Williamsport, Pa … The College of New Jersey wrestling team put forth a tremendous effort at the 2016 Budd Whitehill National Duals and came up just shy in the championship match against Messiah College.

The 14-ranked Lions (11-1) took the sixth-ranked Falcons to the final weight class, but Messiah clinched the match with a 3-1 sudden victory to come out on top by a final of 20-15. The championship appearance marked the best finish by TCNJ at the Budd Whitehill National Duals since 2011.
 
The title match was a back-and-forth throw-down between a pair of rival programs. The Falcons drew first blood as junior Lucas Malmberg – ranked number one nationally at 125 pounds – put the Falcons on the scoreboard with a victory by technical fall.
 
The Lions roared back as sophomore James Goldschmidt (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) returned the favor claiming the 133-pound bout by tech fall (23-8) to knot the match at 5-5. Sophomore Ryan Budzek (Point Pleasant Boro, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) then posted an 11-0 major decision at 141 followed by a gritty 2-0 win by senior Steve Schneider (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) at 149.
 
The Falcons pulled within four points with a decision at 157, but TCNJ junior Nick Herring (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) fought his way to an 11-7 win at 165 to stretch the lead.
 
The strength of the Messiah roster lies in its final four weight classes as three of those wrestlers are nationally ranked in the top 10. They captured the final four bouts to claim their third consecutive Budd Whitehill Dual championship.
 
Earlier in the day, it was a battle from start to finish in the semifinal match against 16^th-ranked Williams College. The Ephs took a 6-0 lead early, but a major decision by Goldschmidt followed by a 7-3 victory by Budzek and the Lions edged ahead 7-6.
 
Williams responded with two straight decisions, but the match turned when Herring posted a major decision and senior Doug Hamann (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) pinned his opponent in 1:44 at 174. The Ephs fought back, and with two weight classes remaining, the teams were locked at 17 points apiece.
 
At 184, junior Dan Wojtaszek (Brick, NJ/Brick Township) came up clutch with a 10-2 major decision to give TCNJ a four-point lead entering the heavyweight bout. Sophomore Constantine Rissiotis (Monmouth Jct., NJ/South Brunswick) answered the bell with a 5-0 shutout to propel the Lions into the championship against Messiah.
 
The Lions will take a short breather before returning to competition against United States Merchant Marine Academy. The dual meet is in Kings Point, NY and is slated for a 7 p.m. start.
 
Championship Match
Messiah College 20  TCNJ 15
 
125  Lucas Malmberg (Messiah) Tech Fall 20-5 Jimmy Gill (TCNJ); Messiah leads 5-0
133: James Goldschmidt (TCNJ) Tech Fall 23-8 Hunter Harris (Messiah); Match tied 5-5
141: Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) Maj. 11-0 Arty Walsh (Messiah); TCNJ leads 9-5
149: Steve Schneider (TCNJ) Dec. 2-0 (TCNJ) Greg Kabakjian (Messiah); TCNJ leads 12-5
157: Larry Cannon (Messiah) Dec. 6-1 Joe Paton (TCNJ); TCNJ leads 12-8
165: Nick Herring (TCNJ) Dec. 11-7 Jeff Hojnacki (Messiah); TCNJ leads 15-8
174: Derek Beitz (Messiah) Dec. 8-4 Doug Hamann (TCNJ); TCNJ leads 15-11
184: Ben Swarr (Messiah) Dec. 9-3 Dan Wojtaszek (TCNJ); TCNJ leads 15-14
197: Josh Thompson (Messiah) Dec. 7-0 Constantine Rissiotis (TCNJ); Messiah leads 17-15
285: Jason Wright (Messiah) SV 3-1 Kyle Cocozza (TCNJ); Messiah leads 20-15
 
Semifinal Match
TCNJ 24  Williams College 17
 
125  Matt Morris (Williams) Fall :40 Luis Rivera (TCNJ); Williams leads 6-0
133: James Goldschmidt (TCNJ) Maj. 8-0 Ben Morton (Williams); Williams leads 6-4
141: Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) Dec. 7-3 Brendon Seyfried (Williams); TCNJ leads 7-6
149: Jake Savoca (Williams) Dec. 4-1 Steve Schneider (TCNJ); Williams leads 9-7
157: Jorge Lopez (Williams) Dec. 12-8 Joe Paton (TCNJ); Williams leads 12-7
165: Nick Herring (TCNJ) Maj. 10-2 Timothy Garripoli (Williams); Williams leads 12-11
174: Doug Hamann (TCNJ) Fall 1:44 Carl Sangree (Williams); TCNJ leads 17-12
184: Christopher Chorzepa (Williams) Tech Fall 18-3 Kyle Lynch (TCNJ); Match tied 17-17
197: Dan Wojtaszek (TCNJ) Maj. 10-2 Anthony Brooks (Williams); TCNJ leads 21-17
285: Constantine Rissiotis (TCNJ) Dec. 5-0 Sebastian Dziadkiewicz (Williams); TCNJ leads 24-17