Photo/HokieSports.comNEW YORK -- Nine college wrestling programs entered Madison Square Garden for the sixth edition of Grapple at the Garden Sunday ... and five left "the world's most famous arena" victorious.
The event, held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, opened with NCAA Division III action, with Johns Hopkins University defeating New York University, 25-20. Wilkes University was the only school to have two dual meets, first falling to Stevens Institute of Technology, 29-16 ... then, later, coming out on the losing end to LIU Post of NCAA Division II, 38-3. In Division I action, Virginia Tech topped Princeton, 26-12 ... while Hofstra bested George Mason, 26-9.
Collegiate action got started bright and early Sunday morning, as Johns Hopkins defeated NYU, 25-20. The Maryland-based program got off to a quick start as Christian Vallis (125 pounds), Ricky Cavallo (133) and Lucas Escobar (141) all scored bonus-point victories to rack up 16 unanswered team points. NYU battled back with four straight victories -- including a major decision and a pin -- to knot the score, 16-16. Wins at 184 and heavyweight propelled Johns Hopkins to the dual-meet victory.
The second dual of the event between Division III schools saw Stevens top Wilkes, 29-16, with the New Jersey-based school notching wins in six bouts, with Tony Stanich (133 pounds), Brett Kaliner (141), and Zach Wilhelm (157) all pinning their opponents from Pennsylvania.
In the LIU Post vs Wilkes dual, the Long Island D2 school earned an impressive 38-3 win over Wilkes. LIU Post's Anthony Sparacio and Joseph Calderone scored back-to-back falls at 141 and 149 pounds, respectively, while, T.J. Fabian earned a major decision win over Michael Brown.
Action moved to Division I, with tenth-ranked Virginia Tech earning a 26-16 win over Princeton. The dual started at 174, with the Hokies getting off to a roaring start with four consecutive victories in the upper weight classes through heavyweight, then securing wins at 133, 141 and 165 pounds.
In the final match-up of the evening, Hofstra earned a 26-9 win over George Mason. The Pride started strong, with wins at 197 and 285, then later tallied victories at 133, 141, 165, 174, and 184 to defeat the Patriots.
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