The New York University wrestling team won the fifth University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship in program history by defeating both the University of Chicago and host Case Western Reserve University on Saturday, February 11, in Cleveland, OH.  

It was NYU's first UAA title since 2008, with all five coming during the tenure of current head coach Bruce Haberli (1999, 2000, 2006, 2008, 2012). 

Saturday's first match was the toughest, as NYU's grapplers pulled out a 19-14 win over Chicago.

Every bout went to decision, with NYU quickly falling behind 6-0 after the first two.

"I have to admit that I was very concerned at that time," said NYU head assistant coach Corey Luce. "I expected we would win 125 and 133, but each of our guys lost by a single point. That took the wind out of us. It's a credit to the rest of the wrestlers that we came back and won."

NYU did take the next two bouts with wins by Matt DiGiovanni (141) and Dan Gorman (149). 

The grapplers' win streak was broken at 157, but followed by a three-bout winning streak.

However, when Chicago's Mario Palmisano captured the 197-pound bout, the outcome of the match came down to the heavyweight clash.

That's when the NYU coaching staff got creative.

"Even though he missed practice this week with an injury, we decided to bump up our captain and regular 197-pounder, Jamie Myers,"  Luce explained. "We needed that win and we thought Jamie gave us our best chance to do that."

Myers did not disappoint. In a bout that was tight throughout, the score was tied 4-4 when the third period ended. However, with over a minute of riding time accumulated by Myers, an extra point was awarded and the victory was  secured.

"It's not what we planned to do, but Jamie did the job," Luce said. "He wrestled against a kid 40-50 pounds heavier than him. It was a nail-biter, but he came through for us."

While the title was not "officially" earned yet, NYU just needed to defeat an undermanned Case Western squad...and that's what they did.

With the Spartans forfeiting the first three weight classes and four overall, the outcome was never in doubt as NYU clinched its fifth UAA Championship with a 43-7 victory.

Gorman followed his major-decision in the first match with a pin over Christopher Crane in just 1:41.

Gregg Martino (174) also recorded a pin for NYU in the second match, taking down Kurtis Jensen in 4:14. 

David Rice (165), who recorded a decision victory vs. Chicago and a major decision vs. Case Western, was named the UAA's Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Gorman, Martino, DiGiovanni, Rice, and Jake Pawlowski (184) earned UAA All-Association honors in their respective weight classes. 

And, for their efforts, Haberli, Luce, and assistants Brian Benson, Shawn Swift and David Obiesie were named  UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.

"I'm proud of my wrestlers and happy to win another title for NYU," Haberli said. "We've worked hard this season and we've achieved one of our goals. Now, we have more work to do."

That work begins next week when the grapplers face Centennial Conference opponent, Johns Hopkins University, as well as the University of Scranton, on Saturday, Feb. 18, in Scranton, PA. 

FINAL SCORE: NYU 19, CHICAGO 14
125:  Jake Schramm (UC) dec. Janik Santana-Quintana (NYU), 4-3
133:  Will Long (UC) dec. Adlee Fayyaz (NYU), 6-5
141:  Matt DiGiovanni (NYU) dec. Joseph Ruettiger (UC), 7-6
149:  Dan Gorman (NYU) maj. dec. Joe Ellis (UC), 8-0
157:  Devon Range (UC) maj. dec. Sam Friedfeld (NYU), 12-3
165:  David Rice (NYU) dec. James Layton (UC), 7-1
174:  Gregg Martino (NYU) dec. Ryley Hankenson (UC), 8-4
184:  Jake Pawlowski (NYU) dec. Sam Pennisi (UC), 3-1
197:  Mario Palmisano (UC) maj. dec. Steve Massey (NYU), 17-8
285:  Jamie Myers (NYU) dec. Jeff Tyburski (UC), 5-4

FINAL SCORE: NYU 43, Case Western 7
125: Janik Santana-Quintana (NYU) win by forfeit
133: Adlee Fayyaz (NYU) win by forfeit
141: Matt DiGiovanni (NYU) win by forfeit
149: Dan Gorman (NYU) pinned Christopher Crane (Case), 1:41
157: Brian Snyder (Case) maj. dec. Sam Friedfeld (NYU), 12-3
165: David Rice (NYU) maj. dec. Kyle Weaver (Case), 11-2
174: Gregg Martino (NYU) pinned Kurtis Jensen (Case), 4:14
184: Jake Pawlowski (NYU) dec. Dylan Novisky (Case), 7-2
197: Jamie Myers (NYU) win by forfeit
285: Cale Harter (Case) dec. Rudy De La Cruz (NYU), 7-1