Official Results (PDF)
NYU Match-by-Match Results (PDF)

The NYU wrestling team completed an outstanding performance at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Dual Championships by capturing an eighth-place finish. The two-day event was held Friday and Saturday, January 10-11, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Lexington, KY.

After two victories on Friday, one against a nationally-ranked opponent (#5 University of Mount Union), NYU's #14-ranked grapplers went right back to work on Saturday. 

Despite dropping the first three bouts and falling behind 10-0 against #10-ranked North Central College, NYU's scrappy wrestlers bounced back to win the next four. They never relinquished the lead en route to an 18-16 victory.

Evan Drill (Neshanic Station, NJ/Somerville) (149) began the streak by posting a 6-3 decision. Sean Lyons (Sewell, NJ/St. Joseph's Prep) (157) followed with a major decision shutout (11-0). Cole Karam (Bath, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) (167) then posted a technical fall (16-1) and Izaake Zuckerman (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) completed the run win an 8-2 decision victory.

Then, despite dropping two of the last three bouts, Jack La Corte's (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) victory at 197 (9-5 decision) gave NYU enough of a cushion to hold on to the win.    

"I'm proud of the way our guys competed from top to bottom, whether they won or lost," said Senior Assistant Coach Corey Luce. "We fought hard and got a really good win."

Next up was #8 Johnson & Wales University.

NYU got off to a good start, winning two of the first three bouts. Tyler Crew (St. Marys, GA/Camden County) (125) recorded a quick fall (2:31) over his opponent while 141-pounder Jason Geyer (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) won by a 6-2 decision.

However, the lead did not hold up as NYU won just two of the last seven. Those victories were recorded by Lyons (fall 2:10) and Zuckerman (3-0 decision), but weren't enough as NYU fell 31-18.

NYU dropped its final match, 30-12, against #7 Baldwin Wallace University, winning just three of the 10 bouts. Victories were posted by Luke Brantly (157, sudden victory 4-2), Will Ortman (Hopewell Valley, NJ/Hopewell Valley Central) (285, 6-1 decision) and Kade Loughney (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) (165, forfeit).

"We used most of our back-ups in the match, wanting to get them some experience," Luce explained,

Overall, NYU went 3-3 at the competition, defeating two teams and falling to three teams with higher national rankings. The team is now 4-4 in dual meets this season.   

The squad returns to action next Saturday, January 18, for the Mid-Winter Classic, hosted by Penn College in Williamsport, PA.