returning All-American and third-seed Victor Gilva of Augusburg.
Del Gallo punched his ticket to the podium with a 6-1 win over Ursinus’ Collin Wickrammaratna in the second round of the 125-pound wrestle-back bracket.
With the two victories on the day, Del Gallo is now 23-3 on the season, and 96-8 in his career.
Del Gallo returns to action today at 10 a.m. and will face Carlos Champagne of Wabash College. Del Gallo can finish as high as third in the nation.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute senior Michael Curtis, who is a former Wells High standout, went 0-2 on Friday and was eliminated from the tournament.
Curtis dropped a 9-2 decision to No. 5 Antonio McCloud of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) in his opener. The former Warrior then fell by a 4-0 score to Baldwin-Wallace’s Zeckary Lehman in the 197-pound consolations.