From NYU Athletics
The New York University wrestling team finished in second place at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship on Saturday, February 10, defeating Case Western Reserve 31-15 before falling to host University of Chicago 21-19. The event was hosted by the Maroons at the Ratner Athletic Center in Chicago.
Although NYU saw its six-year UAA title streak come to an end, a major highlight still took place on Saturday as senior captain Raymond Jazikoff won both of his bouts to tie and then pass Michael Oldham ('01) for most career wins in program history. The 157-pounder improved to 41-5 this season and now has 142 career victories, more than anyone who has ever donned an NYU singlet.
"Raymond broke that record because he loves to wrestle and works hard everyday," said NYU Senior Assistant Coach Corey Luce. "His ultimate goal is to win a national title and this was just something he achieved along the way."
NYU was well represented on the All-UAA team as Jazikoff was joined by Matt Noble (133 pounds), Evan Drill (149 pounds), Jackson Kligerman (184 pounds), Jack La Corte (197 pounds), and Santino Pelusi (285 pounds). Additionally, Jazikoff was named the UAA's Most Outstanding Wrestler for the second year in a row.
The grapplers won seven of eight contested bouts against Case Western Reserve, giving up a pair of forfeits at 184 pounds and 285 pounds.
NYU again won the majority of contested bouts - this time six of nine - against the Maroons, but gave up a forfeit at 141 pounds due to injury in the first match of the afternoon and losses by fall at 165 and 174 to ultimately lose 21-19. With NYU down 21-10 and just three bouts left, Kligerman, La Corte and Pelusi all pulled out victories, but were unable to secure the bonus points needed to tie or win the match.
"We wrestled tough today and put ourselves in a position to win," added Luce. "I'm especially proud of Kligerman and Pelusi for wrestling tough down the stretch today. They've both battled back from injuries and showed their toughness on the mat."
NYU concludes its dual meet season with a 12-10 record and will now send 10 wrestlers (one per weight class) to the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA, on February 24 and 25. The top three place-winners in each weight class will then earn a berth in next month's NCAA Championships in Cleveland, OH.
"Now our focus is on working hard until regionals and sending several wrestlers to Cleveland," concluded Luce.