MIDDLESEX COLLEGE ADVANCES FOUR TO WRESTLING NATIONALS
Middlesex College competed in the National Tournament Qualifier at Lackawanna College and will be sending four wrestlers to the National Championships.
Zain Ahmad (Freshman/South Brunswick, NJ), Chris Folkens (Sophomore/Middlesex, NJ), Troy O'Connor (Freshman/Middlesex, NJ) and Nicholas Jairdullo (Freshman/South Brunswick, NJ) will all advance to the National Championships, which are held in Council Bluffs, Iowa on the weekend of March 5.
At 125, Ahmad placed fifth in what was considered the toughest bracket of the tournament. Ahmad lost his first match to second-seeded Temonte Gray from Patrick and Henry Community College in Virginia and followed that with a tough 8-7 loss vs Jason Cruz of Camden Community College. However, he was able to battle back and beat Frank Silva from Union County College 15-2 to earn his spot at nationals.
Folkens, a returning national qualifier fell behind Lackawanna's Felix Mendez but never quit and ended up pinning his opponent with one minute remaining. He then went on to lose to eventual finalist Jesse Keesal of Camden County College, 7-0. In his match for 3rd place Folkens trailed in points but was able to secure another fall in 4:05 and punch his ticket to Iowa.
O'Connor who has been out due to injury for almost a month was impressive in his return to the mat. He made quick work of his first two opponents, pinning his first in 24 seconds and the next in 42 seconds in the semifinals. Still recovering from his injuries, O'Connor forfeited in the finals.
Jairdullo was also able to qualify at 184 pounds despite losing a tough match to Alex Dorce of Union County College in his first match. Jairdullo battled back and placed third by beating John Stanton of Camden Community College by fall.