PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Norwich University wrestling team finished 10th in a crowded field at the 2017 New England Wrestling Association Headlock for Hunger Wrestling Duals on Sunday at Johnson & Wales (R.I.) University. 

The Cadets, who entered the day seeded ninth out of the 16 teams competing on the day, opened play with a 23-21 loss to Wesleyan, the eight-seeded school. Rebounding to defeat New England College by a commanding 51-6 margin, Norwich cruised past Plymouth State University by a 33-18 score before dropping the ninth place bout to Castleton University, 21-9. 

Competing at 157 pounds, senior Benjamin Swanson (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.) earned placement on the All-Tournament team. He recorded three pins on the day, including a 33-second pin against New England College, before picking up a clutch 6-2 victory against Castleton's Cameron Milliken. 

Sophomore Jacob Forsman (Voorhees, N.J.) scored his team's first three points on the day, earning a 7-4 decision at 133 pounds before pinning his NEC opponent in a lengthy 4:39 bout. His second pin of the day came in only 55 seconds against Plymouth State and his third pin of the afternoon was against Castleton's Nicholas Camacho. 

Freshman Tyler Ayers (Morrisville, N.Y.) registered two pins on the day, earning his first against Plymouth State's Jonny Perreault and his second against his counterpart from NEC at 149 pounds. Junior Zachary Gibson (Lithopolis, Ohio) would add a pin against NEC at the 184-pound bracket and would earn a 6-1 decision against Wesleyan. 

Freshman Joseph Hennessey (Boonville, N.Y.), competing at the 184-pound class for the second-straight week, earned a pin against Plymouth State and a major decision against Castleton's Mitchell LaFlam. Senior David Rogers (Marlborough, Mass.) earned three wins by decision for the Cadets at 184 pounds. 

Sophomore Steve Briganti (Trumbull, Conn.) earned two heavyweight wins for the Cadets, collecting a 2-1 decision against Castleton before pinning his Plymouth State counterpart in 4:10. Freshman Hussein Kanaan (Scottsdale, Ariz.), competing as a heavyweight, earned a pin against NEC's Charlie Levine in only 1:50 to secure his first collegiate victory. 

The Cadets will take on stiff competition at the All-Academy Championship this Saturday, Jan. 29 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.