Armdrag.com: Cortland State takes 1st of 9 at RIT Invitational

Senior Joe Boxer (BEDFORD/Fox Lane) and junior Sean Finnegan (WARSAW) each captured individual titles to lead Cortland to the team championship at the nine-school RIT Invitational. Cortland won the meet with 134.5 points, three points better than second-place Springfield College. John Carroll (123), Oswego (121.5) and Ithaca (117.5) rounded out the top five.

Boxer, the top seed at 133 pounds, won his opening match 11 5, followed by a technical fall (18-3 decision) in 3:47 in the semifinals and a 20-9 victory over second-seeded Nick Volpe of Plymouth State in the finals. Finnegan, the fourth seed at 197 pounds, opened with a victory by pin in the quarterfinals before beating top-seeded Neil Bergren of Springfield in the semifinals. Finnegan claimed the title with a medical forfeit over sophomore teammate Anthony Viola (SELDEN/Centereach). Viola, the second seed, earned his second-place finish with 16-4 and 15-11 decisions in his first two matches.

Sophomores Tommy Llewellyn (LONG BEACH) and Tony Stewart (NISKAYUNA) and freshman Vic Favero (NIAGARA FALLS/LaSalle) finished third at 133 pounds, 174 pounds and heavyweight, respectively. Llewellyn lost his first match but bounced back to win three straight, one by pin. Stewart, the third seed, also lost his opening match. He proceeded to win four straight matches, including a pin in 30 seconds, a 16-3 decision and a sudden death 6-4 victory over junior teammate Derek Racino (VERNON/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) before claiming third place with a 6-5 win over fourth-seeded Jeremy Wilkinson of Norwich. Racino finished fifth at 174 pounds with a 3-2 record. Favero, seeded third, opened with a 13-9 win and a victory by pin in 33 seconds. He lost his semifinal match, but finished strong with two pins in the consolation bracket to earn third place honors.

Also placing in the top six for the Red Dragons were sophomore Ron Serrano (LEVITTOWN/MacArthur), fourth at 149 pounds, freshman Brian Hanselman (AMHERST/Sweet Home), fifth at 165 pounds, and freshman Donald Baker (CHENANGO FORKS), sixth at 157 pounds.