New York University's wrestling team, ranked 15th in the national dual rankings, fell 22-16 to seventh-ranked Johnson & Wales University on Saturday, January 27, in Providence, RI.

The Violets are now 9-1 in dual matches this season, suffering their first loss of the campaign in close fashion against a strong JWU squad. The Wildcats currently have six wrestlers ranked among the top 15 nationally in their weight classes while NYU boasts four.

The 157-pound bout began the dual, which saw NYU's Cooper Pontelandolfo (#2 in the nation) defeat Jack Richardson via 13-5 major decision to give the Violets a 4-0 lead. JWU then picked up a decision at 165 to make it 4-3.

Jason Geyer (#5 in the nation) followed with an 8-2 victory at 174 over Ky'ell Roper to make it 7-3 NYU. The Violets kept rolling, as Trent Furman (#13 in the nation) produced NYU's only fall of the day (0:39) at 184 over fifth-ranked Ryan DeVivo for a 13-3 advantage.

However, the Wildcats won the next four weight classes (197, 285, 125 and 133) with two decisions, a fall and a major decision to take a 19-13 lead. But, Nick Kruczynski bested Noah Krawoker, 8-3, at 141 to bring the Violets within three points (19-16) entering the final bout.

A hard-fought 149-pound matchup between eighth-ranked Victor Perlleshi and NYU's 14th-ranked Vincenzo Napolitana ended 10-6 in Perlleshi's favor to give the hosts a 22-16 victory overall.

NYU remains in the Ocean State to compete at JWU's Wildcat Open on Sunday, January 28, beginning at 10:00am.

Full Results vs. Johnson & Wales

• 157        Cooper Pontelandolfo (NYU) def. Jack Richardson (JWU) (major dec. 13-5)            
• 165        Patrick Wisniewski (JWU) def. Jack Reusing (NYU) (dec. 7-2)                                  
• 174        Jason Geyer (NYU) def. Ky'ell Roper (JWU) (dec. 8-2)                                              
• 184        Trent Furman (NYU) def. Ryan DeVivo (JWU) (fall :39)                                              
• 197        Dylan Harr (JWU) def. Tony Astarian (NYU) (dec. 6-4)                                                
• 285        Adolfo Betancur (JWU) def. Evan Anderson (NYU) (pin 3:56)                                     
• 125        Harrison Gordon (JWU) def. Thomas Fischer (NYU) (major dec. 14-1)                                   
• 133        Joziah Fry (JWU) def. Taisei Kurachi (NYU) (dec. 10-4)                                               
• 141        Nicholas Kruczynski (NYU) def. Noah Krakower (JWU) (dec. 8-3)                               
• 149        Victor Perlleshi (JWU) def. Vincenzo Napolitana (NYU) (dec. 10-6)