Ewing, NJ ...  The College of New Jersey wrestling team enters the 2016-17 season just four wins shy of 700 in program history, and that journey to reach round numbers begins tonight at Stevens Institute of Technology at 7 p.m.

With the pursuit of 700 being a monumental goal, the milestone victory is not the end focus for the Lions. "Our motto this year is, 'Get better every day'" said head coach Joe Galante '07, who enters his sixth season at the helm of the Lions' program. With several strong returners and talented newcomers, the team looks to improve upon a season in which a Lion received All-American honors for the 46^th consecutive season, finished second at the NCAA East Regional championships, and 18-3 in dual meets.

Returning this season for the Lions include 2016 national qualifiers 165-pound senior Nick Herring and 141-pound junior Ryan Budzek. Herring, ranked ninth coming into the season at 165 pounds by the NWCA, finished last season 15-0 in dual meets and was 26-4 overall. Herring went 4-0 at the East Regional to claim first place in his weight class and advance. Budzek, who enters the season ranked ninth in his weight class by the NWCA, also had an undefeated dual meet record at 16-0, and finished the season 27-5 overall. Budzek went 3-1 at the East Regional for a second place finish in earning an automatic qualifying spot.

Senior 184-pounder Dan Wojtaszek had a 14-5 dual meet record and was 20-8 overall, including a team high 9 pins. Wojtaszek lost a 9-8 decision in the third place match at the NCAA regionals to finish just shy of a Championship qualifying spot. Junior James Goldschmidt finished 16-2 in dual meets and 21-8 overall, including winning two of his four matches at the NCAA East Regional last year and has shown great improvement over the offseason and has a chance to advance even further this year.

After sitting out all of last year due to injury, sophomore Eric Friedman should step in and be a large part of the Lions success this year. The first two-time state place winner that has joined the program in the tenure of Galante, Friedman spent the off-season training at the Princeton Regional Training Center and looks to be another in the long line of successful wresters at TCNJ.

"Our incoming freshman class is very strong, they will be wrestling a lot this year for us and will be in the starting line-up.", Galante said about the group of newcomers on the squad.

The Lions open their season this evening in Hoboken, NJ before hosting their home opener against Kings College on November 16 at 7:30 pm for the first home match of the season. The team hosts in-state rival Centenary College January 20, 2017 at 7:30 pm. The season's final dual meet is February 11, 2017 at 12:00 pm when the Lions are host to Messiah College. The NCAA East Regional is scheduled for February 25-26, 2017 and the NCAA Division III Championships will be held in LaCrosse, WI March 10-11, 2017.