Ewing, NJ… In a match-up of in-state wrestling programs, The College of New Jersey got the best of Centenary College as the Lions won the final seven weight classes to secure a 34-7 victory over the Cyclones.
The Lions, ranked 18th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III poll, are now 11-1 this season, while the Cyclones slipped to 9-4.
TCNJ got the first points of the match as Danny Franke (Jackson, NJ/Freehold Boro) won by forfeit at 125, but the Cyclones came right back to get on the board cutting into the deficit as Jay-Anthony Giuricich (Blairstown, NJ/Blair Academy) posted a victory by major decision at 133. Giuricich's win made it a 6-4 match with the hosts holding the advantage.
At 141 pounds, Centenary took its first lead at 7-6 as Dave Alsieux (Belmar, NJ/Manasquan) pulled out a 6-4 overtime win over Bill Tenpenny (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional). That advantage didn't last long as the Lions jumped right back in front with an overtime win of their own as John Barnett (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Township) slipped past Centenary's Jon Stillo (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg), 3-1 at 149.
TCNJ tacked on another win at 157 to increase its lead to 12-7 as junior Tyler Branham (Newton, NJ/Kittatinny) posted a 10-5 decision. Justin Bonitatis (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) continued TCNJ's surge at 165 as the sophomore won scored a 13-4 major decision bumping the hosts advantage to 16-7.
Senior Greg Osgoodby (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) kept things going for the home team as he recorded a 17-1 technical fall in 4:59. That victory put TCNJ's cushion at 21-7. The lead continued to grow as Scott Kelley (Vineland, NJ/Sacred Heart) won 12-6 at 184 and freshman Ed Broderick (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) won by fall in 1:12 at 197 pushing the score to 30-7.
In the final bout of the night, TCNJ's Kyle Falzone (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) pulled away from Centenary's George Mack Manchester, NJ/Manchester) for a 12-4 major decision.
TCNJ has the weekend off and returns to the mat on Tuesday, January 27 at 19th-ranked Wilkes University, while the Cyclones are back in action on January 28 wrestling at King's College.
Weight by weight summary
#18 TCNJ 34, Centenary 7
125: Danny Franke (TCNJ) by forfeit
133: Jay-Anthony Guiricich (CC) maj. dec. Jaishon Scott (TCNJ), 12-4
141: Dave Alsieux (CC) dec. Bill Tenpenny (TCNJ), 6-4 (OT)
149: John Barnett (TCNJ) dec. Jon Stillo (CC), 3-1 (OT)
157: Tyler Branham (TCNJ) dec. Owen Vernon (CC), 10-5
165: Justin Bonitatis (TCNJ) maj. dec. Matt Regan (CC), 13-4
174: Greg Osgoodby (TCNJ) tech. fall Charles Cannella (CC), 17-1 (4:59)
184: Scott Kelley (TCNJ) dec. J.J. Mitchell (CC), 12-6
197: Ed Broderick (TCNJ) pinned Frank Aversa (CC) 1:12
285: Kyle Falzone (TCNJ) maj. dec. George Mack (CC), 12-4
