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Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University Pioneers
Brendan Gilchrist Action
Greg Vasil

Men's Wrestling Competes at NCAA National Duals

Aidan Zarrella and Braxton Fries-Appello pick up a pair of wins

1/11/2025 3:38:00 PM

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Sacred Heart University men's wrestling teams headed to the Hawkeye State from Friday, Jan. 10 to Saturday, Jan. 11, to compete in the 2025 NWCA National Duals inside the UNI-Dome. 
 
The Pioneers competed against some of the top teams in the country, including the nationally ranked #7 Northern Iowa Panthers. SHU faced the University of Pennsylvania from the Ivy League, Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville of the Mid-American Conference, and the Cal Poly Mustangs.  
 
Aidan Zarrella and Braxton Fries-Appello highlighted the two-day event with a pair of victories at 174 pounds and 133 pounds, respectively. 
 
Felix Lettini, Hunter Perez, and Brendan Gilchrist also earned wins in their designated weight class bracket.
 
Final Scores:
Match 1: Northern Iowa 38 | Sacred Heart 7
Match 2: UPenn 41 | Sacred Heart 3
Match 3: SIU Edwardsville 36 | Sacred Heart 3
Match 4: Cal Poly 31 | Sacred Heart 12
Day 1 Notes:
  • Sacred Heart opened the two-day event with a pair of losses to Northern Iowa in the championship first round by a final score of 38-7, then suffered a 41-3 setback in the consolation bracket to the University of Pennsylvania. 
  • Aidan Zarrella and Brendan Gilchrist picked up wins against Northern Iowa at 174 and 285 pounds, respectively.
  • Braxton Fries-Appello recorded the lone win for the Pioneers against UPenn's Brady Pruett by decision at 133 pounds.
Day 1 Results
Match 1:
125 - Trever Anderson (Northern Iowa) won by forfeit
133 - Julian Farber (Northern Iowa) over Jake Ice (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 17-1
141 - Cael Happel (Northern Iowa) over Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 19-4
149 - Colin Realbuto (Northern Iowa) over Danny Delusant (Sacred Heart) by Decision 17-11
157 - Cael Rahnavardi (Northern Iowa) over Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart) by Decision 5-1
165 - Jack Thomsen (Northern Iowa) over Calvin Pineda (Sacred Heart) by Fall (2:23)
174 - Aidan Zarrella (Sacred Heart) over Nick Fox (Northern Iowa) by Decision 5-3
184 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) over Hunter Perez (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 19-3
197 - Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa) over Kevin Taylor (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 20-4
285 - Brendan Gilchrist (Sacred Heart) over Adam Ahrendsen (Northern Iowa) by Major Decision 14-6
 
Match 2:
125 - Max Gallagher (Pennsylvania) won by forfeit
133 - Braxton Fries-Appello (Sacred Heart) over Brady Pruett (Pennsylvania) by Decision 7-3
141 - Evan Mougalian (Pennsylvania) over Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart) by Decision 5-1
149 - Kelly Dunnigan (Pennsylvania) over Unknown (Unattached) by Tech Fall 23-6
157 - Jude Swisher (Pennsylvania) over Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart) by Major Decision 12-0
165 - Vince Mannella (Pennsylvania) over Nolan Hook (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 15-0
174 - Nick Incontrera (Pennsylvania) over Aidan Zarrella (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 19-2
184 - Nathan Taylor (Pennsylvania) over Hunter Perez (Sacred Heart) by Decision 16-9
197 - Jackson Zimmerman (Pennsylvania) over Unknown (Unattached) by Major Decision 11-0
285 - John Pardo (Pennsylvania) over Marc Berisha (Sacred Heart) by Fall (1:51)
Day 2 Notes:
  • The Pioneers concluded the two-day event with two setbacks against SIU Edwardsville and Cal Poly.
  • Lettini registered the only win for the Pios against SIU Edwardsville's Brock Woodcock at 157 pounds by decision.
  • SHU then picked up wins against Cal Poly at 133 pounds by Fries-Appello, 174 pounds by Zarrella, and 184 pounds by Perez.  
Day 2 Results:
Match 1
125 - Deion Johnson (SIU Edwardsville) won by forfeit
133 - Marcel Lopez (SIU Edwardsville) over Braxton Fries-Appello (Sacred Heart) by Decision 7-4
141 - Danny Martinez (SIU Edwardsville) over Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart) by Decision 4-2
149 - Hayden Whidden (SIU Edwardsville) over Danny Delusant (Sacred Heart) by Major Decision 11-1
157 - Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart) over Brock Woodcock (SIU Edwardsville) by Decision 9-3
165 - Bradley Gillum (SIU Edwardsville) over Calvin Pineda (Sacred Heart) by Decision 10-4
174 - Luke Odom (SIU Edwardsville) over Aidan Zarrella (Sacred Heart) SV-1 4-1
184 - Deron Pulliam (SIU Edwardsville) over Owen Ayotte (Sacred Heart) by Major Decision 14-4
197 - Nick Nosler (SIU Edwardsville) over Kevin Taylor (Sacred Heart) by Major Decision 17-3
285 - Bryson Buhk (SIU Edwardsville) over Marc Berisha (Sacred Heart) by Fall (2:10)
 
Match 2
125 - Koda Holeman (Cal Poly) won by forfeit
133 - Braxton Fries-Appello (Sacred Heart) won by forfeit
141 - Alek Vanbebber (Cal Poly) over Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart) by Decision 2-1
149 - Chance Lamer (Cal Poly) over Danny Delusant (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 21-5
157 - Legend Lamer (Cal Poly) over Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart) by Decision 5-0
165 - Luka Wick (Cal Poly) over Nolan Hook (Sacred Heart) by Tech Fall 17-0
174 - Aidan Zarrella (Sacred Heart) over Cash Stewart (Cal Poly) by Decision 4-1
184 - Hunter Perez (Sacred Heart) over Blake Hinrichsen (Cal Poly) by Decision 10-6
197 - Wesley Wilson (Cal Poly) over Kevin Taylor (Sacred Heart) by Decision 12-5
285 - Trevor Tinker (Cal Poly) over Brendan Gilchrist (Sacred Heart) by Fall (1:22)
 
Records by Weight Class:
125 – N/A
133 – Ice (0-1) | Fries-Appello (2-1)
141 – Fallon (0-4)
149 – Delusant (0-3)
157 – Lettini (1-3)
165 – Pineda (0-2) | Hook (0-2)
174 – Zarrella (2-2) 
184 – Perez (1-2) | Ayotte (0-1)
197 – Taylor (0-3)
285 – Gilchrist (1-1) | Berisha (0-2)

Up Next:
The Pioneers return to the mat on Saturday, January 25 as they open EIWA play with a road contest against Franklin & Marshall at 7:30PM. 
 
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