JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's wrestling team hosted its first home quad in program history on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). The Gothic Knights competed twice on the afternoon against #6 Johnson & Wales University and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, while #14 New York University rounded out the day as the fourth team.

Overall, a tri of NJCU (4-7) grapplers picked up countable victories on the day, led by another perfect afternoon for senior captain Jeff Johnson (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex). Freshman Jazz Bull (New Brunswick, N.J./New Brunswick) also posted a 2-0 mark on the day, while rookie Zack Vera (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) split his two matches.

Things got started for the Gothic Knights against the #6-ranked Wildcats (8-0). Freshman Lucas Torre (Point Pleasant, N.J./Brick Memorial) had a strong performance at 133 pounds, falling by a slim 9-4 decision. A couple of matches later, Johnson picked up his victory at 149 pounds. He was leading the match by a wide margin in the third when the clash was called due to injury default with 1:01 left in the period. Bull than controlled the mat against his opponent at 165 pounds, winning via a 15-8 decision. Overall, Johnson & Wales defeated NJCU, 43-9.

The Green and Gold's second and final match of the day came against WPI (2-3). In need of a victory, Johnson once again stepped in at 149 and picked up his team-leading fourth win by fall on the season, this time with less than a minute remaining in the third and final period. Vera immediately followed up with a grind-it-out win via a 10-5 decision to improve to 4-4 at 157 pounds in his rookie season. Bull then picked up his seventh win of the season by picking up a similar, 9-5 decision win at 165 pounds. The score was as tight as it would get at that point, with WPI leading 18-12.

Junior 197-pounder Deren Cercioglu (Totowa, N.J./Paramus Catholic) battled out in a 6-0 decision loss before the squads took part in four exhibition matches. Jersey City won two of those clashes as senior 157-pounder Enrique Cuevas (New Brunswick, N.J./New Brunswick) eked out a 6-3 decision. Two matches later, freshman 197-pounder Marcus Hebron (Middle Township, N.J./) collected his third win of the season. All three of his wins have come by fall.

Up Next:
NJCU will take nine days off before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 19, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for the King's College (Pa.) duals.

QUAD RESULTS