From the opening whistle, SJR was in the driver's seat, and they never let off the gas.
Behind four pins and three bonus point victories, the Green Knights wrestling team cruised their way to a 46-29 win over rival Don Bosco Prep.
"I'm really happy with the effort we got from everybody, it was a great effort, even from the guys that lost gave us some great effort," said Coach Tom Farinaro.
The night started at 106, where SJR freshman Ray Burdette earned a 19-3 technical fall over Seamus Hanley. Rutgers commit Charlie Esposito then followed those five points up with a pin of his own, which put things at 11-0 in favor of the Green Knights.
Don Bosco would pick up the following match by pin, giving the Ironmen their first win of the night.
Senior Mikey Bautista answered right back at 126 and pinned Cassen Correggio in the first period to give SJR another six points.
At 132, Senior Johnathon McGinty faced off against Don Bosco's Andrew Bonita, and McGinty pulled off a win in a match that came down to the wire. Trailing 5-1 in the third period, McGinty used a takedown and back points to earn an 8-5 decision.
"I just thought about the student section and everybody supporting me, I wasn't just going to give up like that," said Johnathon McGinty.
"Even though I was losing, I feel like I had to get that one, and it was all heart right there."
The match that followed at 138, Junior Brian Little returned to his former school, where he spent his first two years, and made the Ironmen feel his return. Little came out firing and earned a pin after 62 seconds, which gave SJR a 26-6 lead.
Up next, the strong part of the Ironmen's lineup, from 144 to 215. However, that did not catch Coach Farinaro's squad by surprise, and came out the toughest part of the night with the lead still intact.
"I knew going in there, the middle of their lineup was tough. They have a good lineup from 144 to 215; they were pretty solid," said Coach Farinaro.
"We were hoping to get a few wins in there and keep limiting bonus points. We won the match we were hoping to win. Winning Paretti's matchup was huge; it was a toss-up in my mind, him going out and getting the bonus points was great."
Other than a Ryan Mitchell first-period pin and Joey Paretti's 13-5 major decision, the Green Knights dropped the remaining matches from 144 to 215 but kept the lead at 36-29.
Don Bosco would forfeit at 285, sealing the night and a 46-29 win for SJR.
With the rivalry victory in hand, the Green Knights will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup when they host PCTI on Wednesday, January 14.
