The Lions Men's Wrestling Team traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa for the 2023 NJCAA Wrestling Championships hosted on March 3-4th. The Lions sent 10 wrestlers, one for each weight class. At the end of the tournament the Lions had been crowned DIII Team National Champions. The Lions had four wrestlers place in the top 10 for their respective weight classes,
Joseph Russo placed 8th in the 165 lb class,
Kevin Lopez placed 6th in the 125 lb weight class,
Kristopher Ketchum placed 3rd for the 149 lb weight class and
Adam Busiello placed 3rd for the 157 lb weight class. These finishes placed Nassau in 8th place in the tournament team overall which spread across Scholarship and Non-Scholarship schools. This is the Lions tenth National Championship with the most previous one coming in 2018.
Adam Busiello and Head Coach Vougar Oroudjov both won individual awards as well with Busiello securing the Bruce Traphagen Award for most Falls in the least amount of time in the tournament and Oroudjov winning the Non-Scholarship National Coach of the Year.
We also recognize the entire team for their efforts and commitment that contributed to Nassau Wrestling's success and continued national prominence. Congratulations to the following wrestlers who qualified to compete in the 2023 National Championship Tournament:
Patrick Ancewicz- 285 lbs.
Adam Busiello- 157 lbs.
Kristopher Ketchum- 149 lbs.
Isaiah Lee- 197 lbs.
Kevin Lopez- 125 lbs.
Ryan Paladino- 141 lbs
Joseph Petrone- 133 lbs.
Xavier Pommells- 174 lbs.
Joseph Russo- 165 lbs.
Jaimeson Shea- 184 lbs.
Congratulations to the Nassau Men's Wrestling Team and Coaches Vougar Oroudjov, Mac Maldarelli, Naryman Arujau, and Wrestling Director of Operations Gary Redding.
Go Lions!
