Another Week, Another Nod ?
— Utica Pioneers (@Utica_Pioneers) January 19, 2026
Seth Richardson has been named the Empire 8 Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season. Richardson went 4-1 at the Will Abele Invitational, placing fifth overall.#FearTheMoose #GoPioneers #Empire8 #SUNYAC #d3wrestle pic.twitter.com/PNgaN5VdFo
UTICA, NY - Utica University men's wrestler Seth Richardson (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) has been named the Empire 8 Wrestler of the Week following the Pioneers' first action of the 2026 calendar year. Richardson competed to a 4-1 record at the Will Abele Invitational, placing fifth in the 174-pound bracket to earn the award. This marks the second time Richardson has been awarded the honors in the 2025-26 season, and the team's third overall.
Richardson and the Pioneers returned to action by traveling to the Floy Lewis Bakes Center to compete in the Will Abele Invitational, hosted by Ursinus College. He opened the tournament with a commanding 15-3 major decision in the Round of 16, then rebounded from a quarterfinal setback by ripping off three straight wins in the consolation rounds. Richardson capped his run with two pins and a decisive win in the fifth-place bout. In his first fall victory, he overcame a 17-6 deficit to win the match at the 6:34 mark. The following bout, he closed out a 7-0 win by fall after 2:45. In the fifth-place match against SVU's Tanner Giatras, Richardson won in an 11-4 decision.
The men's wrestling team will return to action next Saturday, January 24th, when the squad travels to SUNY Brockport's Special Events and Recreation Center to compete in the SUNYAC Championships. Action is set to begin at 10:00 am.