WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The College of New Jersey wrestling team was nearly perfect Friday, advancing to the championship bracket at the Budd Whitehill Duals. The 12
th-ranked Lions opened the day with a dominant 46-3 win over Southern Virginia University. TCNJ then swept Wesleyan (Conn.) University 47-0. The squad closed out the day with a 40-0 win over SUNY Cortland. The Lions improved to 7-1 on the season with the trio of victories. Southern Virginia went 1-2 on the day to move to 3-9 on the year. Wesleyan dropped all three of its duals to drop to 0-3 on the season. SUNY Cortland went 2-1 to move to 5-1 this season.
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In the Lions opener against Southern Virginia, TCNJ was dominant from the start. After the Lions earned a forfeit at 125,
Domenic Difrancescantonio held a 14-0 lead going into the third period at 133. His opponent chose bottom and was able to earn a reversal to stave off a potential tech fall, with Difrancescantonio ending the match with a 15-2 major decision victory.
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At 141,
Anthony Rua used a dominant third period with a takedown and four back points to take control of a tight match and earn a 13-5 major decision.
Nic Mele held a 12-3 lead in the third period when he flattened his opponent with 39 seconds remaining in the match for his first pin of the season.
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The Lions earned a forfeit at 157 and
Alfonso Pinto Jr. earned his first win of the season at 165, winning an 11-7 decision.
Dan Kilroy earned his 45
th career pin at 174, needing just 52 seconds to turn his opponent.
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At 184,
Reid Colella built a 6-1 lead in the opening period. To begin the second period his opponent chose bottom and Colella went to work maintain top control for nearly a minute and a half before ending the bout early with a pin.
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Thomas Anderson needed all seven minutes at 197, but a takedown in the matches final 20 seconds combined with the riding time point were enough to earn an 18-3 tech fall win. The match ended with the Knights claiming their lone victory of the dual, a 2-0 decision by eighth-ranked Nico Ramirez at heavyweight.
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Dan Ortega got the Lions off to a strong start at 125 against Wesleyan. Ortega led 4-1 after the first period and 9-2 after the second on his way to a 12-2 major decision.
Jake Giordano saw his first action of the day at 133, the reigning All-American took down his opponent in both the first and second period, getting a 5-3 decision.
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At 141,
Robert Dinger took his opponent to the mat seven times, the final with 16 seconds remaining in the third period to extend his advantage to 19-4 and end the match via tech fall. At 149,
Anthony Gagliano used a pair of takedowns and 12 back points to earn an 18-0 tech fall in the second period.
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The Lions pushed the lead to 29-0 with forfeit victories at 157 and 165.
Dan Kilroy kept the momentum going at 174, going up 4-0 in the second period on his way to a 5-1 decision win.
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Daniel Surich claimed the first pin of the match at 184. Already leading 8-0 in the first period, Surich completed the turn and pinned his opponent in 2:19.
Peter Wersinger completed the sweep for the Lions at heavyweight. Tied 1-1 in the final minute of the third period, Wersinger took down his opponent to secure a 3-2 decision win.
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The Lions final match of the day began much like the first two. Ortega maintained top control for a large portion of the bout, earning a 13-2 major decision win to put TCNJ on top 4-0. At 133, Giordano built a 7-0 lead on his way to a 14-1 major decision victory.
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 At 141,
Robert Dinger took his opponent down eight times, including four in the final period, adding a riding time point for a 20-5 tech fall win that stretched the lead to 13-0.
Anthony Gagliano fought through a scoreless first period at 149. After his opponent deferred to begin the second, Gagliano chose bottom and quickly returned to his feet for the escape point. In the third, his opponent chose bottom to begin the period. Gagliano rode out the final two minutes for a 2-0 decision.
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Matthew Sacco showed skills in all three facets, earning two takedowns from neutral positions, two back points from the top, and a reversal from bottom for a 9-0 major decision win at 157.
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At 165,
John Garda needed just 1:18 to pin his opponent and extend the Lions advantage to 26-0. At 174,
Dan Kilroy wrestled strong on his way to a 4-0 decision victory.
Daniel Surich fell behind 2-0 via an early takedown, but bounced back to take a 13-4 major decision win at 184.
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Quin Haddad wrestled strong at 197, winning 15-4 to earn a bonus point. At heavyweight,
Thomas Marretta was tied 1-1 late in the third period, but his opponent held enough riding time for an extra point. With just three seconds remaining in the bout, Marretta charged through his opponent earning the takedown to seal a 3-2 decision victory. The win gave the Lions a 40-0 team win.
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The Lions will take on the winners of group D in the championship bracket tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.
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