Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey wrestling team and Springfield College battled to an 18-18 after 10 weight classes, but the Lions earned the deciding team point on criteria to come away with a one-point victory over the Pride on Sunday.
 
The teams each won five weight classes and they also each had one victory by fall, going to the third criteria before determining a winner. In a match that was close throughout, it came down to total points scored with Lions holding a one-point advantage at 45-44 to secure the win. That gave the hosts the 19-18 victory.
 
The win put 25^th-ranked TCNJ at 12-6 for the season.
 
The match started at 141 pounds and the Lions took advantage with freshman Ryan Budzek (Pt. Pleasant Boro, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) posting a 6-3 decision, staking the hosts to a 3-0 lead.
 
The Pride responded with three straight wins to take a 9-3 lead.
 
TCNJ got three team points back at 174 pounds as freshman Kellen Whitney (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) picked up 9-7 decision. The Lions knotted the match at 9-9 thanks to a 5-0 decision from sophomore Dan Wojtaszek (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) at 184.
 
A pin for the Pride at 197 pounds gave them a 15-9 lead, but senior Nathaniel Leer (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) landed a 9-4 decision to pull the hosts to within three points. Leer's win came at heavyweight.
 
Sophomore Kevin Corrigan (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) propelled the Lions into the lead at 18-15, needing only 1:39 to record a pin at 125.
 
The Pride forced the match to be decided by criteria at 133 pounds when Springfield won by decision to end the match in an 18-18 deadlock.
 
The Lions acre back in action on Friday, February 6 when they head to 11^th-ranked Wilkes University for a 7 p.m. start with the Colonels.
 
#25 The College of New Jersey 19, Springfield College 18
*141 Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) dec. Jacob Strohman (SC), 6-3 (TCNJ 3-0)
149 Zach Joseph (SC) dec. Dylan Thorsen (TCNJ), 12-9 (Tied 3-3)
157 Eric Hamrick (SC) dec. Antonio Mancella (TCNJ), 3-0 (SC 6-3)
165 #1 Dylan Foley (SC) dec. Joe Paton (TCNJ), 4-1 (SC 9-3)
174 Kellen Whitney (TCNJ) dec. Connor Sheehan (SC), 9-7 (SC 9-6)  
184 Dan Wojtaszek (TCNJ) dec. Devin Hurst (SC), 5-0 (Tied 9-9)
197 Hunter Ayen (SC) pinned Brandon Simon (TCNJ), 1:32 (SC 15-9)
285 Nathaniel Leer (TCNJ) dec. Jake Benedict (SC), 9-4 (SC 15-12)
125 Kevin Corrigan (TCNJ) pinned Rodney Benjamin (SC), 1:39 (TCNJ 18-15)
133 Tyler Keane (SC) dec. James Goldschmidt (TCNJ), 11-6, (Tied 18-18)
TCNJ earns one team point on third criteria (Total points scored, 45-44)
*Match started at 141 pounds