Thursday, March 21
Pittsburgh, PA
All Day
Brown University
vs
NCAA Championships
Wrestling’s LaFragola, Viruet, Butterbrodt, Labrie Set for NCAA Championships
3/19/2019 4:16:00 PM | Wrestling
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Seniors CJ LaFragola, Jon Viruet, Ian Butterbrodt, and Christian LaBrie are set to represent Brown University wrestling at the 2019 NCAA Championships from Thursday to Saturday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa., as the Bears send four wrestlers to NCAAs for the first time since 2002.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Live Video: WatchESPN (Schedule Below) | ESPN Mat-by-Mat Links
Live Results: TrackWrestling
On Twitter: @Brown_Wrestling | @BrownAthletics
On Facebook: Brown Wrestling | Brown University Athletics
On Instagram: brown_wrestling | brownathletics
Via Hashtag: #Rhode2PIT | #GoBruno
TEAM SUCCESS
Brown totaled four NCAA qualifiers for the first time since 2002 and posted at least three NCAA qualifiers and six EIWA placers in back-to-back years for the first time since 2000. The Bears placed eighth as a team at the EIWA Championships – marking the program's highest finish at the conference tournament since 2004 – and totaled five All-Ivy selections for the first time since 2008.
THE MATCHUPS
Appearing in the NCAA Championships for the third consecutive season, senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) – the No. 27 seed behind a 24-9 record – will square off with No. 6 seed Drew Foster (23-5) of Northern Iowa in the round of 32 at 184 pounds on Thursday morning.
Competing at NCAAs for the second straight year, senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) – the No. 17 seed with a 31-8 mark – will meet No. 16 seed Thomas Bullard (20-8) of NC State in the round of 32 at 165 pounds on Thursday morning.
In his first appearance at NCAAs, senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) – the No. 27 seed with an 18-6 mark – will meet No. 6 seed Amar Dhesi (10-1) of Oregon State in the round of 32 at 285 pounds on Thursday morning.
Making his debut at the NCAA Championships, senior Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) – the No. 30 seed behind a 17-18 record – will face No. 3 seed Ryan Deakin (29-4) of Northwestern in the round of 32 at 157 pounds on Thursday morning.
LAFRAGOLA MAKES THIRD APPEARANCE
A three-time Second Team All-Ivy selection, senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships for the third straight year with a fifth-place finish at 184 pounds at EIWAs. He tallied his third consecutive 20-win campaign and ranks second on the team in wins (24), dual wins (12), dual EIWA wins (nine), major decisions (six), and dual points (42). LaFragola posted two wins at NCAAs in 2018.
VIRUET BACK-TO-BACK
Senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) – who earned First Team All-Ivy this winter – has 31 wins on the year and leads the Bears in wins (31), dual wins (13), dual EIWA wins (11), falls (five), major decisions (eight), dual points (54), and dual pins (four). He came in sixth at 165 pounds at the 2019 EIWA Championships, placing at EIWAs for the third time. Making his second straight appearance at NCAAs, he earned an upset over the No. 8 seed at 165 in 2018.
BUTTERBRODT ON A ROLL
Senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) captured All-Ivy for the second straight year, taking home first team honors for the first time. He placed second at 285 pounds at EIWAs, earning a spot in the NCAA Championships for the first time, marking the Bears' highest finish at EIWAs since 2012, and becoming just the second Brown wrestler to reach an EIWA final since 2004. Butterbrodt completed an undefeated dual campaign, finishing 11-0, including 8-0 in EIWA duals, and won the three bouts in which he contested at EIWAs, giving him a 14-match win streak.
LABRIE'S EIWA RUN
Senior Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) captured All-Ivy plaudits for the first time this winter after placing fifth at 157 pounds at EIWAs and gaining his first berth in the NCAA Championships. At EIWAs, he finished the tournament with a 4-2 record, and, as part of his run to fifth place, he defeated No. 4 seed Dan Reed of Columbia twice as well as No. 8 seed Kizhan Clarke of American.
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.
AGAINST THE FIELD
Brown's quartet of NCAA competitors carry a 14-24 record against the field into the weekend. Senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) leads the way with a 6-5 mark against the 165-pound field while senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) posted a 4-8 record against the 184-pound field. Senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) holds a 2-2 record against the 285-pound field, and senior Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) brings a 2-9 mark against the 157-pound field.
