PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The New Jersey City University men's wrestling program traveled up to the campus of #8/7-ranked Johnson & Wales University on Sunday, Jan. 28, for the 2024 installment of the Wildcat Open. Several Gothic Knight grapplers saw success on the day, led by team captain 157-pounder Jeff Johnson (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex). The fifth-year posted a perfect 3-0 record on the day, finishing as the runner-up in his weight class following a precautionary medical forfeit prior to the start of the championship match. Additionally, rookie 133-pounder Dean Costantino (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) and sophomore 149-pounder Zack Vera (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) each saw some success.

Following a bye into the Round of 16, Johnson — seeded second in the tournament at 157 pounds — picked up a win by fall with just under five minutes elapsed against Wil Hunt of Rhode Island College. Then, in the quarterfinal round, Johnson dispatched Gabrial Case of hosting-Johnson & Wales with a pin at 2:46 elapsed. Finally, he squared off with Joey Miranda of the #7/8-ranked United States Coast Guard Academy in the semifinal round and again won by fall with just 2:04 elapsed.

Costantino started off as the sixth-seeded 133-pounder on the day. He won his first match via a 9-8 decision in the Round of 16 against Joseph Ramirez before taking down Elias Hajali of Roger Williams University in the quarterfinal round via a 9-4 decision. However, Costantino suffered his first defeat of the day via a 13-8 decision against Nicholas Gorman, a wrestler from Division I Long Island University who competed unattached today. In the consolation semifinal round, he suffered a tough, 8-1 decision loss to Joey Martin of Coast Guard.

Vera, also seeded sixth at 149, began his day with a 4-1 decision win in the Round of 32 over Luke Montefusco of Johnson & Wales. He then had a dominant 22-2 technical fall victory in the Round of 16 before falling to third-seeded Ibrahim Khan in the quarterfinal round via a slim 10-6 decision. In the backdraw, Vera restarted his day in the second Consolation Round of Eight, defeating eighth-seeded Edwin Morales of Johnson & Wales via a 7-0 decision. He continued to roll with a 12-9 decision in the consolation quarterfinals over second-seeded Zach Weiner of JWU, as well. Vera eventually fell in the consolation semifinals via a 17-3 major decision to Tye Barker of Coast Guard.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action for the Rennie Rodermel Allstate Invitational next Sunday, Feb. 4, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on the campus of Lycoming College.