Throggs Neck, NY – The first ever Skyline Conference Invitational was held at Maritime College on Wednesday with five teams competing for the honor of being named the first ever Skyline Conference Champion. In the end the Mariners of Kings Point were able to edge out the Cyclones of Centenary 23-21 and take home the trophy. The other institutions competing in the event were Steven’s Institute of Technology, Yeshiva University and the host team Maritime College.

 

The Mariners did not have an easy road to taking home the title however. In the semi-finals against the Ducks of Steven’s Institute, Kings Point found themselves down 22-9 with only three matches left. They eventually battled back and managed to pick up a 27-22 decision after scoring three straight pin falls in the final three weight classes.

 

Centenary kept it close the entire time with Kings Point, as they traded victories back and forth. In the Semi’s, the Cyclones took down the host team, Maritime College by a score of 39-9. Mike Gummerson, who wrestled at 125 today, was awarded the Most Valuable Wrestler award after picking up pins in both his matches on the day.

 

More than 15 months ago Steven’s announced that they would be resurrecting the Wrestling program. In that time, under head coach Andy Lausier, the Ducks have built possibly the most athletic program in the conference. They made quick use of Yeshiva in the first round winning by a score of 60-0 with seven straight pin falls and three forfeits.  Against Kings Point, Steven’s picked up wins in 125, 133, 141, 157, and 165 weight classes, but just couldn’t steal the victory away from the #1 ranked Mariners falling to a 27-22 final score. In the consolation tournament, the Ducks picked up a close 29-21 win over Maritime to pick up the third place finish.

 

The number two seeded Maritime College, came into today’s match on a high note after finishing ninth in the Roger Williams Tournament last weekend and scoring the highest they ever had in that venue. The Privateers had the tough task of taking on the number three seeded Centenary College. Centenary started things out picking up four straight wins and picking up a 21-0 lead. Then the Privateers began to battle back after senior Will Carroll (Bethany Beach, DE) picked up a win over Ken Jacoby , it was then followed by two more Privateer victories but they just were not able to pick up enough points to upend the Cyclones. Later in the day, the Privateers competed for third place, first going against Yeshiva and then Steven’s. Against the Macs, Maritime picked up the win by a score of 57-0. They then lost a close battle against Steven’s when Sophomore William Young (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) pinned junior Ben Towers (Valley Cottage, NY/) (Valley Cottage, NY) with only 15 seconds left in the third period in the 197-pound division. The final score was 29-21 with the Privateers finishing in fourth place.

 

Yeshiva suffered the first loss of the day going against Steven’s, however their day was not over as they got to wrestle against Maritime College later in the day as part of the consolation tournament. The Macabees lost to the Privateers 57-0 falling to 0-2 on the year.

 

 

-MARITIME-