PROVIDENCE, R.I.. – Cortland junior Angelo Centrone (Mahopac) advanced to the semifinals at 149 pounds during the first day of competition at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. The two-day tournament is being held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.
 
Centrone, the second seed, received a bye in the first round and defeated Michael Conklin of TCNJ in the second round, 8-4. Centrone then edged Elijah Cyr of Castleton, 4-2, in the quarterfinals.
 
Centrone improved to 29-0 with the two victories and he's guaranteed a top-six finish and All-America honors. The top eight finishers are recognized as All-Americans. He will face sixth-seeded Kyler Romero of Wartburg in the semifinals Saturday morning.
 
The match versus Conklin was scoreless after one period. Centrone posted a quick escape and then a takedown 40 seconds into the second to go up 4-0. Conklin's escape 18 seconds later made it 4-1, and his escape to start the third cut Centrone's lead to 4-2. Centrone earned a takedown with 1:40 left, but Conklin quickly turned that into a reversal and Centrone led 7-4. An escape point created the final 8-4 margin as neither wrestler scored over the final 1:17.
 
The quarterfinal match was also scoreless after one period, and Centrone recorded the only point of the second with a quick escape. Cyr tied the match with an escape five seconds into the third. Centrone, however, registered a takedown with 1:41 left to go up 4-1. Cyr escaped with 1:29 left and the match remained 4-2 the rest of the way.