FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 8, 2008

BONORA WINS NCAA TITLE AT 141 LBS.

Cedar Rapids, IA—Top-seeded Rhode Island College senior Mike Bonora (Nutley, NJ) defeated Jason Adams from Augsburg, 5-2, in the Championship Match of the 141 lbs. weight class Saturday evening at the NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships, hosted by Coe and Cornell Colleges at the U.S. Cellular Center.

Bonora is RIC's first National Champion in 14 seasons (Billy Cotter, 1994) and the program's second ever. Earlier today, he defeated Stephen Hult from New York University, 5-3, in the semifinals

Yesterday afternoon, Bonora received a bye in the first round, before defeating Chase DeCleene from UW-Stevens Point, 8-5, and Travis Grawin from Luther, 11-8. The two victories assure him of All-American status, a feat he also accomplished last winter. He finishes the season with a 44-2 record and was undefeated against NCAA Div. III opposition, the first RIC wrestler in program history to accomplish this feat.

 Head Coach Jay Jones team finished 14th in the nation at the National Championships with 20.0 points.

-end-