In a tightly-contested season-opening match, the New York University wrestling team edged Hunter College 22-15 on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Jerome S Coles Sports & Recreation Center in Manhattan.

The match was not decided until the final bout, when junior Kyle Christensen posted a 7-5 decision over Hunter's Evan Velez in a 133-pound bout.

The Hawks (0-1) took a 6-0 lead to open the match as Sean Messina pinned freshman Kyle Hopkins at 133.

However, NYU captured the next five bouts and took a 16-6 lead. 

Hunter did pull within 16-15 after posting back-to-back wins at 184 and 197.  

But, senior heavyweight Mark Shirian stopped the bleeding with an 8-3 win before Christensen's victory clinched the NYU win.

"We wrestled tough against a team full of good upperclassmen," said NYU head coach Bruce Haberli.  "We still have to learn how to stay off our backs and avoid getting pinned, but overall I'm pleased with today's performance." 

NYU returns to action next weekend when the squad competes at the Ithaca College Invitational on Nov. 8-9.

Bout-by-Bout Results
133    Messina (H) pins Hopkins (N) 4:49         0-6
141    Martino (N) maj. dec. Astone (H) 13-5     4-6
149    Dack (N) dec. Simkin (H) 7-6                    7-6
157    Magill (N) dec. Cartuscielo (H) 7-1         10-6         
165    Knight (N) dec. Calavaca (H) 6-5            13-6
174    Shuminov (N) dec. Decrusto (H) 8-6     16-6
184    Scoot (H) pins Massey (N) 2:26             16-12
197    Scher (H) dec. Myers (N) 6-0                  16-15
HWT  Shirian (N) dec. Hydebrand (H) 8-3      19-15
133    Christensen (N) dec. Velez (H) 7-5       22-15