Providence, R.I.—Senior 197 lbs. Matthew Kelly (Katonah, N.Y.) went 4-0 as Rhode Island College finished ninth at the 2025 New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Headlock for Hunger Dual Championship, hosted by Johnson and Wales on Sunday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
• The Anchormen finished ninth (16 teams). Johnson and Wales took home the championship.
 
• After losing a heartbreaker, 21-20, vs. Williams, which finished fourth and ranked No. 25 in the nation, RIC rattled off three straight wins to win the consolation bracket.

• The win over Southern Maine, who are ranked No. 8 in the nation, avenged a 27-16 setback to the Huskies last weekend.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kelly registered two technical fall wins, a pin and a major decision on the day.
 
• Senior 174 lbs. Aidan Faria (Cumberland, R.I.) went 3-1 with a technical fall, major decision and a decision. His only loss was vs. Jayden Curley from Roger Williams, who was a 2024 NCAA Div. III National Championship qualifier.
 
• Senior 285 lbs. Michael Alfonso (Garfield, N.J.) went 3-0 with two decisions and a pin. He upset the fourth-ranked wrestler in N.E. (Mason Sprinkel; Norwich) and was named to the All-NEWA Dual Championship Team.


 
• Senior 149 lbs. Michael Pestana (North Bergen, N.J.) went 3-0 with two decisions and a medical forfeit.

HEAD COACH JAY JONES ON THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE
"After a close one point loss to No. 25 Williams, the guys really responded well to go 3-0 the rest of the day and win the consolation bracket. We are really proud of their resilience and grit, fighting back despite a couple of individual setbacks. The team banded together and picked each other up, especially in the last dual vs. No. 8 Southern Maine who we lost to a week ago. We learned from mistakes and we were the better team today."
 
INDIVIDUAL MATCH RESULTS
Williams 21, Rhode Island College 20
125 lbs. Fred Luchs (RIC) dec. Christopher Colon (WC), 6-4
133 lbs. Jack Napeloni (WC) dec. Kwesi Amoa (RIC),7-3
141 lbs. Tylor Stubbs (WC) major dec. Sebastian Armstrong (RIC), 15-6
149 lbs. Michael Pestana (RIC) dec. Leonardo Maiuolo (WC), 7-2
157 lbs. Peter Kane (WC) tech. fall Cooper Lavigne (RIC), 15-0
165 lbs. Henry Forte (WC) major dec. Scott Lallas (RIC), 14-3
174 lbs. Aidan Faria (RIC) dec. Sean Tansey (WC), 12-6
184 lbs. Jamie Evarts (WC) tech. fall Anthony Fernandez (RIC), 19-3
197 lbs. Matthew Kelly (RIC) tech. fall Max Hall (WC), 18-2
285 lbs. Michael Alfonso (Rhode Island College) won by forfeit
 
Rhode Island College 36, Norwich 7
125 lbs. Jabari Pinkney (NU) dec. Fred Luchs (RIC), 4-2
133 lbs. Kwesi Amoa (RIC) tech. fall Robert Lyons (NU), 15-0
141 lbs. Sebastian Armstrong (RIC) tech. fall Billy Burke (NU), 16-1
149 lbs. Michael Pestana (RIC) dec. Gannon White (NU), 9-6 SV-1
157 lbs. Tyler Russ (NU) major dec. Oscar Serrano (RIC), 16-6
165 lbs. Scott Lallas (RIC) major dec. Gabriel Moltumyr (NU), 10-0
174 lbs. Aidan Faria (RIC) major dec. Simon Taraska (NU), 10-0
184 lbs. Anthony Fernandez (RIC) pinned Cooper Galvin (NU) at 1:31
197 lbs. Matthew Kelly (RIC) pinned Ty Saeturn (NU) at 1:21
285 lbs. Michael Alfonso (RIC) dec. Mason Sprinkel (NU), 7-6
 
Rhode Island College 29, Roger Williams 13
125 lbs. Fred Luchs (RIC) dec. Chris Tringali (RWU), 4-1
133 lbs. Kwesi Amoa (RIC) dec. Shaun McLaughlin (RWU), 7-4 SV-1
141 lbs. Sebastian Armstrong (RIC) dec. Gavin McKenna (RWU), 1-0
149 lbs. Michael Pestana (RIC) medical forfeit Nick Fatone (RWU)
157 lbs. Matt Lucas (RWU) pinned Cooper Lavigne (RIC) at 5:48
165 lbs. Scott Lallas (RIC) dec. Gordon Murray (RWU), 7-3
174 lbs. Jayden Curley (RWU) dec. Aidan Faria (RIC), 8-4
184 lbs. Anthony Fernandez (RIC) pinned Eric Power (RWU) at 1:59
197 lbs. Matthew Kelly (RIC) tech. fall Michael Toppan (RWU), 15-0
285 lbs. Jayden Toppan (RWU) major. Dec. Christian Sewell (RIC), 8-0
 
Rhode Island College 22, Southern Maine 20
125 lbs. Robert Stone (RIC) pinned Noah Krysztofiak (USM) at 1:49
133 lbs. Jake Craig (USM) major dec. Brett Redner (RIC), 11-3
141 lbs. Kyle Moore (USM) tech. fall Hunter Lundberg (RIC), 22-6
149 lbs. Colby Frost (USM) tech. fall Owen Roche (RIC), 30-14
157 lbs. Kaleb Pool (USM) dec. Oscar Serrano (RIC), 4-1
165 lbs. Derek Cote (USM) dec. Scott Lallas (RIC), 4-1
174 lbs. Aidan Faria (RIC) tech. fall Scott Ingalls (USM), 16-1
184 lbs. Anthony Fernandez (RIC) major dec. Tyler Haynes (USM), 11-3
197 lbs. Matthew Kelly (RIC) major dec. Anthony Mears (USM), 10-0
285 lbs. Michael Alfonso (RIC) dec. Jon Lettre (USM), 8-3
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will compete at the Pete Willson Invitational, hosted by Wheaton (Ill.) on Friday, Jan. 31 (11 a.m.).