Caruso Secures All-America Status at NCAA Wrestling Championships

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Bridgewater State University senior heavyweight Ricky Caruso secured All-America status with an 8-3 win over Kyle McGuire of Trinity College in the consolation round of the 2014 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships held at the U.S. Cellular Center on Friday.

Caruso will take on eight-seeded Zachery Roseberry of Delaware Valley College on Saturday morning in the consolation quarterfinals. Roseberry (27-6) edged Cory Becker of Coe College, 9-5, to advance to the consolation quartfinals. 

A native of Waltham, Massachusetts, Caruso (38-6) finished 2-1 during day one of the two-day tournament.  He posted a 6-4 upset win in sudden victory overtime over fifth-seeded Cody Lovejoy of Ohio Northern University in the first round, followed by a 5-0 setback to #4 James Buss of Loras College in the quarterfinals.

In the consolation round win over McGuire, Caruso record three takedowns and one reversal to post the 8-3 win.  He recorded a takedown less than ten seconds into the bout to jump on top early and never looked back. Caruso is now 3-0 against his fellow New Englander on the season.

Caruso is the third Bridgewater State grappler to garner All-America honors joining John Marsh and BSU Hall of Famer Craig Buckley. Marsh achieved the honor in 2010 with a fifth place showing competing out of the 149-pound weight class.  Buckley is the Bears' only two-time All-American as he placed seventh in 2002 at 197 and sixth in 2004 at 184.

Follow the webcast of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships live on NCAA.com. Results are posted at TrackWrestling.com.  The Caruso/McGuire bout is slated to take place on mat one and will be on the video webcast.