Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Hamilton’s Varsity Debut Highlights Action for Wrestling at Mat Town Open
Jan 30 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers wrestling sent several student-athletes to compete at the Mat Town Open on Saturday at Lock Haven University. Kyonte Hamilton (second), Michael Cetta (second), Tony White (second, unattached), Niccolo Colucci (third, unattached) and Nico Messina (fourth) all placed at the tournament, which served as the varsity debut for Hamilton.
Freshman Dean Peterson (unattached) also competed in a tournament for the first time this season and finished with two victories, which included a 3-1 decision over three-time Pennsylvania state champion Julian Chlebove (Arizona State) in the quarterfinals. Recent Indiana transfer Asa Garcia wrestled for the first time as a Scarlet Knight and finished with two wins.
Hamilton – who played in all 13 games with one start on the defensive line for the football team this fall – went 3-1 on the day to advance to the championship bout at heavyweight. Hamilton defeated opponents from UPenn, West Virginia and Lock Haven before he suffered a tough 6-4 loss to Grady Greiss (Navy), a three-time Nebraska state finalist.
Cetta opened the tournament with four consecutive wins en route to the 141-pound title match, where he did not compete in the final bout of the night. White also secured four wins to advance to the championship final of his bracket before he lost by 3-1 decision to Ethen Miller (Maryland). While, who has produced two unattached titles during his first season "On the Banks", is 22-4 this season competing unattached.
Full results from Lock Haven's Mat Town Open can be found here. Rutgers returns to dual action on Thursday when it hosts Rider. The 7 p.m. in-state matchup will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Freshman Dean Peterson (unattached) also competed in a tournament for the first time this season and finished with two victories, which included a 3-1 decision over three-time Pennsylvania state champion Julian Chlebove (Arizona State) in the quarterfinals. Recent Indiana transfer Asa Garcia wrestled for the first time as a Scarlet Knight and finished with two wins.
Hamilton – who played in all 13 games with one start on the defensive line for the football team this fall – went 3-1 on the day to advance to the championship bout at heavyweight. Hamilton defeated opponents from UPenn, West Virginia and Lock Haven before he suffered a tough 6-4 loss to Grady Greiss (Navy), a three-time Nebraska state finalist.
Cetta opened the tournament with four consecutive wins en route to the 141-pound title match, where he did not compete in the final bout of the night. White also secured four wins to advance to the championship final of his bracket before he lost by 3-1 decision to Ethen Miller (Maryland). While, who has produced two unattached titles during his first season "On the Banks", is 22-4 this season competing unattached.
Full results from Lock Haven's Mat Town Open can be found here. Rutgers returns to dual action on Thursday when it hosts Rider. The 7 p.m. in-state matchup will stream on Big Ten Plus.
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