Hoboken... The College of New Jersey wrestling team kicked off the 2015 portion of the schedule with a pair of wins as the Lions took down both Hunter College and Trinity (CT) College on Sunday.
 
TCNJ made the short trip to Hoboken for the matches as they first edged Hunter College 22-19 and then torched Trinity 44-3. The Lions are now 4-3 on the season as they gear up for this weekend's prestigious Budd Whitehill National Duals hosted by Lycoming College.
 
In the win over Hunter, the Lions held a narrow 12-10 heading into the 174-pound bout and pulled away with consecutive wins. Senior Zach Zotollo (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) recorded a pin in 3:38, while freshman Brandon Simon (Iselin, NJ/John F. Kennedy Memorial) posted a 10-2 major decision at 184. Simon's win extended TCNJ's lead to 22-10 and then held on for the win.
 
Against Trinity, the Lions never trailed and claimed wins in the final eight weight classes.
 
TCNJ had three wrestlers go 2-0 on the day. Simon, sophomore Kevin Corrigan (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) at 125 and junior Antonio Mancella (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) at 157 each won both times they stepped out onto the mat.
 
The College of New Jersey 22, Hunter College 19
125: Kevin Corrigan (TCNJ) decision over Albert (H), 11-7 (TCNJ, 3-0)
133: Rice (H) decision over James Goldschmidt (TCNJ), 9-4 (Tied, 3-3)
141: Cary (H) decision over Ryan Budzek (TCNJ), 4-0 (Hunter, 6-3)
149: Dylan Thorsen (TCNJ) maj. dec. over Huang (H), 18-6 (TCNJ, 7-6)
157: Antonio Mancella (TCNJ) tech. fall Heine (H), 21-6 (TCNJ, 12-6)
165: Bader (H) maj. dec. over Luke Balina (TCNJ), 8-0 (TCNJ, 12-10)
174: Zach Zotollo (TCNJ) fall (3:28) over Wilkie (H) (TCNJ, 18-10)
184: Brandon Simon (TCNJ) maj. dec. over Garkusha (H), 10-2 (TCNJ, 22-10)
197: Melendez (H) dec. over Nathaniel Leer (TCNJ), 10-4 (TCNJ, 22-13)
HWT: Kopczynski (H) fall (4:23) over Sigala Fosam (TCNJ) (TCNJ wins, 22-19)
 
The College of New Jersey 44, Trinity (CT) College 3
125: Kevin Corrigan (TCNJ) wins by forfeit (TCNJ, 6-0)
133: Hamilton (Trin) dec. over Jimmy Gill (TCNJ) (TCNJ, 6-3)
141: Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) fall (1:09) over Brewer (Trin) (TCNJ, 12-3)
149: Steve Schneider (TCNJ) wins by forfeit (TCNJ, 18-3)
157: Antonio Mancella (TCNJ) wins by forfeit (TCNJ, 24-3)
165: Joe Paton (TCNJ) maj. dec. over Berland (Trin), 12-3 (TCNJ, 28-3)
174: Kellen Whitney (TCNJ) dec. over Gerish (Trin), 4-0 (TCNJ, 31-3)
184: Brandon Simon (TCNJ) maj. dec. over Konanki (Trin), 12-2 (TCNJ, 35-3)
197: Sigala Fosam (TCNJ) dec. over Hennessey (Trin), 7-2 (TCNJ, 38-3)
HWT: Nathaniel Leer (TCNJ) wins by forfeit (TCNJ wins, 44-3)