ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Despite a big upset win in the final bout by Kaemen Smith (149), the Navy wrestling team (8-6, 2-3 EIWA) fell to Army (6-4, 5-1 EIWA) by a score of 18-17 in the 68th edition of the Star Match, which is part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA, on Friday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md. 

The Black Knights jumped out to a 10-0 lead by winning the first three bouts. The Mids answered with three-straight wins of their own to cut the deficit to one. However, a technical fall at 125 pounds and a come-from-behind victory at 133 pounds was all Army would need to claim the dual. 

"We let this dual get away from us. Army was well prepared. We knew this was going to be a tight dual and huge credit to Kaemen Smith for nearly pulling off a huge pin at the end. He had a terrific match and really proud of the way he went out and battled the entire time," said head coach Cary Kolat. "I told the team afterward to let this one sting. We're going to lose three key guys after this year and we need others to step in. We can't afford to go backward and not fill those shoes. This rivalry is designed to sharpen both teams, but in the end, they're still brothers in arms. At some point, they may be standing side-by-side and that's the bigger picture. Now as we head into the individual part of the season, it's about each guy individually to help lift the team to a good finish at conference and nationals."

Nathan Lukez opened the dual with an 11-1 major decision over Jonathan Ley (157) to give the Black Knights a 4-0 lead. Lukez scored three takedowns in the match and totaled 2:40 of riding time. 

The first of four matches against two ranked wrestlers took place at 165 pounds between No. 16 Andrew Cerniglia and No. 23 Gunner Filipowicz. Filipowicz struck first with a takedown in the opening period, but Cerniglia answered with a reversal with just 13 seconds remaining to make the score, 3-2. Cerniglia scored an escape in the second to tie the match, 3-3. Filipowicz selected the down position to begin the third period and he gained a 5-3 lead after scoring a reversal. Although Cerniglia escaped seven seconds later, Filipowicz held him scoreless for the remainder of the bout to win by a 5-4 decision. His victory put Army ahead, 7-0. 

Fifteenth-ranked Ben Pasiuk extended the lead for the Black Knights to 10-0 thanks to a big third period against No. 27 Danny Wask. Wask had tied the match at one with an escape just six seconds into the final period. However, Pasiuk outscored Wask, 6-2, over the final 1:54 by scoring two takedowns to win by a 7-3 decision. 

David Key (184) provided the first win of the dual for Navy by a 4-1 decision over Dillon Sheehy. Key scored a pivotal takedown with only 11 seconds on the clock in the first period. He then took a 4-0 lead by scoring an escape in the second period. Sheehy earned his first point by scoring an escape early in the third. Key negated all attacks from Sheehy for the rest of the match to claim the victory and make the team score, 10-3. 

Cael Crebs (197) then stepped onto the mat for the first time since Jan. 12 to face Wolfgang Frable. Frable gained a 1-0 advantage with an escape in the second period. Crebs made the big move later in the period, which gave him a takedown and a three-point near fall to take a 6-1 lead. Crebs added another point with an escape in the third to win by a 7-1 decision and bring the Mids back within four points. 

A dramatic heavyweight match between No. 19 Grady Griess and No. 27 Lucas Stoddard followed. Griess took a 1-0 lead into the third period after posting an escape in the second. Griess looked to have the match in hand with under 40 seconds to go and 1:20 of riding time. However, Stoddard flipped the match in his favor by scoring a reversal with 29 seconds remaining. Stoddard took away Griess' riding time point and appeared to have the bout secured. After the clock hit zero, coach Kolat challenged that Stoddard had interlocked his hands in the final seconds. The officials determined that Stoddard did interlock his hands, which awarded a free point to Griess to tie the match and send it into sudden victory. Griess reigned victorious by a 7-2 decision after scoring a takedown and a two-point near fall.

Army quickly took back the momentum with a win by technical fall (18-3 / 4:48) from No. 32 Ethan Berginc against Dayton DelViscio (125). The win gave the Black Knights a 15-9 lead on the scoreboard. 

