HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Centenary University wrestling team nearly pulled off an upset on Friday night, but No. 6 The College of New Jersey won the final two weight classes to secure the 21-16 victory.
The Cyclones had battled back from a 12-0 deficit to take a 16-15 lead before the Lions just edged the home team in the final two weight classes for the win.
"I'm proud of the guys and how hard they battled against a tough team," said head coach
John Garriques.
TCNJ had jumped out to the early 12-0 victory with wins in each of the first three weight classes. Junior
Dylan Luciano fell to No. 9
Dan Ortega at 125-pounds. Sophomore
Jacy Jones was just edged by No. 3
Jake Giordano at 133-pounds and sophomore
Cameron Bruffy was tripped up by
Robert Dinger at 141-pounds.
The Cyclones began their comeback fight as freshman
Ryan Anderson, currently ranked eighth at 149-pounds, battled for an 11-2 major decision against
Anthony Gagliano. Anderson has now won 24 matches this season.
Sophomore
Stanley Wojdylak used a near fall in the closing seconds of the third period to earn a 7-4 decision over
Matt Surich at 165-pounds.
Senior
Jeremy Nurnberger followed that up with his second win of the week, this time a 6-2 decision against
Alfonso Pinto at 165-pounds. Nurnberger's win pulled the Cyclones to within two, 12-10 in the match.
TCNJ increased its lead to 15-10 as No. 9
Dan Kilroy earned a win by decision over senior
Alec Donovan at 174-pounds.
Junior
Kenny Long gave the Cyclones their first lead of the match (16-15) with a win by fall at 184-pounds. Long secured his fall over Daniel Surich in 4:32.
TCNJ went back on top as
Thom Anderson edged sophomore
Justin Hopman, 3-1 at 197-pounds.
The heavyweight battle proved to be a tough one as it was scoreless after the first period. Freshman
Jayvon Davidson went up 1-0 during the second with an escape.
Thomas Marretta recorded an escape to start the third period and tied the bout at 1-1. A late stalling call on the Cyclones gave Marretta a 2-1 win in the bout.
The Cyclones will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 13 when they travel to Delaware Valley for a 7 p.m. match.
TCNJ 21, Centenary 16
125: Dan Ortega (TCNJ) over
Dylan Luciano (Cent) by tech fall (23-7) – TCNJ leads 5-0
133: Jake Giordano (TCNJ) over
Jacy Jones (Cent) by decision, 3-1 – TCNJ leads 8-0
141: Robert Dinger (TCNJ) over
Cameron Bruffy (Cent) by major decision (19-5) – TCNJ leads 12-0
149: Ryan Anderson (Cent) over Anthony Gagliano (TCNJ) by major decision (11-2) – TCNJ leads 12-4
157: Stanley Wojdylak (Cent) over Matt Surich (TCNJ) by decision, 7-4 – TCNJ leads 12-7
165: Jeremy Nurnberger (Cent) over Alfonso Pinto (TCNJ) by decision, 6-2 – TCNJ leads 12-10
174: Dan Kilroy (TCNJ) over
Alec Donovan (Cent) by decision, 6-1 – TCNJ leads 15-10
184: Kenny Long (Cent) over Daniel Surich (TCNJ) by fall (4:32) – Centenary leads 16-15
197: Thom Anderson (TCNJ) over
Justin Hopman (Cent) by decision, 3-1 – TCNJ leads 18-16
285: Thomas Marretta (TCNJ) over
Jayvon Davidson (Cent) by decision, 2-1 – TCNJ leads 21-16
