WORCESTER – Sophomore heavyweight Austin Shrewsbury, of Westfield has helped thrust the Worcester Polytechnic Instititute wrestling team into the national spotlight.
AUSTIN SHREWSBURY
Earlier last month, Shrewsbury rose to 10th nationally in the Division III 285-pound weight class, a place he still finds himself today. The former Westfield High School wrestler rose to the top 10 ranking in the National Wrestling Coaching Association poll with a 9-2 start that included three first-period pins and a major decision, as well as a team-clinching victory over a nationally-ranked wrestler sandwiched between second place performances at the Roger Williams and RIT Invitationals.
Shrewsbury’s success continued after the holidays.
Austin Shrewsbury wrestles for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (Photo courtesy of WPI)
On Jan. 7, Shrewsbury placed second to help guide WPI to a second place finish at the Scott Viera Invitational. In that competition, he went 4-1, including a second round pin in less than 60 seconds, three decision victories, and a narrow 3-1 decision to his sixth-ranked opponent from Roger Williams.
Then, on Jan. 11, Shrewsbury earned a 4-1 decision as WPI swept a rare matinee in the school’s Sports & Recreation Center. Three days later, he recorded a 7-0 shutout in a tri-match at nationally-ranked Roger Williams.
WPI is back in action Jan. 22 at the NEWA Duals hosted by Johnson & Wales. Wrestling is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. – Material from Worcester Polytechnic Institute was used in this story
