La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team earned a 20-15 victory over The College of New Jersey Thursday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, ranked third in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), improve to 2-0 on the season while the Lions, ranked 11th in the NWCA, drop to 3-1. 

TCNJ took the first four matches for a 15-0 lead. Seventh-ranked Matt Griffin opened with a win by decision (8-6) at 125-pounds over 12th-ranked Quintin Wolbert of UWL. The Lions' Kyle Nase followed with a win by decision (5-3) over Matt Haldiman at 133-pounds to make it 6-0.  

Sam Kotch earned a win by decision (8-4) over Talan Schutte of 141-pounds for a 9-0 lead and seventh-ranked Mike Conklin won by fall (4:40) over Josh Cherba at 149-pounds to give TCNJ its 15-0 advantage. 

UWL won the last six matches to secure the dual win. Tanner Gerber started the comeback at 157-pounds with a win by decision (10-6) over J.J. Giordano. In a match featuring two top-ranked wrestlers at 165-pounds, second-ranked Tyler Goebel of UWL won by decision (4-3) over top-ranked Nick Sacco of TCNJ. Goebel was the NCAA Division III runner-up last season at 149-pounds while Sacco is the defending national champion at 165-pounds. 
 

The Eagles' Leo Draveling won by decision (11-6) over Hunter Mays at 174-pounds to cut the Lions' lead to 15-9. Marcus Orlandoni, ranked 12th at 184-pounds, won by decision (4-1) over Alex Strashinsky to make it 15-2. UWL's Kasey Gish tied the dual, 15-15, with a win by decision (9-8) over TCNJ's DJ Henry at 197-pounds. 

The dual came down to 285-pounds and the Eagles' Michael Douglas, ranked first in NCAA Division III, won by technical fall (21-6, 4:00) over Matt Coon to give UWL the dual victory.  

UWL returns to action Saturday, November 16 at the Augsburg University (Minn.) Auggie Open and in the UW-Oshkosh Duals. The Eagles will face Harper College (Ill.), Ellsworth Community College (Iowa) and Aurora University (Ill.) in the duals.