Normally the site of the biggest games in professional sports, Madison Square Garden recently transformed into the wrestling stage for the NYU Men’s team on Sunday, Dec. 1, as they competed in the second annual “Grapple at the Garden” event against the Stevens Institute of Technology.  For the Violets, the contest against Stevens marked their first Centennial Conference match.

NYU’s top two guns, CAS juniors Brandon Jones and Patrick Sheehan, pulled through with victories for the team.  Jones won in a 17-6 major decision against Stevens’ Frederick Perrine.  From the Nov. 27 rankings released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), Jones currently ranks as No. 1 in his 141-pound weight class.

Sheehan grabbed a 4-0 win over Stevens’ opponent, Tristan Hollenbaug.  In his 184-pound weight class, Sheehan ranks No. 10 in the NWCA rankings released Nov. 27.

Their performances were not enough to pull the Violets to an overall victory, facing an all-team defeat against the Stevens Institute, 25-7.

The team entered “The Grapple” ranked 19 while Stevens Institute entered ranked 25.

Despite the loss, the NYU men’s team members expressed the thrilling experience of competing at the Garden.

“It was a great opportunity for us. Obviously, it wasn’t the result we wanted, but we will look to improve on our mistakes and get better while keep working harder as the season progresses,” said Sean Billings, a LS sophomore in the 133 lb. weight class.

Currently, the NYU men’s team holds a 0-1 conference record and a 2-2 overall record.

The wrestlers will face off against Hunter College in an away match this Friday at 3:30 pm.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 2 print edition. Michelle Tran is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].