Wrestling's LaFragola Prepared for NCAA Championships
3/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore 184-pounder CJ LaFragola will represent Brown University wrestling at the 2017 NCAA Championships from Thursday to Saturday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., as he makes his debut at the national tournament.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Live Video: WatchESPN (Schedule Below)
Live Results: TrackWrestling
Press of Atlantic City: Preview of LaFragola's Trip to NCAAs
On Twitter: @Brown_Wrestling | @BrownAthletics
On Facebook: Brown Wrestling | Brown University Athletics
On Instagram: brown_wrestling | brownathletics
Via Hashtag: #Rhode2STL | #GoBruno
THE MATCHUP
A native of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., LaFragola will make his debut at the NCAA Championships and will face No. 16 seed Jordan Ellingwood (26-8) of Central Michigan in the round of 32. The winner of that match-up will square off with the winner of No. 1 seed Gabriel Dean (30-0) of Cornell and Michael Coleman (21-6) of Navy in the round of 16 while the losers will proceed to the wrestlebacks.
SOPHOMORE STANDOUT
LaFragola took a major step forward in his second season, tying for first on the team in dual wins (11) and ranking second for the Bears in total wins (24), dual EIWA wins (nine), and dual points (35).
A product of St. Joseph High School, LaFragola won his weight class at the Franklin & Marshall Open and closed the regular season with wins in each of his last six bouts and 11 of his last 13 matches.
THE BEARS AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
In its program history, Brown has garnered four All-Americans – J. Dana Eastham in 1953, Willie Carpenter in 1996, Tivon Abel in 1998, and Ophir Bernstein in 2014.
LAFRAGOLA AGAINST THE FIELD
LaFragola carries three wins over two wrestlers in the NCAA field. He has defeated Joe Heyob of Penn twice and also holds a victory over Michael Fagg-Daves of Rider. He was also within a takedown of tying a trio of NCAA wrestlers in Binghamton's Steven Schneider (twice), Bucknell's Garrett Hoffman, and Drexel's Alexander DeCiantis. LaFragola notched a 21-4 record against opponents not competing in the NCAA Championships.
CJ LaFragola (3-9)
Lost to Steven Schneider (Binghamton), Dec. 5-3, on Nov. 13
Lost to Nathan Jackson (Indiana), TF 20-2, on Nov. 19
Lost to Garrett Hoffman (Bucknell), Dec. 6-4, on Nov. 19
Lost to Michael Macchiavello (NC State), Fall 2:01, on Dec. 4
Lost to Mitch Sliga (Northwestern), Dec. 9-6, on Dec. 29
Beat Joe Heyob (Penn), Medical Forfeit, on Jan. 7
Lost to Dakota Geer (Edinboro), MD 14-1, on Jan. 14
Beat Michale Fagg-Daves (Rider), Dec. 9-5, on Jan. 14
Lost to Steven Schneider (Binghamton), Dec. 2-0, on Jan. 27
Lost to Gabriel Dean (Cornell), Fall 1:41, on Jan. 28
Beat Joe Heyob (Penn), Dec. 3-2, on Feb. 4
Lost to Alexander DeCiantis (Drexel), Dec. 3-1, on Mar. 3
ALL-IVY HONOREES
LaFragola and freshman Jimmy Pawelski (Park Ridge, Ill.) both earned Second Team All-Ivy honors while sophomore Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) and freshman Trey Keeley (Washington, Ill.) both took home Honorable Mention All-Ivy, the Ivy League announced on Tuesday. LaFragola and Viruet each went 4-1 in Ivy duals.
ESPN COVERAGE
ESPN will provide live coverage of every match for the fourth straight year with views of all eight mats available via ESPN3. ESPN will broadcast the evening sessions while ESPNU will carry coverage of the morning sessions.
| Television Schedule | ||||
| Day | Date | Time (ET) | Session | Network |
| Thu. | Mar. 16 | Noon-3:30 p.m. | First Round | ESPNU |
| 7:00-10:30 p.m. | Second Round | ESPN | ||
| Fri. | Mar. 17 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Third Round - Quarterfinals | ESPNU |
| 8:00-11:00 p.m. | Fourth Round - Semifinals | ESPN | ||
| Sat. | Mar. 18 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Fifth Session - Medal Round | ESPNU |
| 8:00-11:00 p.m. | Sixth Session - Champ. Finals | ESPN | ||
| ESPN3 Schedule | ||||
| Day | Date | Time (ET) | Session | No. of Mats |
| Thu. | Mar. 16 | Noon-3:30 p.m. | First Session | Eight |
| 7:00-10:30 p.m. | Second Session | Eight | ||
| Fri | Mar. 17 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Third Session - Quarterfinals | Eight |
| 8:00-11:00 p.m. | Fourth Session - Semifinals | Six | ||
| Sat. | Mar. 18 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Fifth Session - Medal Round | Three |
| 8:00-11:00 p.m. | "Off the Mat" - Champ. Finals | One | ||