Thirty-third-ranked Brendan Ferretti (133) was in control early in his match against No. 31 Braden Basile. Ferretti struck for a takedown in the opening period and then scored an escape in the second to take a 4-1 lead. A late scramble in the second period resulted in a takedown for Basile with only three seconds before the horn sounded. Navy challenged the takedown, but the call was upheld. Basile grabbed his first lead with an escape in the third. Basile overcame multiple attacks from Ferretti to hold on for a 5-4 decision and increase Army's lead to 18-9.

Hopes of a comeback stayed alive thanks to a No. 14 Josh Koderhandt (141). He scored four takedowns in his match against Logan Brown to win by a 13-3 major decision and make the score, 18-13, heading into the final bout. 

The Mids needed Smith to pin No. 31 Matt Williams to win the dual. Smith opened the match on a great note by scoring two takedowns in the first period to gain a 6-2 lead. Smith went up, 7-2, after scoring an escape in the second, but Williams responded with his first takedown to decrease his deficit to just two points. Williams started the third period with an escape to make the score, 7-6. Later in the third, Smith scored his third takedown and shifted Williams on his back. Smith looked to be close to a pin on multiple occasions, but the officials only gave him a four-point near fall. Although Smith won the match by a 17-8 major decision, his win only scored Navy four points.

The Mids will enjoy a two-week break before beginning the postseason with the EIWA Championship on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 in Lewisburg, Pa. The tournament will begin at 10:30 a.m. both days.

Army-Navy Star Match Results 
157 | Nate Lukez (Army) major Jonathan Ley (Navy), 11-1 // Army 4, Navy 0
165 | No. 23 Gunner Filipowicz (Army) dec No. 16 Andrew Cerniglia (Navy), 5-4 // Army 7, Navy 0
174 | No. 15 Ben Pasiuk (Army) dec No. 27 Danny Wask (Navy), 7-3 // Army 10, Navy 0
184 | David Key (Navy) dec Dillon Sheehy (Army), 4-1 // Army 10, Navy3
197 | Cael Crebs (Navy) dec Wolfgang Frable (Army), 7-1 // Army 10, Navy 6
285 | No. 19 Grady Griess (Navy) dec No. 27 Lucas Stoddard (Army), 7-2 SV1 // Army 10, Navy 9
125 | No. 32 Ethan Berginc (Army) tech fall Dayton DelViscio (Navy), 18-3 (4:48) // Army 15, Navy 9
133 | No. 31 Braden Basile (Army) dec No. 33 Brendan Ferretti (Navy), 5-4 // Army 18, Navy 9
141 | No. 14 Josh Koderhandt (Navy) major Logan Brown (Army), 13-3 // Army 18, Navy 13
149 | Kaemen Smith (Navy) major No. 31 Matt Williams (Army), 17-8 // Army 18, Navy 17
Attendance: 2,546

Star Match Notes
• Koderhandt concluded the regular season with his 12th dual victory. He is the first mid to win 12 dual matches in a season since Casey Caldwell and Bryce Saddoris, who won 14 and 12, respectively, during the 2008-09 campaign
• The junior has earned bonus points in his last four dual wins
• Smith defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in his career. He improved to 20-9 overall and 5-2 in duals this season
• The Erie, Pa., native is the fifth mid to reach 20 wins this season
• Key achieved won the 60th match in his career
• He owns a perfect 4-0 record in the Star Match and is 6-0 in his career when facing an Army wrestler
• Griess won his team-leading 21st match of the season
• Navy's team captain is now 2-2 in his career when wrestling in overtime
• Griess is tied with Koderhandt for first on the team in career victories (72) and wins over ranked wrestlers (six) this season
• Crebs claimed his first win since the Franklin & Marshall Open (Jan. 5)
• The junior won his first dual match since his win over VMI's Isaac Dolph at the Navy Quad Meet (Nov. 12)
• DelViscio, Ley, Wask and Crebs wrestled in the Star Match for the first time in their careers