Link to tournament website

Williamsport, PA… The College of New Jersey wrestling team won its first two matches on Friday at the 21st Annual Budd Whitehill Division III National Duals putting them into the semifinals.

The Lions, seeded fifth in the tournament hosted by Lycoming College, opened with a lopsided 40-5 victory over Baldwin-Wallace College before edging fourth-seeded SUNY Cortland, 19-18.

TCNJ, which is ranked 18th in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III poll, remained undefeated on the season moving to 7-0. The Lions face its toughest test in the tournament in the semifinals taking on top-seeded University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. TCNJ is ranked 18th nationally, while UW-Whitewater is fifth. That match is slated for Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

In the first dual meet of the day, the Lions rolled past Baldwin-Wallace dropping only one weight class. Junior Tyler Branham (Newton, NJ/Kittatinny) won by fall for the Lions in 2:00 minutes at 149 pounds, while winning by major decision were Bill Tenpenny Bayville, NJ/Central Regional) at 141, John Dinan (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) at 157, Justin Bonitatis (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) at 165 and Ed Broderick (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) at 197.

The match against the Red Dragons was much closer as TCNJ fought its way back from a 9-0 deficit. The Lions reeled off four straight wins to take a 13-9 advantage. After SUNY Cortland climbed back to within a point, Broderick secured the team's win by accepting a forfeit at 197 giving the Lions a seven-point cushion with one match remaining.

Also earning wins for TCNJ in the match were John Barnett (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) at 149, Dan DiColo (Budd Lake, NJ/Mt. Olive) at 157, Bonitatis at 165, and Greg Osgoodby (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) at 174.

Round 1
#18 TCNJ 40, Baldwin-Wallace College 5
125: Dan Francke (T) win by forfeit
133: Brian Bucher (B) tech fall Jaishon Scott (18-2, third)
141: Bill Tenpenny (T) maj Phillip Payne (12-3)
149: Tyler Branham (T) pin Tim Levitsky (2:00)
157: John Dinan (T) maj Scott Haber (11-0)
165: Justin Bonitatis (T) maj Joe Incorvaia (12-3)
174: Greg Osgoodby (T) dec. Andrew Scavuzzo (7-2)
184: Scott Kelley (T) dec. Korey Leonhard (4-3)
197: Ed Broderick (T) maj. Ryan Tudor (11-0)
285: Kyle Falzone (T) win by forfeit


Round 2
#18 TCNJ 19, #17 Cortland State 18
125: Peppy Cabrera (C) dec. Dan Franke (13-6)
133: Aljamain Sterling (C) dec. Kyle Kinchen (5-0)
141: Stephen Perez (C) dec. Bill Tenpenny (7-4)
149: John Barnett (T) dec. Kevil Sackett (3-1)
157: Dan DiColo (T) dec. Cory Mahoney (4-3)
165: Justin Bonitatis (T) maj. Will Brodfuehrer (21-8)
174: Greg Osgoodby (T) dec. Mikel Cabrera (10-3)
184: Martino Sottile (C) dec. Scott Kelly (4-3)
197: Ed Broderick (T) win by forfeit
285: Joe Murphy (C) pin Kyle Falzone (2:39)