Kings Point, NY... The College of New Jersey wrestling team was victorious in all three matches at the Mariner Duals held at United States Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday. The Lions topped New York University who was ranked #10 in the last National Wrestling Coaches Association poll 24-17. The Lions followed that win up with a 29-9 victory over USMMA, and a 37-6 win over Nassau Community College. Robert Dinger (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) and No.2 ranked Dan Kilroy (Wayne NJ/Wayne Hills) led the way for the Lions, as Dinger picked up two wins by fall and Kilroy took one by fall and one by injury default.

In the win over NYU, Dan Ortega (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) got the Lions off to a good start with a win by fall. NYU took three out of the next four bouts, however the Lions got back on top when Dominic Fano (Montville, NJ/Montville Township) pinned his opponent for his first collegiate victory. After Alex Mirabella (Fanwood, NJ/Scotch Plains Fanwood) won by forfeit, Kyle Cocozza (Farmingdale, NJ/Howell) sealed the deal with a 2-0 decision.

In the victory over USMMA, the Lions came out hot and won the first four matches. Ortega took a 15-3 major decision, and Jake Giordano (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) followed that up with a 2-1 decision. Dinger pinned his opponent to extend the Lion lead to 13-0, and Ryan Budzek (Point Pleasant Boro, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) took a 9-2 decision. Fano took a 12-8 decision to put the Lions on top 19-3, and Kilroy won by injury default to put the Lions up 25-3. Cocozza ended the match on a high note as he took an 11-1 major decision.

The Lions dominated their last match, as they topped Nassau Community College 37-6. Jacob Falleni (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Regional) kicked off the match with a 15-8 decision victory, and Dinger continued to wrestle well as he pinned his opponent to put the Lions up 15-0. JT Beirne (Fanwood, NJ/Scotch Plains Fanwood) took a 12-5 decision, and Mark Gerstacker (Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley) followed that up with an 11-8 decision victory. Kilroy pinned his opponent 33 seconds in, then Thomas Anderson (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) won with a 10-1 major decision. Mirabella capped off the successful afternoon for the Lions as he won via fall.

The victory over USMMA marked the 75th win for Head Coach Joe Galante.

The Lions will return to action after the holidays on January 5th, when they will take on King's College and Muhlenberg College.

TCNJ 24 NYU 17
125: Dan Ortega (TCNJ) def. John Luke DeStefano (NYU), Fall 2:07. 6-0
133: Matt Noble (NYU) def. Jake Giordano (TCNJ), Dec. 5-1. 6-3                                                               
141: Dante Montanaro (NYU) def. Ryan Erwin (TCNJ), Maj. Dec. 6-7                                       
149: Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) def. Ian Burke (NYU), Dec. 3-0. 9-7                                                              
157: Raymond Jazikoff (NYU) def. Anthony Gagliano (TCNJ), Dec. 5-0. 9-10                                         
165: Dominic Fano (TCNJ) def. Owen Jones (NYU), Fall 3:58. 15-10                                                            
174: Blaise Benderoth (NYU) def. Dan Kilroy (TCNJ), Maj. Dec. 10-2. 15-14                                             
184: Jackson Kligerman (NYU) def. Daniel Surich (TCNJ), Dec. 7-4. 15-17                                            
197: Alex Mirabella (TCNJ) won by forfeit.  21-17                                                                                            
285: Kyle Cocozza (TCNJ) def. Santino Pelusi (NYU), Dec. 2-0. 24-17                                   

TCNJ 29 USMMA 9
125: Dan Ortega (TCNJ) def. Jace Garza (USMMA), Maj. Dec. 15-3. 4-0                                                
133: Jake Giordano (TCNJ) def. Tyler Craig (USMMA), Dec. 2-1. 7-0                                                      
141: Robert Dinger (TCNJ) def. Alex Puglio (USMMA), Fall 1:30. 13-0                                                  
149: Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) def. Rodman Rupp (USMMA), Dec. 9-2. 16-0                                                
157: Kieran Duggan (USMMA) def. Anthony Gagliano (TCNJ), Dec. 9-4. 16-3                                    
165: Dominic Fano (TCNJ) def. Christian Willoughby (USMMA), Dec. 12-8. 19-3                               
174: Dan Kilroy (TCNJ) def. Zuriel Yi (USMMA), Injury Def.  25-3                                                              
184: Kurtis Hahn (USMMA) def. Thomas Anderson (TCNJ), Dec. 6-4. 25-6                                             
197: Blake Bunce (USMMA) def. Alex Mirabella (TCNJ), Dec. 4-0. 25-9                                                
285: Kyle Cocozza (TCNJ) def. Dan Dubinsky (USMMA), Maj. Dec. 11-1. 29-9                               

TCNJ 37 NCC 6    
125: Jacob Falleni (TCNJ) def. Christopher Pereira (Nassau), Dec. 15-8. 3-0                                       
133: Jake Giordano (TCNJ) won by forfeit. 9-0                                                                                                
141: Robert Dinger (TCNJ) def. Kyle Mock (Nassau), Fall 6:16. 15-0                                                          
149: John Arceri (Nassau) def. Eric Friedman (TCNJ), Dec. 4-2. 15-3                                                       
157: JT Beirne (TCNJ) def. Antonio LaRocca (Nassau), Dec. 12-5. 18-3                                                     
165: Mark Gerstacker (TCNJ) def. A.J. Batista (Nassau), Dec. 11-8. 21-3                                                  
174: Dan Kilroy (TCNJ) def. Nicholas Provenzano (Nassau), Fall 0:33. 27-3                                             
184: Thomas Anderson (TCNJ) def. Brandon Ortiz (Nassau), Maj. Dec. 10-1. 31-3                             
197: Alex Mirabella (TCNJ) def. N. Bernardo (Nassau), Fall 6:05. 37-3                                                      
285: Edwin Rubio (Nassau) def. Patrick Dressel (TCNJ), Dec. 7-3. 37-6                   

Exhibitions
149: Chad Puglio (USMMA) def. Giancarlo Crivelli (TCNJ), Dec. 6-5
149: David Santiago (TCNJ) def. Christian Flores (Hunter), Tech. Fall 2:05
149: Eric Friedman (TCNJ) def. Aiden Crowley (USMMA), Fall 5:00