The New York University wrestling team,
currently ranked #14 in the nation, finished in seventh place at the Citrus Invitational, which was held Thursday and Friday, December 29-30, in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Violets totaled 75.5 points, finishing just 5.5 behind sixth-place Ferrum University.
#2-ranked Augsburg University won the 16-team event with 219.5 points.
All-American
Cooper Pontelandolfo placed second in the 165-pound bracket. Ranked #3 in the nation in his weight class, he faced #11 Matt Rogge of Augsburg in the semifinals and recorded a 10-0 major decision victory. Pontelandolfo, who posted a pair of technical falls on Thursday, went on to face Cooper Willis of Augsburg in the finals and dropped an 8-4 decision.
In the 133-pound weight class, a pair of Violets advanced to the semifinals on Thursday and competed on Friday.
After utilizing a bye, a decision and major decision to qualify on Thursday,
Benny Bautista faced Cael Weinzweig of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the semis on Friday and posted an 11-2 major decision victory. Bautista then went up against #2 Andrew Perelka of #7 John Carroll University in the finals and lost by technical fall.
Tyler Crew produced two falls and one decision to power his way into the 133 semis on Thursday. He fell to Perelka in Friday's semifinal, but rebounded to win the third-place match by fall over Michael Gonyea of Castleton State University.
Taisei Kurachi, who won four bouts on Thursday, took fifth place in the 125-pound bracket with an 11-3 major decision victory over Dante Minnino of Liberty University on Friday.
The wrestlers return to action next weekend when they compete at the National Duals in Lexington, KY, on Friday and Saturday, January 6-7.
