Lions, Cowboys, Patriots score big comp picks in 2016 draft
Thirty-three additional draft picks were announced by the NFL on Friday, with four teams receiving additional third-round compensatory selections in the top 100.
The Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos had one extra third-round pick tacked onto the end of that round as compensation for loss in 2015 free agency. The Lions will pick 95th overall, followed by the Patriots, Seahawks and Broncos at Nos. 96-98.
Picks are rewarded by the NFL Management Council using a weighted system striving to equate losses and additions to the roster.
The picks start at No. 95 because the Patriots lost their first-round pick in the Deflategate drama and the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday were docked a third-rounder for tampering in free agency with then-Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Kansas City is appealing the penalty.
The Lions were hit hard in March 2015, when Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley went from the starting defensive tackle combination for Detroit to cashing checks elsewhere. Suh signed a record six-year, $114 million deal in Miami and Fairley took a shorter contract from the Rams.
The Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Patriots have the most 2016 compensatory picks with four apiece.
USM wrestlers receive All-American scholar honors
GORHAM – For the third consecutive season, University of Southern Maine wrestlers Daniel Del Gallo and Carl Luth have been named to the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association NCAA Scholar All-American Team.
Both Del Gallo and Luth earned the honor as freshmen and sophomores for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons, respectively. Joining Luth and Del Gallo is USM freshman Brendan Weir who was also selected as an NWCA Scholar All-American
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must carry a grade point average of at least 3.20 (cumulative) and meet one of three criteria: qualify for the NCAA Championships, place in the top six at the NCAA qualifier or win more than 66 percent of matches, and wrestle in 50 percent of scheduled dates.
USM senior wins pentathlon at NCAA championships
GRINNELL, Iowa — University of Southern Maine senior Peyton Dostie set two school records Friday en route winning the pentathlon during the first day of competition at the 2016 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships at Grinnell College.
Dostie is the first USM women’s athlete to win an NCAA national championship.
Dostie took the lead from the outset and never looked back, finishing first among the 17 competitors in the 60-meter hurdles with her time of 8.81 seconds.
In the high jump, the second of the five events that make up the women’s indoor pentathlon, Dostie broke the school record she set three weeks ago clearing 1.64 meters (5-4 ½) to add to her lead.
Calgary defenseman’s suspension cut in half
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman had a 20-game suspension reduced to 10 by an independent arbitrator, the NHL announced Friday.
Wideman already has served 19 games for the discipline he received for cross-checking linesman Don Henderson in a game against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 27.
Wideman was eligible to play for the Flames against the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night. He will also get back $282,258.10 of the $564,516.20 he was losing due to the suspension.
Wideman was suspended for violating Rule 40 (Physical Abuse of Officials) despite not being penalized for his actions.
He was the recipient of a hit from Nashville forward Miikka Salomaki. On his way back to the bench, Henderson was in the path and Wideman delivered a check that knocked the linesman to the ice.