WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The College of New Jersey wrestling team advanced to the championship bracket of the Budd Whitehill Duals Friday afternoon, winning three consecutive dual meets in dominant fashion. The 17^th-ranked Lions (7-1) defeated Castleton University (6-9) 34-9 to start the day, followed up with a 28-13 victory over The University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire (6-9), and closed out pool play by defeating host Lycoming College (9-4) 37-9.
 
In the opener against Castleton, TCNJ jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead behind a narrow 4-2 decision from Dan Ortega. After the Spartans evened the score with a decision at 133, the Lions took control. Robert Dinger won via forfeit at 141, followed quickly by back-to-back 16-0 technical falls from Anthony Gagliano and Mark Gerstacker. John Garda and Dan Kilroy clinched the dual early with pins at 165 and 174. The pin was the 34^th in the career of Kilroy, moving him into a tie for fourth in program history. Alex Mirabella earned a decision at 197 to round out the scoring for TCNJ.
 
Jacob Falleni and Nic Mele got the Lions off to a strong start against Eau Claire, picking up a decision wins at 125 and 133. With a pin at 141, the Blugolds tied the score at six. TCNJ responded with a trio of bonus point victories. Ryan Budzek earned a pin at 149, Gerstacker took a major decision at 157 and Kilroy pinned his second straight opponent at 174. Daniel Surich's decision win at 184 pushed the Lions to 2-0 on the day before Thomas Marretta won via decision to end the match.
 
In the final dual, Ortega deftly swung his opponent to the mat midway through the opening round. He secured a pin at the edge of the circle to again stake TCNJ to an early lead. The Lions continued the momentum into the 133 and 141 matches with Giordano and Dinger each earning pins to extend the advantage to 18-0. Budzek used a reversal early in the third period to secure a technical fall and push the lead to 23-0. TCNJ secured a trip to the championship round with a Garda decision and a forfeit given to Kilroy at 174. Surich earned his second win of the day with a technical fall at 184 to close out the scoring for the Lions.
 
TCNJ will return to the mats at 10:30 a.m. Saturday needing two victories to secure the team championship. The Lions have won the Budd Whitehill Duals a record nine times, most recently in the 2010-11 season.
 
#17 The College of New Jersey 34, Castleton 9
125 – Dan Ortega (TCNJ) dec. Nicholas Camacho (CAST) 4-2                                           TCNJ Leads 3-0
133 – Michael Gonyea (CAST) dec. Jake Giordano (TCNJ) 11-4                                       Score Tied 3-3
141 – Robert Dinger (TCNJ) fft.                                                                                                   TCNJ Leads 9-3
149 – Anthony Gagliano (TCNJ) T.F. Jason Ashline (CAST) 16-0                                      TCNJ Leads 14-3
157 – Mark Gerstacker (TCNJ) T.F. Daniel Haverty (CAST) 16-0                                      TCNJ Leads 19-3
165 – John Garda (TCNJ) Pin Cameron Milliken (CAST) 3:21                                            TCNJ Leads 25-3
174 – Dan Kilroy (TCNJ) Pin Chance LaPier (CAST) 0:40                                                      TCNJ Leads 31-3
184 – Jason Hoffman (CAST) dec. Daniel Surich (TCNJ) 14-10                                          TCNJ Leads 31-6
197 – Alex Mirabella (TCNJ) dec. Mitchell LaFlam (CAST) 3-1                                          TCNJ Leads 34-6
285 – Jesse Webb (CAST) dec. Thomas Marretta (TCNJ) 3-1                                            TCNJ Wins 34-9
 
#17 The College of New Jersey 28, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire 13
125 – Jacob Falleni (TCNJ) dec. Jack Marley (UWEC) 13-7                                                 TCNJ Leads 3-0
133 – Nic Mele (TCNJ) dec. Thomas Severson (UWEC) 9-4                                              TCNJ Leads 6-0
141 – Jake Drexler (UWEC) Pin Robert Dinger (TCNJ) 6:20                                               Score Tied 6-6
149 – Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) Pin Hunter Pierce (UWEC) 2:39                                               TCNJ Leads 12-6
157 – Mark Gerstacker (TCNJ) Maj. Brady Bastyr (UWEC) 11-0                                      TCNJ Leads 16-6
165 – Chase Schmidt (UWEC) dec. JT Beirne (TCNJ) 8-5                                                    TCNJ Leads 16-9
174 – Dan Kilroy (TCNJ) Pin Evan Lawrence (UWEC) 1:55                                                 TCNJ Leads 22-9
184 – Daniel Surich (TCNJ) dec. Jordan Blanchard (UWEC) 6-4                                       TCNJ Leads 25-9
197 – Grant Balconi (UWEC) Maj. Alex Mirabella (TCNJ) 10-0                                         TCNJ Leads 25-13
285 – Thomas Marretta (TCNJ) dec. Austin Hakes (UWES) 4-3                                       TCNJ Wins 28-13
 
#17 The College of New Jersey 37, Lycoming 9
125 – Dan Ortega (TCNJ) Pin Shane Casey (LYCO) 2:45                                                      TCNJ Leads 6-0
133 – Jake Giordano (TCNJ) Pin Seth Andrus (LYCO) 0:38                                                 TCNJ Leads 12-0
141 – Robert Dinger (TCNJ) Pin Joe Santomarco (LYCO) 3:22                                          TCNJ Leads 18-0
149 – Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) T.F. Josiah McClarren (LYCO) 16-0                                         TCNJ Leads 23-0
157 – Trevor Corl (LYCO) dec. Mark Gerstacker (TCNJ) 4-1                                              TCNJ Leads 23-3
165 – John Garda (TCNJ) dec. Hadyn Swartwood (LYCO) 4-0                                           TCNJ Leads 26-3
174 – Dan Kilroy (TCNJ) fft.                                                                                                          TCNJ Leads 32-3
184 – Daniel Surich (TCNJ) T.F. Bradley Miccio (LYCO) 15-0                                             TCNJ Leads 37-3
197 – Travis Ogden (LYCO) dec. Alex Mirabella (TCNJ) 9-2                                               TCNJ Leads 37-6
285 – Garrett Wesneski (LYCO) dec. Thomas Marretta (TCNJ) 6-0                                TCNJ Wins 37-9