Wrestling Announces LaFragola, Staudenmayer, Viruet as 2017-18 Captains
10/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior CJ LaFragola, senior Justin Staudenmayer, and junior Jon Viruet will lead Brown University wrestling as captains during the 2017-18 season, head coach Todd Beckerman announced on Thursday.
Both Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) and Staudenmayer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) will act as captains for the Bears for the second time in their careers.
"All three of these young men are proven leaders and instrumental to our program," Beckerman said. "I'm thrilled to have all three as captains for the upcoming season and continue to be integral role models for their teammates."
LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) will serve as a captain for Brown for the first time, coming off a season in which he qualified for the NCAA Championships at 184 lbs. As a sophomore, LaFragola earned Second Team All-Ivy honors and ranked second on the team in wins (24), dual wins (11), dual EIWA wins (eight), and dual points (35).
After missing last season, Staudenmayer will return as a captain for the Bears after acting in the same capacity in 2015-16. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Staudenmayer has won a pair of matches at the NCAA Championships. In 2015-16, he gained First Team All-Ivy accolades and led the team in wins (30), dual wins (13), dual EIWA wins (10), dual points (48), technical falls (six), dual technical falls (three), and dual major decisions (three).
Now a captain in back-to-back seasons for the Bears, Viruet garnered Honorable Mention All-Ivy honors and placed at the EIWA Championships last season. A year ago, he led Brown in wins (28), major decisions (eight), dual wins (11), dual EIWA wins (nine), dual points (47), and dual major decisions (four).
"CJ, Justin, and Jon have proven themselves on the mat during their time here at Brown, and more importantly, they have demonstrated the kind of character that our program relies on for success," Beckerman said.
Brown opens the 2017-18 season at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open at Binghamton University in Vestal, N.Y., on Sunday, Nov. 12.