CJ LaFragola (4-8)
Lost to Max Dean (Cornell) on Jan. 26, Fall 4:39
Lost to Max Dean (Cornell) on Mar. 9, Dec. 8-4
Lost to Lou DePrez (Binghamton) on Jan. 26, MD 10-2
Lost to Tanner Harvey (American) on Mar. 9, Dec. 6-5
Lost to Jackson Hemauer (Fresno State) on Nov. 30, Dec. 3-1
Los to Jackson Hemauer (Fresno State) on Dec. 29, Dec. 10-7
Lost to Jackson Hemauer (Fresno State) on Dec. 30, MD 12-2
Beat Kevin Parker (Princeton) on Dec. 30, Dec. 16-10
Beat Kevin Parker (Princeton) on Feb. 2, Dec. 7-3
Lost to Will Schany (Virginia) on Nov. 30, Dec. 9-2
Beat Noah Stewart (Army) on Mar. 8, Dec. 2-1 TB2
Beat Noah Stewart (Army) on Mar. 9, Dec. 3-2
Jon Viruet (6-5)
Lost to Thomas Bullard (NC State) on Jan. 12, MD 17-2
Beat Colston DiBlasi (George Mason) on Nov. 11, MD 11-0
Beat Colston DiBlasi (George Mason) on Nov. 17, Dec. 4-0
Beat Zach Finesilver (Duke) on Jan. 12, Dec. 8-2
Beat Joseph Gunther (Illinois) on Dec. 30, Dec. 3-0
Lost to Ebed Jarrell (Drexel) on Mar. 9, Dec. 6-5
Beat Troy Keller (Buffalo) on Dec. 30, Dec. 8-3
Lost to Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) on Nov. 30, Dec. 6-4
Lost to Alex Marinelli (Iowa) on Dec. 29, Dec. 8-6 SV1
Beat Cael McCormick (Army) on Jan. 17, Dec. 5-4
Lost to Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa) on Dec. 30, MD 14-2
Ian Butterbrodt (2-2)
Lost to Zach Elam (Missouri) on Nov. 30, Dec. 3-1
Lost to AJ Nevills (Fresno State) on Nov. 30, Dec. 8-1
Beat Antonio Pelusi (American) on Mar. 9, Dec. 8-3
Beat Jeremy Sweany (Cornell) on Mar. 8, Dec. 6-4
Christian LaBrie (2-9)
Lost to Eric Barone (Illinois) on Nov. 30, Fall 8:00
Lost to Zach Hartman (Bucknell) on Jan. 19, Dec. 7-2
Lost to Hayden Hidlay (NC State) on Jan. 12, MD 16-8
Lost to Quincy Monday (Princeton) on Feb. 2, Dec. 10-4
Lost to Quincy Monday (Princeton) on Mar. 9, TF 17-2
Lost to Dan Reed (Columbia) on Feb. 16, Dec. 3-2
Beat Dan Reed (Columbia) on Mar. 8, Dec. 11-6
Beat Dan Reed (Columbia) on Mar. 9, Medical Forfeit
Lost to John Van Brill (Rutgers) on Dec. 29, MD 8-0
Lost to Luke Weiland (Army) on Jan. 17, TF 18-0
Lost to Luke Weiland (Army) on Mar. 8, Dec. 10-8 SV
IN THE RANKINGS
In the final rankings of the regular season, senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) ranks 21st in the Coaches Rankings and 12th in the RPI at 165 pounds. Senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) stands 23rd in the Coaches Rankings, 25th in the RPI, and 20th in Intermat's rankings. Senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) sits 29th in the Coaches Rankings.
ESPN COVERAGE
ESPN will provide live coverage of every match for the sixth straight year with views of all eight mats available via ESPN3. Linear coverage of the championships will feature across ESPN and ESPNU.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Live Video: WatchESPN (Schedule Below) | ESPN Mat-by-Mat Links
Live Results: TrackWrestling
On Twitter: @Brown_Wrestling | @BrownAthletics
On Facebook: Brown Wrestling | Brown University Athletics
On Instagram: brown_wrestling | brownathletics
Via Hashtag: #Rhode2PIT | #GoBruno
TEAM SUCCESS
Brown totaled four NCAA qualifiers for the first time since 2002 and posted at least three NCAA qualifiers and six EIWA placers in back-to-back years for the first time since 2000. The Bears placed eighth as a team at the EIWA Championships – marking the program's highest finish at the conference tournament since 2004 – and totaled five All-Ivy selections for the first time since 2008.
