RESULTS

The New York University wrestling team split its two dual matches against a pair of Centennial Conference foes on a neutral mat at the Hunter College Sportsplex in Manhattan on Saturday, January 25.

The NYU grapplers began the day with a tough loss to Johns Hopkins University, 22-15. Although the two squads spilt the 10 individual matches, the Bluejays managed two pins and a major decision in their five victories.

"It was a tough match," said Senior Assistant Coach Corey Luce. "I think the match that changed the outcome was Chris Amro being up five points, showing he was clearly the better wrestler, but he just got caught up in headlock and was pinned. They got the bonus points and we didn't, and that was the key to their victory."

NYU came back firing when it squared off with Washington and Lee University in the second match of the day. The grapplers came away with the 34-12 victory over the Generals to earn their fourth dual victory of the season.

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Junior co-captain Brandon Jones, ranked #2 at 141 pounds in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, defeated #10 Henry Stauber of Hopkins by a 6-4 decision.

- Junior co-captain Matt DiGiovanni posted a 2-0 record on the afternoon. The 157-pounder earned a 5-4 decision against Christian Salera of the Bluejays, and a 13-1 major decision over Alex Niemann of Washington and Lee.

- Freshman John Messinger, the reigning University Athletic Association (UAA) Wrestler of the Week, also went 2-0. The 165-pounder defeated the Bluejays' Welles Sakmar by an 11-5 decision, then followed that up with a win by medical forfeit against the Generals.

- Senior co-captain 197-pounder Dan Brereton and sophomore heavyweight John Klein each posted 1-1 records on the day. Both grapplers took one-point decisions over their opponents from Hopkins.

"John Kelin stepped up for us in the heavyweight role, giving up significant weight," said Luce. "He battled hard,  took the close match versus Hopkins and was just one reversal away from a win against Washington and Lee. I'm proud of him for wrestling tough."

NYU will be back on the mat next Saturday afternoon, February 1, when it participates in a tri-match on the road against Centennial foes Muhlenberg College and host Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA.