NEW YORK (Nov. 27, 2016) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy wrestling team competed at the Fifth Annual Grapple at the Garden on Sunday morning in Manhattan at Madison Square Garden. Despite the great atmosphere at the famed "World's Most Famous Arena" and wrestling on such a large stage (which also included some big-time Division I matches taking part on the same floor), the Mariners lost their lone dual match of the event to the Colonels of Wilkes University by the score of 32-15.
 
Wilkes jumped out to a 29-0 lead over the first five weight classes, but the Mariners responded with 12 straight points with victories at 165, 174 and 184.
 
At 165, sophomore Christian Willoughby (Blountsville, Ala.) earned an exciting 7-6 decision victory that came down to the wire. Freshman Joshua Glantzman (Allenwood, N.J.) followed with a 10-4 decision at 174.
 
Freshman Kurtis Hahn (Winfield, Mo.) had the Mariners' best result of the day at 184, as he earned a pin in 3:57 over the Colonels' freshman Nasser McCummings to pull the Mariners to within 29-12.
 
After a decision loss for USMMA at 197, sophomore Victor Raigoza (Orland, Calif.) finished the day on a good note for Merchant Marine with an 8-4 decision at the heavyweight class.
 
The Mariners are back in action next Saturday, Dec. 3, when they travel to York, Pa., to take part in the New Standard Corp. Invitational, hosted by York College. For more information on the New Standard Corp. Invite, click here.
 
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