LOUISVILLE, KY.- The TCNJ Wrestling team had a great first day at the NWCA National Duals, winning three of four against a loaded field at the Kentucky Exposition Center. In the Lions' first match, they shut out Mount Union by a score of 47-0. After a 27-13 loss against No. 4 Johnson and Wales, the Lions finished the day strong by besting RIT and No. 7 Wabash by scores of 29-9 and 19-15, respectively. The seventh-ranked Little Giants were the NCAA runner-up just a season ago.
 
With today's 3-1 record, TCNJ guaranteed itself a Top-8 finish in the tournament among the best teams in the country.
 
Sophomore Nick Sacco (165) had a big day on the mat, winning all three of his bouts on Friday. All three of his opponents were at least ranked in their respective region. The win of the day for Sacco was no doubt the victory by fall over nationally third-ranked Austin Lamb of RIT.
 
Sophomore Kyle Nase (133) also posted a perfect Friday with a 4-0 finish. After pinning Mason McCarty of Mount Union, he won his next three bouts by decision and one major with victories over Christian Rivas of JWU (10-4), Isaiah Shafer of RIT (14-2), and Arlie Benson of Wabash (6-3).
 
A pair of seniors in No. 7 Domenic Difrancescantonio (141) and Matt Sacco (157) were the remaining Lions who left the gym Friday without taking a loss. Both of them also took down a top-10 opponent; Difrancescantonio took down eighth-ranked Gabe Leo of JWU and Sacco finished his day with a bang by defeating Tim Smith of Wabash.
 
No. 15 Ryan Rosenthal (125) along with Reid Colella (174) finished the day with a 3-1 record. Rosenthal took down two top-10 opponents in Jack Stanely of Mount Union (Dec., 7-3) and James Day of Wabash (Dec. 4-3). Colella added to the list of wins over nationally ranked wrestlers with a win over Raymond Arebalo of Wabash by a score of 3-1.
 
The TCNJ Wrestling team is back on the mat bright and early at 9 AM with a consolation semifinal matchup against the Duhawks of Loras College.
 
TCNJ 47, Mount Union 0

• 125 - Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) over Jack Stanley (Mount Union) Dec 7-3
• 133 - Kyle Nase (TCNJ) over Mason McCarty (Mount Union) Fall 5:40
• 141 - Daniel Hong (TCNJ) over Logan Miller (Mount Union) Dec 10-5
• 149 - Mike Conklin (TCNJ) over Darese Sparkman (Mount Union) Fall 5:54
• 157 - Alex Martinez (TCNJ) over Nick Nettleton (Mount Union) Fall 3:30
• 165 - Matt Sacco (TCNJ) over Chris Anderson (Mount Union) Maj 10-2
• 174 - Reid Colella (TCNJ) over Caleb Zimmerman (Mount Union) Fall 2:29
• 184 - Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) over Nick Chaddock (Mount Union) Maj 14-0
• 197 - Demetrius Ruiz (TCNJ) over AJ Lunardi (Mount Union) Dec 7-2
• 285 - Chris Stavrou (TCNJ) over Austin Ryder (Mount Union) Fall 2:50

 
JWU 27, TCNJ 13

• 125 - Joziah Fry (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) Maj 16-5
• 133 - Kyle Nase (TCNJ) over Christian Rivas (Johnson & Wales (RI)) Dec 10-4
• 141 - Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) over Gabriel Leo-Esparolini (Johnson & Wales (RI)) Maj 12-4
• 149 - Hayden Brown (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Mike Conklin (TCNJ) Fall 2:44
• 157 - Matt Sacco (TCNJ) over William Hughes (Johnson & Wales (RI)) Dec 7-4
• 165 - Nick Sacco (TCNJ) over Patrick Wisniewski (Johnson & Wales (RI)) Dec 1-0
• 174 - Michael Ross (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Reid Colella (TCNJ) TF 16-0
• 184 - Ryan DeVivo (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) Fall 2:06
• 197 - Dylan Harr (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Joe Daddario (TCNJ) Dec 7-1
• 285 - Adolfo Betancur (Johnson & Wales (RI)) over Peter Wersinger (TCNJ) TB-1 4-1

TCNJ 29, RIT 9

• 125 - Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) over Seth Russo (RIT) TF 16-0
• 133 - Kyle Nase (TCNJ) over Isaiah Shafer (RIT) Maj 14-2
• 141 - Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) over Chris Horton (RIT) Dec 6-0
• 149 - Mike Conklin (TCNJ) over Mike Glynn (RIT) Maj 8-0
• 157 - Matt Sacco (TCNJ) over James Ost (RIT) Dec 8-2
• 165 - Nick Sacco (TCNJ) over Austin Lamb (RIT) Fall 5:00
• 174 - Reid Colella (TCNJ) over Tyler Balent (RIT) Maj 13-2
• 184 - Colby Giroux (RIT) over Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) Dec 4-3
• 197 - Nicholas Smith (RIT) over Joe Daddario (TCNJ) Dec 6-3
• 285 - Nate DeGroff (RIT) over Chris Stavrou (TCNJ) Dec 9-3

TCNJ 19, Wabash 15

• 125 - Ryan Rosenthal (TCNJ) over James Day (Wabash) Dec 4-3
• 133 - Kyle Nase (TCNJ) over Arlie Benson (Wabash) Dec 6-3
• 141 - Domenic Difrancescantonio (TCNJ) over Evan Burge (Wabash) Dec 8-3
• 149 - Daniel Uribe (Wabash) over Mike Conklin (TCNJ) Dec 4-3
• 157 - Matt Sacco (TCNJ) over Tim Smith (Wabash) Maj 12-3
• 165 - Nick Sacco (TCNJ) over Mawuli Nevis (Wabash) Dec 5-0
• 174 - Reid Colella (TCNJ) over Raymond Arebalo (Wabash) Dec 3-1
• 184 - Charles Baczek (Wabash) over Quinn Haddad (TCNJ) Dec 6-4
• 197 - Grant Johnson (Wabash) over Joe Daddario (TCNJ) Dec 5-4
• 285 - Jack Heldt (Wabash) over Peter Wersinger (TCNJ) Fall 4:34