BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. – After rolling through the bracket to win the 2019 Bob Quade Cyclone Open at 157 pounds last weekend,
Clifton Ruggiero was tabbed as the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Wrestler of the Week. The award marks the first for a Davis & Elkins wrestling athlete in its inaugural season.
Ruggiero was one of several Senators to perform well at the Cyclone Open on December 8 in New Jersey. He picked up a win over Anthony Ulaszek (Navy) in the first-place bout, defeating the DI opponent by fall at 6:16.
Ruggiero, a sophomore from Brick, N.J., began the day with a quick fall against Charlie Burke (Scranton) in the round of 16. He followed it up with a major decision win against Joseph Hatcher (Middlesex County College), which included a riding time bonus in the 16-5 win.
Ruggiero took control in the second period on his way to a 12-7 decision in the Semifinals against Chad Haegle (Kutztown), who was ranked 11th at 157 in the NWCA DII Poll on November 27.
Davis & Elkins heads to North Carolina on Saturday, December 14 for the Greensboro Tri-Meet against Averett (10:00 AM) and host Greensboro College (12:00 PM).
