WILKES-BARRE, PA. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's wrestling team participated in the Wilkes Open at Wilkes University on Friday, Dec. 20. Freshman Dominic Terracciano (Keansburg, N.J./Keansburg) and junior Zack Vera (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) led the Gothic Knights, finishing fifth and sixth in their respective weight classes.

Terracciano faced a tough start in the 125-pound weight class, losing his opening match 9-1 to Colby McBride (App State). In the consolation bracket, Terracciano showed resilience, pinning Xavier Diaz in 37 seconds and Lucas Vannostrand in 44 seconds. His next match was against Joseph DeAngelo, who medically forfeited, advancing Terracciano to the fifth-place match. Terracciano pinned Alexander Diaz in 14 seconds, finishing with a 4-1 record and placing fifth.

Vera competed in the 149-pound weight class. He won his first match with a 14-10 decision over Noah Hunt (Pennsylvania College of Technology) and advanced to the quarterfinals with a dominant 15-2 major decision against Abraham Pomeroy. However, Vera fell to Kaden Keiser of App State in the quarterfinals via a 17-2 technical fall. He fought back in the consolation bracket, securing victories over Logan Sichelstiel (8-2) and Michael Williams (10-4) to reach the fifth-place match. In the final bout, Vera dropped a 9-3 decision to Kai O'Dell (App State) and finished in sixth place with a 4-2 record for the day.

Sophomore Dean Costantino (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) represented NJCU in the 141-pound weight class. He fell in the round of 16 to Riley Edwards (App State) by a 20-5 technical fall in 2:44. In the consolation bracket, Costantino bounced back with a 16-1 technical fall against Michael Munoz (unattached) and a 14-12 decision over Ryan Yocum (Saint Vincent). However, his tournament ended in the second round of eight with a 17-0 technical fall loss to Brayden Fahrbach (App State), finishing with a 2-2 record on the day.

UP NEXT:

The Gothic Knights will return to action on Friday, January 10, when they host East Stroudsburg at 7:00 p.m. for their home debut.

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