Complete Results
York, PA... Facing its toughest test of the young season, The College of New Jersey wrestling team turned in a tremendous effort as the Lions placed second and had four individual champions at the 2009 New Standard Corporation Spartan Invitational hosted by York (PA) College on Saturday.
The 12th-ranked Lions collected 139 team points, a close second behind fourth-ranked Ithaca College, which won the tournament with 140.5 points. TCNJ also edged out The College at Brockport (124 points) and 11th-ranked United States Merchant Marine Academy (120).
TCNJ boasted champions in back-to-back weight classes on two occasions with graduate student Dan DiColo (Budd Lake, NJ/Mount Olive) winning the 157-pound weight class and junior Justin Bonitatis (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) accomplishing that same feat at 165.
At 184 pounds, junior Mike Denver (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional) continued his strong season by claiming the title and TCNJ’s fourth champion was junior Adam Koziol (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) at 197 pounds.
All four champions went a perfect 4-0 in the tournament for the Lions.
Adding to the team’s success in the upper weights was junior Ed Broderick (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) as he was second at heavyweight going 3-1 on the day.
At 149 pounds, the Lions had two wrestlers place as senior Tyler Branham (Newton, NJ/Kittatinny) was third and junior John Barnett (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) was fourth. Branham’s fourth win the tournament was a milestone one as he joined the 100-win club. For his career, Branham boasts a record of 101-21.
Sophomore Dan Herr (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) also scored valuable team points placing third at 133 pounds and freshman Brian Broderick (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) was fifth at 174 pounds.