JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's wrestling team opened its home schedule with a competitive tri-match on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. The Gothic Knights split their two duals on the day, falling in a hard-fought 27–20 contest to Centenary University before dominating Hunter College with a commanding 37–10 victory.

The event began with Centenary (2–3) taking on Hunter (0–2) in the opening match. The Cyclones controlled the action throughout, rolling to a decisive 43–9 victory over the Hawks.

The dual against Centenary began at the 133-pound weight class, where senior Lucas Torre (Point Pleasant, N.J./Brick Memorial) (3–2) got the Gothic Knights (1-1) off to a strong start. Torre secured his second pin of the season, defeating his opponent in 4:31 to give NJCU an early 6–0 lead. The Cyclones quickly responded at 141 pounds, where Danny Haws edged NJCU senior Dean Costantino (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) (3–3) by a 4–1 decision, cutting the lead to 6–3. In the 149-pound bout, senior Zach Vera (6–2) delivered a composed performance, winning 4–1 to restore NJCU's six-point advantage at 9–3.

Centenary regained momentum at 157 pounds, tying the match at 9–9 after the Gothic Knights were forced to forfeit the weight class. Freshman Zahier Chiles (Newark, N.J./St. Benedict's Prepratory) (3–2) then swung the momentum back in NJCU's favor with a dominant showing at 165 pounds, earning a 21–6 technical fall in just 4:53 — the first tech fall of his collegiate career. However, Centenary responded with a series of key wins down the stretch. At 174 pounds, Diego Viera (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) (0–3) was pinned, giving the Cyclones their first lead of the match at 15–14. They extended their advantage to 18–15 after NJCU's William Chrysler (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) (0–1) dropped a close 8–7 decision at 184 pounds. A forfeit at 197 pounds widened Centenary's lead to 24–14, and a narrow 4–2 decision loss for Simeon Hunte (Burlington Township, N.J./Burlington Township) (1–3) at heavyweight made it 27–14 in favor of the Cyclones. NJCU closed the dual on a positive note, as sophomore Dominic Terracciano (Keansburg, N.J./Keansburg) (5–1) received a forfeit at 125 pounds to finalize the 27–20 score.

In the second dual of the day, the Gothic Knights rebounded impressively against Hunter College, dominating from start to finish in a 37–10 victory. Torre (4–2) opened the dual with a forfeit win at 133 pounds, giving NJCU an immediate 6–0 advantage. Costantino (4–3) followed with a statement performance at 141 pounds, pinning his opponent in just 2:25 — his first fall of the season — to extend the lead to 12–0. Vera (7–2) continued his strong day with a 5–0 decision at 149 pounds, putting the Gothic Knights firmly in control at 15–0.

Hunter got on the board in the 157-pound bout as NJCU's Jayson Candelario (Madison, N.J./Madison) (1–3) fell by an 8–0 major decision, trimming the lead to 15–4. The Gothic Knights quickly responded, however, as Chiles (4–2) earned an 8–3 decision at 165 pounds, and Viera (1–3) notched an explosive 25–9 technical fall at 174 — his first of the season — to push the lead to 23–4. Chrysler (1–1) followed with a hard-fought 4–3 decision at 184 pounds, capping off a run of NJCU dominance across the middle weights.

The Gothic Knights forfeited the 197-pound bout, allowing Hunter to close the gap slightly to 26–10, but NJCU finished the match in emphatic fashion. Hunte (2–3) delivered his first technical fall as a Gothic Knight in the heavyweight class, winning 19–3 in 6:21, and Terracciano (6–1) capped off the day with a blistering pin in just 1:23 at 125 pounds — his fourth pin of the season — to secure the 37–10 final score.

UP NEXT:
 The Gothic Knights will look to build on their momentum when they return to action on Friday, Nov. 14, traveling to face Kean University at 7:00 p.m.

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