WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The No. 2 TCNJ wrestling team got its dual meet season off to a flying start, walloping Wilkes by a count of 46-3 on Friday night.
 
Garrett Totten and Matt Coon posted pins for the Lions, who racked up six technical falls and a major decision in an early validation of their lofty preseason ranking.
 
Matthew Griffin kicked things off with the first technical fall of the night at 125, using up only 24 seconds of the second period before clinching a 20-2 victory over Gus Smith.
 
Totten, ranked No. 2 in the NWCA at 133, needed just 94 seconds to pin Connor Kerwin, who came in ranked fourth in his region.
 
Vinnie Santaniello, a Pittsburgh transfer, made a statement in his TCNJ debut, rolling to a 19-2 technical fall over Ashton Romberger at 141.
 
Sam Kotch tallied a 20-4 win over Jackson Brady in just 3:37 of match time, and rookie Jackson Bush extended the tech fall parade with an 18-1 defeat of Austin Smith in his collegiate debut at 157.
 
The Lions' unblemished run came to an end as Jaryn Hartranft – ranked fourth in the region – edged Steve Dalling, 5-4, at 165.
 
Top-ranked Hunter Mays followed with a 17-1 rout of Omari Watson at 174, and Jimmy Dolan scored a 12-4 major decision against Lucas Miller at 184.
 
D.J. Henry, the No. 2 wrestler in the nation at 197, made it a six-pack of tech falls by pummeling Xaiden Schock, 18-2, and Coon polished off the proceedings with a pin of Nicholas Doktor in just over two minutes at heavyweight.
 
The Lions return home Saturday to host a scramble, with duals against Arcadia, Albright, and Eastern set for the afternoon in the Rec Center.

NOTES

• Griffin's victory was the 50^th of his career
• Coon, who led the Lions with 16 pins last season, produced yet another one to earn his 25^th career win

#2 TCNJ 46, Wilkes 3
125 – #10 Matthew Griffin (T) tech. fall Gus Smith, 20-2 (3:24)
133 - #2 Garrett Totten (T) pinned Connor Kerwin, 1:34
141 – Vinnie Santaniello (T) tech. fall Ashton Romberger, 19-2 (5:47)
149 - #11 Sam Kotch (T) tech. fall Jackson Brady, 20-4 (3:37)
157 – Jackson Bush (T) tech. fall Austin Smith, 18-1 (4:23)
165 – Jaryn Hartranft (W) dec. Steve Dalling, 5-4
174 - #1 Hunter Mays (T) tech. fall Omari Watson, 17-1 (3:22)
184 – Jimmy Dolan (T) major dec. Lucas Miller, 12-4
197 - #2 D.J. Henry (T) tech. fall Xaiden Schock, 18-2 (4:32)
285 - #15 Matt Coon (T) pinned Nicholas Doktor, 2:17