This Saturday, February 5, the New York University wrestling team will host the University Athletic Association (UAA) Wrestling Championship at the Coles Sport Center in Manhattan.
The Championship will be a tri-meet between NYU, the University of Chicago and Case Western Reserve University. All three teams will face each other, and at the end of the day the team with the best record will be crowned UAA Champion. One wrestler in each weight class will be named to the All-Association Team, while a Most Outstanding Wrestler and Rookie of the Year will also be chosen.
At the 2010 Championship, NYU finished in second place by splitting its two matches, posting a 36-10 victory over Case Western and losing to Chicago 22-14. Chicago won the Championship as they also defeated Case Western 39-14. Each year dating back to 2005, NYU has finished in either first or second at the event.
On the individual side, NYU had the most All-Association selections at the competition last year. Steven Contino (133), Matt Magill (157), Sean Conners (165), Steve Massey (174), and Sabino Galassi (184) were NYU's honorees. Galassi was also named Rookie of the Year. Of NYU's five honorees, Conners is the only one not returning this year.
NYU enters the UAA Championship coming off one of its more successful outings of the season last weekend at the Metro/New England Duals. The grapplers finished the day 2-1, pulling out close wins against U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Roger Williams University. NYU's lone loss came against Williams College.
Chicago comes in with a record of 5-8 in dual meets this season. The Maroons have won the UAA Wrestling Championship in each of the past two years, and last year they had four wrestlers named All-Association. Two of those wrestlers, Chris Oster (141) and Ryan Hatten (285), are still on the team this year. Hatten has earned All-Association honors each of the past three seasons and was named UAA Rookie of the Year in 2008.
Case Western's squad is highlighted by sophomore All-American Isaac Dukes. Wrestling in the 149-pound division, Dukes is 26-2 this season and ranked #1 in the nation in his weight class. At the 2010 UAA Championships, he was named Most Outstanding Wrestler.
The Championships will kick off at 11:00 am when Chicago takes on Case Western. NYU will then wrestle back-to-back matches at 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. The 12:30 pm match will pit the squad against the loser of the first match, while NYU will wrestle the winner of the first match at 2:00 pm.
All three matches on Saturday will be available to watch via videocast by clicking below:
UAA Wrestling Championship Videocast
UAA Wrestling Championship Program
