PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Long Island University wrestling team made its Division I debut on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Rutgers Quad Match at the Rutgers Athletic Center. The Sharks finished 1-2 on the day against the host Scarlet Knights, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and Centenary University (N.J.).
Junior
Mark Malico had an outstanding start to his season, recording the first ever Div. I victory for the Sharks against Rutgers and followed up with a pinfall victory against Centenary. Sophomore
James Langan also recorded two victories on the day, tallying a decision win against Pitt-Johnstown and a tech fall win against Centenary.
Match One: Rutgers 43, LIU 3
The Scarlet Knights, who begin the year receiving votes in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, proved to be too much for the Sharks in the day's opener, winning nine of the 10 bouts. Malico earned the only victory for the Sharks, earning a 5-3 decision against Kyle Lightner.
Match Two: Pitt-Johnstown 33, LIU 6
The competition did not get any easier for LIU in the second match as the Sharks squared off against the top-ranked team in Division II. After dropping the first four bouts, senior transfer
Dominick Demarco earned his first win in a Shark uniform with a 9-4 decision against Jacob Smith. Langan picked up his first win of the day at 174 when he defeated Brock Biddle by an 8-4 final, though the Mountain Cats took the final three bouts to earn the win.
Match Three: LIU 33, Centenary 9
The Sharks earned their first victory of the season in the day's final match, taking down the Cyclones by a 33-9 final. LIU won seven of the eight contested bouts, highlighted by Malico's third-period pinfall win against Justin Hopman.
Freshmen
Jimmy Ryan,
Michael Blando, and
Rhise Royster all earned their first career wins during the match and Langan posted a tech fall win to help LIU roll to the 33-9 win.
Up Next
The Sharks return to the mat next weekend at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. LIU is scheduled to grapple with the University of Virginia, University at Buffalo, and Sacred Heart University on Saturday, Nov. 9. The event will be streamed on FloSports, a subscription-based streaming service available online and on all mobile and streaming devices.
