Post-Meet Interview with Rob Tate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Putting a close on its regular season with a home matchup against a conference opponent, the Queens University of Charlotte men's wrestling team made program history on Thursday night, as the Royals downed King University by a score of 19-17 at Curry Arena inside the Levine Center. The win marked Queens' first victory in a dual meet at the Division II level. 
 
With a team win now firmly under its belt, while also on the heels of Melvin Rubio's South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week honor for matches wrestled between Feb. 4-10, Queens, the Royals cap off its regular season competing at its highest level since joining the DII ranks at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. 
 
Queens got the best of King on Thursday night while facing off against a King team who entered the meet with double the number of wins than losses. Fueled by a dramatic sudden-victory by Rubio in the 125-pound weight class, 8-6, to start things off, the Royals went on to hold the lead throughout the night, never once surrendering it to a veteran Tornado squad. 
 
After Rubio earned Queens an initial three points, the Royals went on to rattle off three more consecutive wins over King. Noah Gilbert won by a 3-0 decision over Josh Wynn, Devinaire Hayes took down Jacob Wynn by a major decision, 12-3, and Jude Lloyd won a decision over Riley Alderman, 4-2. The four-consecutive wins to start the meet for Queens earned them a quick 14-point lead, aided by a one-point penalty for King after the 125-pound match. 
 
While King went on to win the next four of five matches, it proved not enough as it was unable to overcome the sizable early lead dealt by the Royals. As the score tightened to 13-6 with three matches remaining, Queens headliner Noah Curreri stepped onto the mat and made quick work of his opponent, Joey Mammolenti, pinning him and earning the Royals a clinching six points and 19 total points. 
 
The win also marks the first for head coach Rob Tate at the DII level while at the helm of the second-year program. 
 
With the regular season in the rearview, Queens looks ahead to the NCAA Division II Regional Championship beginning on Feb. and hosted by Coker College.  

Click below for the post-meet interview with Royals head coach Rob Tate.