Ewing, NJ – On a night when The College of New Jersey welcomed back its former wrestlers as part of Alumni Night, the current edition of the Lions posted their biggest dual-meet win of the season as they got past visiting Delaware Valley College, 20-19.
 
The win put 30^th-ranked TCNJ at 8-4 for the season, while the 23^rd-ranked Aggies dipped to 7-8.
 
Delaware Valley opened up a brief 4-0 after posting a win at 125, but the Lions erased that deficit with consecutive wins. Freshman PJ Schmidt (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) got the first of those as he won 5-3 at 133. That win was Schmidt's 20^th of the season and made the score 4-3.
 
TCNJ took its first lead of the match at 141 as senior Dan Herr (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) pulled away for a 12-2 triumph making it a 7-4 Lion lead.
 
Second-ranked Zak Andrews (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) put Delaware Valley right back in front with a pin at 149, but once again the Lions quickly fought back. This time junior John Darling (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) rallied for an exciting 11-5 win at 157 over Emmanuel Ajagbe (Bogata, NJ/Bogota) knotting the match at 10-10. Ajagbe entered the bout ranked fifth nationally.
 
Sophomore KC Murphy (Hamburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley) followed with another win for the hosts as the 165-pounder secured a 5-0 decision giving TCNJ a 13-10 lead.
 
At 174, sophomore Omar Akel (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) made it three straight wins for the Lions as he extended the lead to six as he collected an 11-5 victory. That win put TCNJ in front 16-10.
 
The Aggies cut into TCNJ's lead at 184 as Kyle Tufts (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) won by a 4-1 decision making it a 16-13 match with two bouts left.
 
The Lions clinched the win at 197 as senior Mike Denver (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional), who is ranked first nationally at 184, bumped up a weight class and still delivered with a 13-2 major decision increasing TCNJ's lead to 20-13.
 
The Aggies won at heavyweight as Michael Boardman (Madison, NJ/Madison) was awarded a forfeit closing the final margin to 20-19.
 
TCNJ is right back on the mat this weekend with four dual meets on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the Lions will participate in the annual New England/ Metro Duals where they will face Roger Williams University, Williams College, and the United States Coast Guard Academy. TCNJ will then take on 10th-ranked Springfield College on Sunday, January 29 at noon.
 
#30 The College of New Jersey 20, #23 Delaware Valley College 19
125:  Charlie Frankel (DVC) by major decision over Joey DiCarlo (TCNJ), 15-3
133:  PJ Schmidt (TCNJ) decision over David Davidson (DVC), 5-3
141:  Dan Herr (TCNJ) by major decision over James DeLillo (DVC), 12-2
149:  Zak Andrews (DVC) pinned Josh Garzio (TCNJ), 1:20
157:  John Darling (TCNJ) decision over Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC), 11-5
165:  KC Murphy (TCNJ) decision over Donald Smith (DVC), 5-0
174:  Omar Akel (TCNJ) decision over Conner Gabriel (DVC), 11-5
184:  Kyle Tufts (DVC) decision over Nathaniel Leer (TCNJ), 4-1
197:  Mike Denver (TCNJ) by major decision over Christopher James (DVC),
285:  Michael Boardman (DVC) by forfeit