EWING, N.J.- The TCNJ Wrestling team lost their first dual match of the season in an exciting top-25 matchup on Friday night to Johnson & Wales by a score of 19-17.
 
Nick Sacco (165) started off the night strong for the Lions in a solid defensive effort, defeating Patrick Wisniewski 1-0. Sacco gained the only point of the match on an early second round escape.
 
After a loss at 174, Quinn Haddad (184) continued his dual match dominance with a major decision victory over nationally ranked 14^th Ryan DeVivo by a tally of 11-1. Haddad on the season has not scored less than four points for the Lions in any match.
 
Following a pair of tech falls with a loss in between, Kyle Nase (133) got TCNJ back on track with a 13-2 major decision victory over Harrison Gordon.
 
In a top-10 match that both coaches used their challenge block, Domenic Difrancescantonio (141) took down 7^th ranked Gabriel Leo by a score of 10-6.
 
TCNJ lost the ensuing match at 149, but that did not stop Matt Sacco (157) from providing the audience with some late fireworks. After fighting his way back to a tie at the end of three rounds, Sacco came up with the massive takedown in the first overtime period to secure the 7-5 victory over William Hughes.
 
TCNJ Wrestling will take a short break for the holidays as they gear up for the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, KY., starting on January sixth.
 
 
#18 TCNJ 17, #7 JWU 19
 
165: Nick Sacco (TCNJ) dec. Patrick Wisniewski, 1-0 (3-0)
174: Scott Defex (JWU) dec. Matt Surich, 9-4 (3-3)
184: Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) major dec. Ryan DeVivo, 11-1 (7-3)
197: Dylan Harr (JWU) tech. fall Demetrius Ruiz, 18-3, 7:00 (7-8)
285: Adolfo Betancur (JWU) dec. Peter Wersinger, 2-0 (7-11)
125: Joziah Fry (JWU) tech. fall Ryan Rosenthal, 18-3, 5:42 (7-16)
133: Kyle Nase (TCNJ) major dec. Harrison Gordon, 13-2 (11-16)
141: Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) dec. Gabriel Leo, 10-6 (14-16)
149: Matthew Garcia (JWU) dec. Mike Conklin, 8-5 (14-19)
157: Matt Sacco (TCNJ) dec. William Hughes, 7-5 (SV-1) (17-19)