EWING, N.J. – It was a battle of nationally ranked programs on Friday evening as the Ithaca College men's wrestling team battled No. 10 ranked The College of New Jersey on the road. Bouts got started at 125 lbs. and it really proved to be back and forth as each weight class progressed before the Bombers eventually fell by a tight 26-15 margin.
 
No. 10 TCNJ 26, No. 16 Ithaca 15
 
Tomah Gummow displayed good defense before Matt Griffin was able to get the scoring started with a takedown 45 seconds into the matchup as he was able to score a near fall just as time expired to gain the 7-0 advantage. Gummow gained points within the second period and trialed 10-4 and narrowed the gap with a takedown to open the third period that made it 11-7. The first year seized the momentum and earned the pin within the closing seconds for the round ad Gummow picked up 17^th win of the season.
 
This proved to be an interesting matchup as Garett Totten has recently ascended his way into the TCNJ lineup after transferring from Navy with both having All-American aspirations. Neither scored in the opening period as Totten got an early escape to begin the second to go up 1-0.  Isaias Torres matched him to begin the third and Totten hit a shot midway through the period that led to a headlock, which led to an 8-2 decision.
 
Matt Haycook faced off against NWCA No. 13 ranked Sam Kotch as he scored an early three-point takedown, and he would eventually go up 6-2 after the expiration of the opening period. Kotch would go on to score the ___ major decision win that put the Tigers up as a team 7-6.
 
The second of four ranked matchups on the evening, Wenchard Pierre-Louis battled two-time All-American Mike Conklin with the TCNJ wrestler firing early, but it was defended each time by the IC senior. Pierre-Louis started the second on top and kept him grounded strongly until his opponent escaped. Conklin looked for a big shot to close the period, but Pierre-Louis also escaped in the third. Riding time became a factor and within the closing 20-seconds as Conklin got a late takedown to earn the 4-3 decision.
 
Next up, the Lions sent out J.J. Giordano who took on Ithaca's Brian Bienus as the first points was scored by the Bomber early into the second period. Giordano took the 3-1 lead with a takedown, and he added to his lead with a early third round escape. He locked up the regular decision.
 
Konrad Parker returned to the lineup for the first time since December and he had a tough opponent in two-time All-American Nick Sacco as they felt each other out within the first frame. Parker escaped within the second and up 1-0, he remained tough before escaping with just 41 seconds. After a long pause following a TCNJ challenge that resulted in time being added to the third Parker displayed exceptional defense, which forced sudden victory. Parker would come up victorious, 4-1.
 
Facing off against NCAA Division I transfer, Hunter Mays who spent his first two seasons at Lehigh, Jackson Gray went down 3-0 early and closed the opening period with a 6-1 advantage. Gray started the second with an escape and closed super strong but fell 11-8 and fell to 17-4 on the season.
 
Xavier Pommells countered an attack in an exciting sequence between himself within the first round to lead 3-0. Pommells scored another takedown and near fall which gained the 10-0 lead as he held on within the third as he won via medical forfeit.
 
With just a one-point lead (16-15), D.J. Henry opened at 197 lbs. and earned a takedown over Ryan Galka and was quickly up 6-1. He would eventually fall via a major decision and in the final bout of the evening Charlie Turner was pinned by Matt Coon to clinch the Lion victory.
 
Next up, Ithaca College (9-2) will take part in the John Reese Duals at Wiles University where they will square off against the hosts at 11 a.m. followed by Muhlenberg College in a dual at 12:30 p.m.