Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey wrestling team went toe-to-toe with eighth-ranked Messiah College, but the visiting Falcons eventually pulled away and clipped the Lions 20-15 on Saturday.
 
The match featured six lead changes as the eighth-ranked Falcons (19-1) won the final two bouts to complete the win. The loss dropped 26^th-ranked TCNJ to 12-9 on the season.
 
Prior to the match, the Lions honored the team's two seniors as they were recognized for their contributions to the program. Honored in a brief ceremony were Nathaniel Leer (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) and Zach Zotollo (Paramus, NJ/Paramus).
 
TCNJ got a pin by Jason Goldschmidt (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) at 133 pounds as he recorded that fall in 4:24. Those six points gave the Lions a 6-4 lead after the Falcons won the first match of the night.
 
Messiah took the lead back at 141, but a resilient TCNJ team came right back. Steve Schneider (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) battled his way to a tough 2-0 decision at 149. That win pushed the Lions back in front at 9-7.
 
Junior Antonio Mancella (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) posted a dramatic 7-6 win at 157, as he bumped off Larry Cannon, who entered the match ranked seventh nationally in that weight class.
 
The Falcons closed the margin to 12-10 with a win at 165, setting the stage for the most anticipated match of the night at 174. Zotollo is ranked first nationally, while Messiah's Josh Thomson is sixth. Thomson got the best of the Lion as he came away with a 10-6 decision that put the visitors back in the lead at 13-12.
 
TCNJ once again turned in a gutsy performance with sophomore Brandon Simon (Iselin, NJ/John F. Kennedy Memorial) coming up big. He pulled out a 10-9 decision at 184 to catapult the hosts back into the lead.
 
The Falcons then rallied for the win by scoring decisions in the final two weight classes.
 
TCNJ is idle until the NCAA East Regional on Sunday, March 1 in Virginia hosted by Ferrum College. The top three place winners at that tournament will then advance to the NCAA Division III Championship in Hershey, PA on March 13-14.
 
#8 Messiah College 20, #26 The College of New Jersey 15
125 – #2 Lucas Malmberg (MC) by major dec. over Kevin Corrigan (TCNJ), 13-4 (MC 4-0)
133 – James Goldschmidt (TCNJ) pinned Tyler Kishimoto (MC), 4:24 (TCNJ 7-6)
141 – #1 Kaleb Loht (MC) dec. Ryan Budzek (TCNJ), 6-1 (MC 7-6)
149 – Steve Schneider (TCNJ) dec. Adam Peris (MC), 2-0 (TCNJ 9-7)
157 – Antonio Mancella (TCNJ) dec. #7 Larry Cannon (MC), 7-6 (TCNJ 12-7)
165 – Derek Beitz (MC) dec. Kellen Whitney (TCNJ), 5-1 (TCNJ 12-10)
174 – #6 Josh Thomson (MC) dec. #1 Zach Zotollo (TCNJ), 10-6 (MC 13-12)
184 – Brandon Simon (TCNJ) dec. Jeremy Bailes (MC) 10-9 (TCNJ 15-13)
197 – Kyle Koser (MC) by major dec. Nathaniel Leer (TCNJ), 9-0 (MC 17-15)
285 – Jason Wright (MC) dec. Sigala Fosam (TCNJ), 6-3 (MC 20-15)