ROANOKE — Some of the country’s best wrestlers will gather in Roanoke, Virginia this weekend to crown 10 national champions at the NCAA Division III Championships — and a pair of former Maine standouts will be among those hunting for hardware.
University of Southern Maine junior Peter Del Gallo and Worcester Polytechnic Institute senior Michael Curtis both qualified for nationals by placing third at the Northeast Regional tournament.
Del Gallo, a four-time state champ from Gardiner High School, will be making his second straight trip to the national tournament. The USM standout believes he has the right mindset heading into this weekend.
“I think my mentality going into this year’s tournament compared to last year’s is way better. Last year, (I had) all the nerves and (it was) the first time going out on the national level. This year, it’s kind of like I’m ready for it. I’m ready to go compete and wrestle hard,” said Del Gallo, who is the younger brother of 2017 national champion Dan Del Gallo.
Curtis, a three-time state champion at Wells, will be making his first appearance at the national tournament.
“The second I finished at Wells this was my goal, so I’m glad after four years I finally got to take the trip,” said Curtis, who will go in unseeded in the 197-pound bracket.

The former Wells standout is heading into the tournament looking to take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy his final days as a college wrestler.
“I basically heard the hardest part is getting here, so I’m here and win or lose, I’ve got nothing to hold back. Friday or Saturday, one of those two, will be my last time wrestling in college no matter what so I just have to bring it to them and anything can happen. I’m just glad I got the opportunity,” said Curtis.
Curtis credits his coaches growing up in Wells and at WPI with preparing him to succeed at any level.
“All my coaches they’ve played a huge role in my success basically my whole life — from peewee to college — and I can’t thank any of them enough. They definitely shaped me and prepared me for the four years I had at college,” said Curtis, who will face No. 5 seed Antonio McCloud of Mount St. Joseph’s in the first round on Friday.
The WPI 197-pounder is looking to make some noise in his first national tournament.
“Basically just keep moving forward. Just treat every match like it’s my last and hopefully come out on top,” said Curtis of his goals for this weekend.
Del Gallo spent a large part of the season as the nation’s top-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds, but he will enter the D3 tourney as the sixth seed after placing third at regionals. The Gardiner native has never been focused on rankings — but he is embracing the role of underdog.
“Coach has always drilled it into our heads that rankings don’t matter and I really believe that. They don’t matter that much,” said Del Gallo, who will open the tournament against Brockport’s Matt Caccamise on Friday. “I’m going to be on my ‘A game’ and no one is going to expect me.”
Del Gallo has his sights set on bringing another national title back to Maine.
“The goal is to win it … the goal has never changed,” said Del Gallo.
NOTES: The tournament begins at 11 a.m. on Friday and will wrap up on Saturday with the finals set for a 7 p.m. start … Check out www.ncaa.com for a live stream of all four sessions of the tournament.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 780-9017. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.