THE MATCHUPS
Appearing in the NCAA Championships for the third consecutive season, senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) – the No. 27 seed behind a 24-9 record – will square off with No. 6 seed Drew Foster (23-5) of Northern Iowa in the round of 32 at 184 pounds on Thursday morning.
Competing at NCAAs for the second straight year, senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) – the No. 17 seed with a 31-8 mark – will meet No. 16 seed Thomas Bullard (20-8) of NC State in the round of 32 at 165 pounds on Thursday morning.
In his first appearance at NCAAs, senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) – the No. 27 seed with an 18-6 mark – will meet No. 6 seed Amar Dhesi (10-1) of Oregon State in the round of 32 at 285 pounds on Thursday morning.
Making his debut at the NCAA Championships, senior Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) – the No. 30 seed behind a 17-18 record – will face No. 3 seed Ryan Deakin (29-4) of Northwestern in the round of 32 at 157 pounds on Thursday morning.
LAFRAGOLA MAKES THIRD APPEARANCE
A three-time Second Team All-Ivy selection, senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships for the third straight year with a fifth-place finish at 184 pounds at EIWAs. He tallied his third consecutive 20-win campaign and ranks second on the team in wins (24), dual wins (12), dual EIWA wins (nine), major decisions (six), and dual points (42). LaFragola posted two wins at NCAAs in 2018.
VIRUET BACK-TO-BACK
Senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) – who earned First Team All-Ivy this winter – has 31 wins on the year and leads the Bears in wins (31), dual wins (13), dual EIWA wins (11), falls (five), major decisions (eight), dual points (54), and dual pins (four). He came in sixth at 165 pounds at the 2019 EIWA Championships, placing at EIWAs for the third time. Making his second straight appearance at NCAAs, he earned an upset over the No. 8 seed at 165 in 2018.
BUTTERBRODT ON A ROLL
Senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) captured All-Ivy for the second straight year, taking home first team honors for the first time. He placed second at 285 pounds at EIWAs, earning a spot in the NCAA Championships for the first time, marking the Bears' highest finish at EIWAs since 2012, and becoming just the second Brown wrestler to reach an EIWA final since 2004. Butterbrodt completed an undefeated dual campaign, finishing 11-0, including 8-0 in EIWA duals, and won the three bouts in which he contested at EIWAs, giving him a 14-match win streak.
LABRIE'S EIWA RUN
Senior Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) captured All-Ivy plaudits for the first time this winter after placing fifth at 157 pounds at EIWAs and gaining his first berth in the NCAA Championships. At EIWAs, he finished the tournament with a 4-2 record, and, as part of his run to fifth place, he defeated No. 4 seed Dan Reed of Columbia twice as well as No. 8 seed Kizhan Clarke of American.
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.
AGAINST THE FIELD
Brown's quartet of NCAA competitors carry a 14-24 record against the field into the weekend. Senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) leads the way with a 6-5 mark against the 165-pound field while senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) posted a 4-8 record against the 184-pound field. Senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) holds a 2-2 record against the 285-pound field, and senior Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) brings a 2-9 mark against the 157-pound field.
