New York University's wrestling team will compete in the 2023 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship this Saturday, February 11, in Chicago, IL.
NYU is joined by the Case Western Reserve University Spartans and host University of Chicago Maroons at the Championship, which will be competed tournament style.
"The UAA Championship is always an event that all three teams participating look forward to," explained Head Coach Bruce Haberli. "More times than not the top two teams end up being very close in score."
The Violets have posted a 10-4 dual meet record this season and currently rank 22nd in the NWCA Divison III Dual Team Rankings.
The Violets are seeking their third straight UAA title and 13th in program history, having won eight of the last 10. Cooper Pontelandolfo (165), Tyler Crew (125) and Danny Lightfoot (141) are returning champions in their respective weight classes.
"I'm happy to say that the last few years we have been finishing on top, but it's an event where all the teams seem to be entering our best, which makes it a very exciting event and a lot of fun," Haberli added.
The Violets enter the weekend with several nationally-ranked wrestlers.
Pontelandolfo is currently #7 in the 165-pound weight class. Producing eight technical falls and a 23-3 record, he has placed at numerous tournaments this season: first at the Ned McGinley Invitational and second at both the Racich Rumble and Citrus Invitational.
Jason Geyer, who has a similar #7 ranking nationally in the 174-pound weight class, holds a 24-1 overall record with a team-high 12 falls. He produced a first-place finish at the Racich Rumble and had a second-place showing at the Ned McGinley Invitational.
Scott DuPont is ranked 19th nationally at 184 and has gathered an impressive nine falls to go along with his 12-3 overall record.
Over the course of the season, several Violets have received UAA Athlete of the Week recognition: Geyer, Pontelandolfo, Evan Anderson, Benny Bautista, and Hassan Khan.
"It's going be a fun event to be part of," Haberli concluded. "As far as how our team will do, if we wrestle our best I like our chances."
The competition is set to begin at noon (central) on Saturday.
