The New York University wrestling team will return to the mats for the first time this academic calendar after the scheduled opener was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. NYU will travel to Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA, this Saturday, November 10, to compete in the John Reese Duals.

NYU will wrestle in dual matches against SUNY Oneonta, Wilkes, York College, and King's College.
 
The John Reese Duals is an exciting opportunity for NYU's grapplers to get off to a good start in a very promising season. The squad returns its best wrestler, David Rice, who enjoyed one of the finest seasons in school history last year, posting a 31-2 record in the 165-pound weight class. He led the team in technical falls (6) and major decisions (7). Rice was named University Athletic Association (UAA) Most Outstanding Wrestler as he helped lead NYU to the UAA team title, the fifth in school history. In addition to Rice's honor, Head Coach Bruce Haberli and his assistants, Corey Luce, Brian Benson, Shawn Swift, and David Obiesie, were named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Competing in its inaugural season in the Centennial Conference, NYU went 5-3 and finished third during the regular season. In their first-ever Centennial Conference Championship appearance, the grapplers finished seventh in the nine-team competition.
 
For the season, NYU went 12-9 in dual meets, a three-win improvement from 2010-11 and the seventh time in the last eight years the team finished above .500.
 
NYU also returns Janik Santana-Quintana, Matt DiGiovanni and Jake Pawlowski, three of their most crucial contributors last season.
 
Santana-Quintana, who wrestled all but one match at 125-pounds, led the team in falls (9) and finished with a 24-10 record. 

As a freshman last year, DiGiovanni exceeded expectations by stepping in as the team's starter at 141-pounds. He was named UAA All-Association and to the New York All-State team at the New York State Championships en route to a 26-16 season record.
 
Pawlowski was 22-16 on the year, but ended the season on an absolute tear, going 12-1 in his final 13 bouts. His season turned around at the New York State Championships, where he finished fifth and was named to the All-State team. Pawlowski also grabbed UAA All-Association honors.
 
This weekend's results will be posted Saturday night after the conclusion of the duals.