CJ LaFragola (4-8)
Lost to Max Dean (Cornell) on Jan. 26, Fall 4:39
Lost to Max Dean (Cornell) on Mar. 9, Dec. 8-4
Lost to Lou DePrez (Binghamton) on Jan. 26, MD 10-2
Lost to Tanner Harvey (American) on Mar. 9, Dec. 6-5
Lost to Jackson Hemauer (Fresno State) on Nov. 30, Dec. 3-1
Los to Jackson Hemauer (Fresno State) on Dec. 29, Dec. 10-7
Lost to Jackson Hemauer (Fresno State) on Dec. 30, MD 12-2
Beat Kevin Parker (Princeton) on Dec. 30, Dec. 16-10
Beat Kevin Parker (Princeton) on Feb. 2, Dec. 7-3
Lost to Will Schany (Virginia) on Nov. 30, Dec. 9-2
Beat Noah Stewart (Army) on Mar. 8, Dec. 2-1 TB2
Beat Noah Stewart (Army) on Mar. 9, Dec. 3-2
Jon Viruet (6-5)
Lost to Thomas Bullard (NC State) on Jan. 12, MD 17-2
Beat Colston DiBlasi (George Mason) on Nov. 11, MD 11-0
Beat Colston DiBlasi (George Mason) on Nov. 17, Dec. 4-0
Beat Zach Finesilver (Duke) on Jan. 12, Dec. 8-2
Beat Joseph Gunther (Illinois) on Dec. 30, Dec. 3-0
Lost to Ebed Jarrell (Drexel) on Mar. 9, Dec. 6-5
Beat Troy Keller (Buffalo) on Dec. 30, Dec. 8-3
Lost to Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) on Nov. 30, Dec. 6-4
Lost to Alex Marinelli (Iowa) on Dec. 29, Dec. 8-6 SV1
Beat Cael McCormick (Army) on Jan. 17, Dec. 5-4
Lost to Bryce Steiert (Northern Iowa) on Dec. 30, MD 14-2
Ian Butterbrodt (2-2)
Lost to Zach Elam (Missouri) on Nov. 30, Dec. 3-1
Lost to AJ Nevills (Fresno State) on Nov. 30, Dec. 8-1
Beat Antonio Pelusi (American) on Mar. 9, Dec. 8-3
Beat Jeremy Sweany (Cornell) on Mar. 8, Dec. 6-4
Christian LaBrie (2-9)
Lost to Eric Barone (Illinois) on Nov. 30, Fall 8:00
Lost to Zach Hartman (Bucknell) on Jan. 19, Dec. 7-2
Lost to Hayden Hidlay (NC State) on Jan. 12, MD 16-8
Lost to Quincy Monday (Princeton) on Feb. 2, Dec. 10-4
Lost to Quincy Monday (Princeton) on Mar. 9, TF 17-2
Lost to Dan Reed (Columbia) on Feb. 16, Dec. 3-2
Beat Dan Reed (Columbia) on Mar. 8, Dec. 11-6
Beat Dan Reed (Columbia) on Mar. 9, Medical Forfeit
Lost to John Van Brill (Rutgers) on Dec. 29, MD 8-0
Lost to Luke Weiland (Army) on Jan. 17, TF 18-0
Lost to Luke Weiland (Army) on Mar. 8, Dec. 10-8 SV
IN THE RANKINGS
In the final rankings of the regular season, senior Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) ranks 21st in the Coaches Rankings and 12th in the RPI at 165 pounds. Senior CJ LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) stands 23rd in the Coaches Rankings, 25th in the RPI, and 20th in Intermat's rankings. Senior Ian Butterbrodt (North Andover, Mass.) sits 29th in the Coaches Rankings.
ESPN COVERAGE
ESPN will provide live coverage of every match for the sixth straight year with views of all eight mats available via ESPN3. Linear coverage of the championships will feature across ESPN and ESPNU.
| Television Schedule | ||||
| Day | Date | Time (ET) | Session | Network |
| Thu. | Mar. 21 | Noon-3:30 p.m. | First Round | ESPNU |
| 7:00-10:30 p.m. | Second Round | ESPN | ||
| Fri. | Mar. 22 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Third Round - Quarterfinals | ESPNU |
| 8:00-11:00 p.m. | Fourth Round - Semifinals | ESPN | ||
| Sat. | Mar. 23 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Fifth Session - Medal Rounds | ESPNU |
| 7:00-10:00 p.m. | Sixth Session - Championship Finals | ESPN | ||
| ESPN3 Schedule | ||||
| Day | Date | Time (ET) | Session | No. of Mats |
| Thu. | Mar. 21 | Noon-3:30 p.m. | First Session | 8 |
| 7:00-10:30 p.m. | Second Session | 8 | ||
| Fri. | Mar. 22 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Third Session - Quarterfinals | 8 |
| 8:00-11:00 p.m. | Fourth Session - Semifinals | 6 | ||
| Sat. | Mar. 23 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Fifth Session - Medal Round | 3 |
| 6:30-7:00 p.m. | "Off the Mat" - Pregame Show | N/A | ||
| 7:00-10:00 p.m. | "Off the Mat" - Championship Finals | 1 | ||
| 10:00-10:30 p.m. | "Off the Mat" - Postgame Show | N/A | ||
Players Mentioned
285 lbs
/ Wrestling
157/165 lbs
/ Wrestling
184 lbs
/ Wrestling
165 lbs
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