JERSEY CITY, N.J. - In their home opener on Friday, Jan. 10, the New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's wrestling team fell 36-15 to East Stroudsburg at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. Despite strong individual performances, the Gothic Knights (5-13) couldn't overcome a rough start, falling behind 18-0 after losing their 197, heavyweight, and 125 matches.

Junior Lucas Torre (Point Pleasant, N.J./Brick Memorial) pinned Evan Thompson in 4:51, cutting the deficit to 18-6, and sophomore Dean Costantino (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) followed with a 19-4 technical fall to bring the score closer at 18-12. However, East Stroudsburg responded with a technical fall at 149, extending the gap to 23-12. Zack Vera's (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) 7-5 decision win at 157 briefly kept NJCU's hopes alive, but East Stroudsburg's victories in the next three weight classes, including a forfeit, secured the win with a final score of 36-15.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights will look to rebound next Friday, Jan. 17, when they host Keystone and honor two seniors at 8:00 p.m.

For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University sports, visit njcugothicknights.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Gothic Knights news by following NJCU Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.