CASTINE--Freshman Nathan Willoughby continues to make history as he becomes the first Maine Maritime Academy student-athlete to earn New England Wrestling Association Rookie of the Week accolades.

Willoughby shined at the Springfield College/Doug Parker Invitational last weekend at the Springfield College Field House, where the Mariners men's wrestling team scored 36 points to finish in 11th place out of 15 schools.

For his part, Willoughby made history with a fifth-place showing at heavyweight for the highest placement in the program's NCAA modern era, earning the event's Most Pins Award. He shut out his first two opponents 7-0 and 3-0 to reach the championship quarterfinals where he lost a tough 10-2 major decision. But he bounced back to pin Southern Maine's Owen Bufagna in 2 minutes and 20 seconds, Joao Pires of the host Pride in 50 seconds and Spencer Dickinson of Western New England in 1:08 to end the afternoon with a 5-1 record.