Wilkes-Barre, PA – The TCNJ wrestling team kicked off their dual-match season with an emphatic 35-11 road victory against Wilkes on Friday evening.

Led by a pair of huge pins from freshman Ryan Datz and All-American Nick Sacco, the Lions nearly secured the shut out by taking home wins in eight of the ten bouts against the Colonels.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• 125 – Freshman Matthew Griffin kicked off the dual meet with a major decision victory against Wilkes' Connor Kerwin, winning 20-8 to score four points for the blue and gold.
• 133 – Junior Kyle Nase followed up with a win of his own by securing the tech fall against Sam Kimmel at the 5:13 mark in the third round for five points.
• 141 – Senior Larry Melchionda built onto TCNJ's lead against Jack Bauer, winning a close 9-5 decision for another three points for the Lions.
• 149 – The Colonels got on the board as Ryan Santiago secured the home team's first victory by securing the pin against Mike Conklin.
• 157 – The Lions bounced back with freshman Ryan Datz recording a huge pin of his own on Wilkes' Jaryn Hartranft just 34 seconds into the bout.
• 165 – Junior All-American Nick Sacco picked up where he left off last season with the emphatic pin down of Trevor DuBoff 1:14 into the match.
• 174 – Super senior Reid Colella won his match with seconds to spare in the match, recording the 22-5 tech fall over Jared Bilinski with 6:53 on the clock for five points.
• 184 – Freshman D.J. Henry saw the closest match of the evening as he earned the 5-2 decision victory over Lucas Miller for three points.
• 197 – Wilkes' Cameron Butka won the second bout of the evening for the home team with a 24-6 tech fall over Chris Stavrou at the 6:47 mark.
• 285 – Fifth year Peter Wersinger rounded out the huge day for the Lions with a 12-5 decision victory against Caleb Burkhart.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
TCNJ 35, WU11
125 – Matt Griffin (T) major dec. C. Kerwin (W) 20-8
133 – Kyle Nase (T) tech. fall S. Kimmel (W) 18-0 (5:13)
141 – Larry Melchionda (T) dec. J. Bauer (W) 9-5
149 – R. Santiago (W) fall Michael Conklin (T) :11
157 – Ryan Datz (T) fall J. Hartranft (W) :34
165 – Nick Sacco (T) fall T. DuBoff (W) 1:14
174 – Reid Colella (T) tech. fall J. Bilinski (W) 22-5 (6:53)
184 – DJ Henry (T) dec. L. Miller (W) 5-2
197 – C. Butka (W) tech. fall Chris Stavrou (T) 24-6 (6:47)
285 – Peter Wersinger (T) dec. C. Burkhart (W) 12-5
 
UP NEXT
The Lions will send members of its team to compete at Muhlenberg tomorrow starting at 11 A.M, before competing at the Arm Bar at the Armory next Saturday against York, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Cornell.