The New York University wrestling team entered the 2009-10 season a team long on talent but short on experience. After an up-and-down regular season, Bruce Haberli's squad picked it up a notch during the postseason.
Through January, NYU compiled a 9-9 record in dual matches and was showing its youth. However, starting with a second-place finish at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, a competition in which NYU captured a meet-high five individual weight classes, the grapplers finished with a flourish. After sweeping a tri-meet against the University of Scranton and SUNY-Morrisville, NYU headed to the Metropolitan Championships, where two of its captains won weight titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships.
At 141 pounds, junior Gregg Martino battled his way to a second straight Metropolitan crown and earned his way back to the NCAA's. This time around he would have company, as 157-pound junior Matt Magill also battled through his bracket unscathed to earn a trip to Nationals. For his performance, Magill was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Metropolitan Championships.
At the NCAA's, NYU's qualifiers ran into the stiffest competition the nation has to offer. After winning his opening bout, Magill faltered in the second round before winning his third match to cement All-American honors. He ultimately finished eighth in the 157-pound bracket.
Martino was not as fortunate, as he squared up against two seeded wrestlers in his first two matches, losing each. Though he was surely disappointed not to have earned All-American honors, he will be back for his senior season with more motivation than ever.
"Matt faced some stiff competition, and his receiving All-America honors was well earned,” Haberli said. “Gregg was wrestling in a very, very tough bracket, and he hung right in there. It's a tough ending for him for two years, but he's a good wrestler and he'll come back strong.”
Besides Magill and Martino, several other NYU wrestlers enjoyed strong seasons in 2009-10. Sophomore Jamie Myers was perhaps the team's most consistent wrestler during the second half of the year, compiling a 23-15 overall record, mostly at 197.
Senior captain Kyle Christensen started the season strong and posted an 11-6 record at 125 pounds, but missed the postseason with an injury.
Joining Magill as UAA champions were senior Sean Connors (165 pounds), junior Steve Contino (133), sophomore Steve Massey (174), and freshman Sabino Galassi (184). For their efforts, Haberli and his assistants Corey Luce, Brian Benson, Nick Coleman, Mark McLean, and Vinnie Russo were named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
The squad also fared well when off the mat, as four wrestlers earned UAA Winter Sport All-Academic honors.
