EWING, N.J.- The TCNJ wrestling team hosted the 2024 Mideast Futures Tournament on Sunday, featuring 16 other teams from the region. The Lions were tenacious on the afternoon with five wrestlers placing in their respective weight classes.
 
Freshman Aidan Carmody (125) highlighted the Blue & Gold on Sunday, claiming first after an undefeated 5-0 record on the day. Carmody was dominant the whole way through, winning the first two bouts by major decision. After a pin in the quarterfinals and a tech. fall in the semis, Carmody pinned Caden Kucek of Wilkes just a minute into the second round of the championship match.
 
Another freshman in Mayson Harms (149) was dynamic at the Futures, going 4-1 on the afternoon and earning second place. Harms flew through the first three rounds, ending each of them short in a technical fall victory. After a 14-2 near tech in the semis, he fell in the finals to Carmen Cortese of Stevens in an exciting championship bout by a count of 12-10.
 
J.J. Giordano (149) was one of three Lions to place fifth at the Mideast Futures. Giordano ran through the first two opponents before a quarterfinal decision loss to McDaniel's Andre Allen. Showing great resilience, the freshman won his next two matches by tech. fall and major decision before taking fifth by medical forfeit.
 
Ian Flanagan (174) was another fifth-place wrestler for TCNJ on Sunday afternoon after finishing the day with five wins and one loss. After a pin in his first match, Flanagan was pinned by Ursinus' AJ Cerulli. With his back against the wall, Flanagan rattled off four straight wins including one tech fall on his way to winning the fifth-place match.
 
Rounding out the Lions who placed was another freshman in Francesco Rossiter (157), who took sixth place. Rossiter had a busy day, wrestling six matches and winning five of them. After a win in his first and a loss in the second, the first year from Metuchen won four matches in a row with two tech.'s to claim sixth for TCNJ at 157.
 
The TCNJ wrestling team will gear up for the NCAA Mideast Region Championships on Friday March 1^st at RIT in Rochester, N.Y. as the look to seize their fourth consecutive region title.