Ricardo Gomez ’13 capped his senior season with the Ithaca Bombers in the best possible way—as a national champion. Competing at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship in March, he powered his way to a 4-2 decision victory in the finals of the 125-pound weight class, becoming the 11th individual national champion in the history of IC’s wrestling program.

Gomez, an accounting major and two-time state place-winner in high school, began his college wrestling career at Nassau Community College, where he was a two-time NJCAA runner-up. Joining the Bombers as a junior in 2011, he posted an impressive 20-7 overall record, earned all-state honors at the 125-pound weight class, and competed as IC’s entrant at the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference meet. He also placed third at the Ithaca Invitational and fourth at York College’s New Standard Corporation Invitational, competing at 133 pounds.

Gomez built on his success his senior year: he posted 25 regular-season wins and just two losses and entered the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship as the top seed in his bracket.

In the finals he faced Jimmy Gotto, a junior from Coe College who had placed third in regional competition before making an unexpected run to the finals of the 125-pound championship bout.

Gomez took the lead early and never looked back, earning a 4-2 decision to seal the victory, the national title, and the perfect ending to a stellar career with the Ithaca Bombers. He finished the season at 29-2, and earned the Empire Collegiate Conference Wrestler of the Year Award.

Gomez’s brother, Alex Gomez ’13, placed sixth in the 133-pound weight class, and Jules Doliscar ’13 placed second in the 174-pound weight class, both earning all-American status.