Ephs remain on top of NEWA Poll/Ethan Cohen Collects 100th career win & NEWA honors
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The Ephs have 133 points on the strength of eight first place votes and Johnson & Wales University (JWU) has 122 points and has received five first place votes. The Ephs also feature eight ranked wrestlers in the region's 10 weight classifications, which ties a program best established earlier this season.
Senior captain Ethan Cohen at 125 had a big weekend as he notched his 100th career win, won the Most Outstanding Lower Weight Wrestler Award at the Scott Viera Tourney hosted by Roger Williams University and earned the NEWA Wrestler of the Week Award. Cohen is just the third Eph to reach the 100-win plateau joining Jamall Pollock (104) and Tom Prairie (106).
"To get 100 wins in a career means you are doing a lot of things right and that wrestling is important to you year round," commented co-head coach Dan DiCenzo. "To get that win halfway through your senior year is really impressive."
Of the eight Ephs ranked in New England six are in the top three and two are number one. Corey Paulish at 141 and Ryan Malo moved ahead of Bryan Lenhardt of JWU at 184. Lenhardt is a returning All-American who finished sixth in the nation last season and is currently undefeated.
"Malo and Lenhardt are two of the best wrestlers in all of New England," said DiCenzo. "Ryan has 17 wins on 14 pins and he beat the number four-ranked (nationally) 197 wrestler in Iowa. Malo and Lenhardt will get to prove who is best on the mat at the New England Duals (Jan. 18) and at the NECCA Tournament in February.
Ethan Cohen (125) and Carl Breitenstein (157 are both ranked second in New England, while captains Dylan Rittenburg (149) and Kyle Ayer (197) are ranked third. Jon Foster is tied for fifth at 165 and Josh Mattana is sixth at 133.
This weekend the Ephs expect to have their full lineup competing. On Saturday, January 10th the Ephs will travel to WPI where they will take on WPI, MIT, Trinity and the University of Southern Maine.
