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Drappi, Gauthier and Sutherland named NWCA Scholar All-Americans

Rhode Island College senior Travis Drappi (West Orange, N.J.), junior Brandon Gauthier (Lowell, Mass.) and senior Kevin Sutherland (Dauphin, Pa.) were named Scholar All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).

Drappi, who is a physical education major, owns a 3.50 GPA and received the honor for the second consecutive season. He finished his decorated career with a record of 91-42, while accumulating 162 takedowns, 33 reversals, 120 escapes, 78 near-falls and 21 pins. Drappi was a two-time All-New England wrestler.

As a senior in 2010-11, Drappi posted a record of 26-9. He was the top finisher at 133 lbs. in the Doug Parker Invitational (Nov. 20), while also placing second and third at the Citrus (Dec. 29-30) and Roger Williams (Nov. 13) invitationals, respectively. Drappi was named a First Team Pilgrim League All-Star.

Gauthier, who is a physical education/health major, owns a 3.07 GPA. He received the team’s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award and was an All-American, placing seventh at the 2011 NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships.

He was the New England Champion at 125 lbs. at the 2011 New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Championships in addition to garnering First Team All-Pilgrim League and Scholar-Athlete accolades.

Gauthier finished the season with a 40-8 record. He placed third at both the Roger Williams Invitational (Nov. 13) and Citrus Invitational (Dec. 29-30).

Sutherland, who is a physical education major, owns 3.66 GPA and receives this accolade for the third consecutive year. He finished a distinguished career with an overall record of 136-35 to go along with career totals of 261 takedowns, 29 reversals, 180 escapes, 116 near-falls and 13 pins.

Sutherland was a two-time NCAA individual qualifier. He was a four-time All-New England wrestler and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2009 New England Championships.

As a senior in 2010-11, he was 26-2, earning All-New England honors for the fourth straight season with a fourth place finish at the New England Championships. He placed first at the Roger Williams Invitational (Nov. 13) and second at the Citrus Invitational (Dec. 30). Sutherland was named a First-Team Pilgrim League All-Star.

Head coach Jay Jones’ team finished the season with an 11-10 overall record, a 9-6 mark against New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) opposition and was 3-2 in the Pilgrim Wrestling League. RIC placed eighth at the New England Championships.

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