ITHACA, N.Y. – The No. 16 TCNJ wrestling team came away with a split in a pair of duals against nationally ranked opponents at Ithaca on Saturday, rebounding from a loss to Stevens to salvage an impressive victory over the host Bombers.

Ryan Rosenthal, Quinn Haddad, and Thomas Marretta each went 2-0 on the afternoon for the Lions (7-1), who fell by a 24-12 count to 20^th-ranked Stevens for their first dual setback of the year. TCNJ then bounced back nicely to pull away from No. 26 Ithaca in a tight battle.

No. 20 Stevens 24, No. 16 TCNJ 12
Rosenthal put his stamp on the opening bout with a takedown late in the first period against Akhil Vega, who came in sporting a regional ranking from the NWCA. The Lions' grappler continued to put the clamps on, eventually polishing off an 11-0 rout with six near-fall points and over four minutes of riding time.

Kyle Nase gave the Ducks' Luke Hoerle – ranked No. 2 in the Southeast Region – everything he could handle at 133, getting within 3-2 with a takedown in the closing seconds of the second period. Hoerle notched a takedown early in the third and held on for a 6-3 decision. Kyle Slendorn, ranked fifth in the country, gave Stevens the lead with a 6-0 victory over Domenic Difrancescantonio at 141.

TCNJ rookie Mike Conklin suffered his first dual loss following a 6-0 start to his career, but acquitted himself capably against No. 1-ranked Brett Kaliner. Conklin trailed just 11-6 after an escape early in the third and managed to deny Kaliner bonus points with a takedown in the closing seconds of an 18-11 decision.

Stevens extended its lead to 12-4 at the midway point of the dual as Matt Sacco conceded his first setback of the season to 8^th-ranked Hunter Gutierrez. Sacco held over a minute and a half of riding time in a 2-2 stalemate, but Gutierrez went ahead to stay with a takedown and was able to maintain top position until the final buzzer for a 4-2 victory.

The Ducks put the match away with two more decisions and a pin at 184 before Haddad and Marretta finished strong for the Lions with back-to-back major decisions. Haddad rolled to a 14-0 result at 197 and Marretta tallied an 8-0 victory at heavyweight.

No. 16 TCNJ 25, No. 26 Ithaca 16
Rosenthal again staked the Lions to a lead, this time an 8-2 decision opposite Matt Haycook.

Difrancescantonio answered a Bombers pin with one of his own, taking Travis Jones to the mat with just under a minute remaining in the first period of their 141-pound bout. It was a signature result for Difrancescantonio in a showdown of the Mideast Region's No. 1 and No. 2-ranked grapplers. 

Matt Sacco broke a 9-9 tie with a 9-6 victory over Adam Wagner, No. 3 in the Mideast Region, at 157, but Ithaca regained the upper hand with a major at 165.

Colella got it right back for TCNJ with a third-period pin at 174, and the Lions never trailed again. Leading 18-16 with two bouts remaining, the visitors put it away with a 13-1 major for Haddad and a 4-1 clinching victory for Marretta.

TCNJ returns to action on Friday, when they host No. 30 Alvernia and Elizabethtown in the Rec Center.

No. 20 Stevens 24, No. 16 TCNJ 12
125 – Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) maj. dec. Akhil Vega, 11-0 (4-0)
133 – Luke Hoerle (SIT) dec. Kyle Nase, 6-3 (4-3)
141 – #5 Kyle Slendorn (SIT) dec. Domenic Difrancescantonio, 6-0 (4-6)
149 – #1 Brett Kaliner (SIT) dec. Mike Conklin, 18-11 (4-9)
157 – #8 Hunter Gutierrez (SIT) dec. Matt Sacco, 4-2 (4-12)
165 – Nick Boggiano (SIT) dec. Matt Surich, 7-1 (4-15)
174 – Stefan Major (SIT) dec. Reid Colella, 3-1 (4-18)
184 – Robert Gennat (SIT) pinned #13 Daniel Surich, 6:46 (4-24)
197 – #9 Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) maj. dec. Michael Conrad, 14-0 (24-8)
285 – #12 Thomas Marretta (TCNJ) maj. dec. Joseph Russell, 8-0 (24-12)
 
No. 16 TCNJ 25, No. 26 Ithaca 16
125 – Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) dec. Matt Haycook, 8-2 (3-0)
133 – Luis Hernandez (IC) pinned Kyle Nase, 0:43 (3-6)
141 – Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) pinned Travis Jones, 2:07 (9-6)
149 – Matthew Bayer (IC) dec. Mike Conklin, 7-2 (9-9)
157 – Matt Sacco (TCNJ) dec. Adam Wagner, 9-6 (12-9)
165 – Jackson Gray (IC) maj. dec. Matt Surich, 13-5 (12-13)
174 – Reid Colella (TCNJ) pinned Adrian Rosario-Beato, 5:33 (18-13)
184 – #4 Chibueze Chukwuezi (IC) dec. #13 Daniel Surich, 8-2 (18-16)
197 – #9 Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) maj. dec. Jeremy Mazzella, 13-1 (22-16)
285 – #12 Thomas Marretta (TCNJ) dec. Edwin Rubio, 4-1 (25-16)