EWING N.J.- The TCNJ Wrestling team opened their 2022-2023 dual-match season with an impressive victory over the Colonels of Wilkes by a score of 30-9. Besides a forfeit at 133, Wilkes came out victorious in only one of the remaining nine bouts.
 
Ryan Rosenthal started off the action with a bang, defeating the sixth best wrestler in the country at 125 lbs. in Austin Fashouer. With the match knotted at six apiece in the third, Rosenthal was able to come up with a massive takedown in the final 10 seconds and hold on for the 8-6 victory.
 
Difrancescantonio was in control for the majority of his match, securing a 4-0 win. Mike Conklin followed that win with a pin in the second period to extend the TCNJ lead to 12-6.
 
The Sacco brothers followed Conklin with wins of their own at 157 and 165. Matt Sacco (157) started it off with a solid 6-2 win which Nick Sacco followed up with a major decision by a score of 11-3.
 
Reid Colella came up with a big 6-3 win over James Geiger who is currently ranked second in the Southeast region at 174 lbs.
 
Quinn Haddad made quick work at 184 lbs. with a tech fall just two minutes and forty seconds into the first.
 
Peter Wersinger put the icing on the opening night cake with a 6-3 victory at 285 lbs over Caleb Burkhart.
 
TCNJ wrestling will be back in action on Wednesday as they travel to York, Pennsylvania for a dual-match with York starting at 7:00 PM


TCNJ 30, Wilkes 9
125- Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) dec. Austin Fashouer, 8-6 (3-0)
133- Cadden Kudeck (WILK) won by forfeit (3-6)
141- Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) dec. Jack Bauer, 4-0 (6-6)
149- Mike Conklin (TCNJ) fall Ben Grater, 3:50 (12-6)
157- Matt Sacco (TCNJ) dec. Nikko Partsanakis, 6-2 (15-6)
165- Nick Sacco (TCNJ) major dec. Jaryn Hartranft, 11-3 (19-6)
174-Reid Colella (TCNJ) dec. James Geiger, 6-3 (22-6)
184- Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) tech fall. John Devito, 2:40 18-2 (27-6)
197- Cameron Butka (WILK) dec. Joe Daddario, 5-4 (27-9)
285- Peter Wersinger (TCNJ) dec. Caleb Burkhart, 6-4 (30-9)

Exhibition:
(141 lbs) Larry Melchionda (TCNJ) major dec. Cadden Kucek, 12-3