DeFulvio takes first, Marauders place sixth at Pioneer Open
11/1/2025 6:19:00 PM | Wrestling
GLENVILLE, W.Va. - Millersville sophomore Richie DeFulvio took first place in the 157-pound bracket, leading Millersville to a sixth-place finish at the season-opening Pioneer Open.
Wrestling his first matches since a season-ending injury in December of 2024, DeFulvio went 4-0 with two falls and a major decision. His fall in 53 seconds against Frostburg State's Calvin Kraisser put him in the finals, where he out-scored Glenville State's Jimmie Bailes, 12-10. His takedown with 16 seconds remaining was the difference.
"Richie is capable of going deep in tournaments and winning big matches," said Millersville head coach Jerry Boland. "With his season cut short last year, I was happy for him to have the success he had today. He can definitely build on this."
DeFulvio was one of eight Marauders to place. 133-pound Nick Cottone placed third. Nick Bennet took fourth and Daniel Sinclair placed fifth at 157. Taylor Robinson placed fourth at 149 pounds. 125-pound Gavin Boland placed sixth. Chase Bish grabbed seventh at 165 pounds. Aidan Micheli took eighth at 141 pounds.
Cottone won his first two matches without surrendering a point before losing a narrow, 2-1 decision to eventual champ Tanner Halling of Frostburg State. Cottone scored an escape in the third, but it was too late as Halling had accumulated enough riding time for the deciding point. Cottone bounced back with a 4-3 win over Belmont-Abbey's Elijah Carrington in the third-place match.
Millersville flexed its depth at 157 pounds. Along with DeFulvio, Bennet went 3-2, scoring wins in his first three matches. Sinclair bounced back from a loss in the second round with back-to-back one-sided decisions and a forfeit victory in the fifth-place round.
Robinson also won his first three matches, picking up a first period pin in the opening match, a major decision in the second round and 9-8 decision in the quarterfinals in which he escaped from UNC Pembroke's Tyler Nelson with 1:05 left to break the tie. He was pinned in the semis and finals.
Boland, a redshirt freshman, produced four wins including two pins and a major decision. He out-scored his first two opponents 12-0. A loss sent him into the consolation bracket where he earned an 11-0 major decision over his teammate, Zach McFarlane, and squeaked out a 9-8 decision with a riding time bonus against UIndy's Jadon Gyan. Bish went 3-2 and Micheli went 3-3.
"After two months of hard training and preparation, it was nice to see our guys compete," said Boland. "Anytime we get a chance to compete, it's a good day. We got after it today and won a lot of bouts. As coaches, we saw a lot of good things and some things we need to improve on as well. This is a young team. We are going to improve as the year goes on. Coming home with a champ and multiple place winners is a solid start to the season. I'm proud of our guys."
UP NEXT
Millersville hosts its first dual of the season on Friday, Nov. 7. The match against York College will be held outdoors at Cooper Park and has been renamed the Cody Becker Memorial Meet in the honor of the Millersville wrestling alum who passed away on Sept. 17, serving in the line of duty for the Northern York County Regional Police Department. There will be a memorial event in Cody's honor before the match at 2:30 p.m.
Wrestling his first matches since a season-ending injury in December of 2024, DeFulvio went 4-0 with two falls and a major decision. His fall in 53 seconds against Frostburg State's Calvin Kraisser put him in the finals, where he out-scored Glenville State's Jimmie Bailes, 12-10. His takedown with 16 seconds remaining was the difference.
"Richie is capable of going deep in tournaments and winning big matches," said Millersville head coach Jerry Boland. "With his season cut short last year, I was happy for him to have the success he had today. He can definitely build on this."
DeFulvio was one of eight Marauders to place. 133-pound Nick Cottone placed third. Nick Bennet took fourth and Daniel Sinclair placed fifth at 157. Taylor Robinson placed fourth at 149 pounds. 125-pound Gavin Boland placed sixth. Chase Bish grabbed seventh at 165 pounds. Aidan Micheli took eighth at 141 pounds.
Cottone won his first two matches without surrendering a point before losing a narrow, 2-1 decision to eventual champ Tanner Halling of Frostburg State. Cottone scored an escape in the third, but it was too late as Halling had accumulated enough riding time for the deciding point. Cottone bounced back with a 4-3 win over Belmont-Abbey's Elijah Carrington in the third-place match.
Millersville flexed its depth at 157 pounds. Along with DeFulvio, Bennet went 3-2, scoring wins in his first three matches. Sinclair bounced back from a loss in the second round with back-to-back one-sided decisions and a forfeit victory in the fifth-place round.
Robinson also won his first three matches, picking up a first period pin in the opening match, a major decision in the second round and 9-8 decision in the quarterfinals in which he escaped from UNC Pembroke's Tyler Nelson with 1:05 left to break the tie. He was pinned in the semis and finals.
Boland, a redshirt freshman, produced four wins including two pins and a major decision. He out-scored his first two opponents 12-0. A loss sent him into the consolation bracket where he earned an 11-0 major decision over his teammate, Zach McFarlane, and squeaked out a 9-8 decision with a riding time bonus against UIndy's Jadon Gyan. Bish went 3-2 and Micheli went 3-3.
"After two months of hard training and preparation, it was nice to see our guys compete," said Boland. "Anytime we get a chance to compete, it's a good day. We got after it today and won a lot of bouts. As coaches, we saw a lot of good things and some things we need to improve on as well. This is a young team. We are going to improve as the year goes on. Coming home with a champ and multiple place winners is a solid start to the season. I'm proud of our guys."
UP NEXT
Millersville hosts its first dual of the season on Friday, Nov. 7. The match against York College will be held outdoors at Cooper Park and has been renamed the Cody Becker Memorial Meet in the honor of the Millersville wrestling alum who passed away on Sept. 17, serving in the line of duty for the Northern York County Regional Police Department. There will be a memorial event in Cody's honor before the match at 2:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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