JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's wrestling team opened up its 2023-24 season, its first under new head coach Jason Estevez, Friday night, Nov. 10, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). The Gothic Knights collected a pair of victories on the night against Muhlenberg College, with wins from sophomore 149-pounder Zack Vera (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) and fifth-year 157-pounder and team captain Jeff Johnson (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), but ultimately fell to the Mules, 38-7.

After a 149-pound exhibition got things started, the night began officially at 125 pounds as sophomore Lucas Torre (Point Pleasant, N.J./Brick Memorial) dropped a tough 8-3 decision for NJCU (0-1), despite a takedown in the waning moments of the second period to even it up at 3-3 at the time against Muhlenberg (1-0). The next match saw freshman 133-pounder Dean Costantino (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) make his collegiate debut, but he fell in an extremely tight bout that ultimately came down to the riding time advantage for the Mules in a 4-3 decision. Muhlenberg then went up 9-0 after 141 pounds before the Gothic Knights finally got on the board.

Vera, making his debut at 149 after seeing most of his action as a freshman at 157, had a strong showing at the lighter weight class. The first period was scoreless and the second nearly was, as well, before he turned what was almost a Muhlenberg takedown into a reversal, followed by a near-fall and ultimately took a 6-2 lead into the third. After giving up a reversal to make it 6-4, Vera closed out the match with a takedown to seal the victory at 9-4. Trailing just 9-3, Johnson came in and had a strong performance back at 157 after spending last season at 149. He dominated his foe throughout, including three takedowns and a near-fall, before coming away with the 15-2 major decision to make it 9-7 at the time.

Unfortunately, the Mules won at 165 by technical fall and then took 174 and 184 by fall before winning at 197 and heavyweight by forfeit to take the match, 38-7.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights get a day's rest before returning to action on Sunday, Nov. 12, for the Electric City Duals on the campus of Scranton University. NJCU went 4-1 at the event last season and this year will take on Elmira College, Scranton, SUNY Oneonta and Keystone College.