Friday, February 16
Philadelphia, Pa.
6:00pm
Drexel University
34
vs
4
LIU
Photo by: Deena Ghazzi
Drexel Wins its Fifth Straight Dual over LIU on Spirit Night, 34-4
2/16/2024 8:42:00 PM | Wrestling
PHILADELPHIA - Desmond Pleasant won by fall in a 34-4 victory over LIU, on Friday Night at the DAC. Nine of ten Dragons won their matches with the crowd roaring behind them on Spirit Night. Additionally, five of these wins were by bonus points as DU captures its fifth consecutive dual victory and fourth against the EIWA. The program improved to 7-8 overall.
#30 Cody Walsh started the night for the Dragons at 165lbs. The redshirt junior scored three back points and two takedowns for his tenth dual victory. Next up for Drexel was Jack Janda who came out firing. He took down James Johnston in the third period to go up 3-0. In the final frame, Janda escaped and then took the Shark down to the mat to clinch the major decision, 9-0. LIU was victorious at 184 but Drexel took a 7-4 advantage at the first media intermission.
Ibrahim Ameer scored six points in the first three minutes as he won by decision, 12-8. At 285lbs, Santino Morina entered the third period down 1-0 against Aeden Begue. The redshirt senior battled for an escape point and took down LIU with 45 seconds left in the match. Morina earned his sixth dual win. The Dragons extended their lead to nine points at the second break.
At 125, Desmond Pleasant faced Robert Sagaris. Pleasant went up 5-2 after a takedown and then a reversal by each wrestler. The Piscataway, N.J. native started the next period on top and after an LIU escape, Pleasant was able to put Sagaris on his back for the pin and brought the DAC to its feet.
At 133lbs, John Hildebrant wasted no time in the first period as he picked up three near-fall points and two takedowns for a commanding 9-1 lead. Hildebrandt cruised to a 13-2 major decision victory. Jordan Soriano was dominant as he captured his fourth technical fall victory of the season, 23-6 in 6:31. The Dragons put the dual out of reach for LIU as they led 28-4, with two matches to go. Dom Findora and Tyler Williams each claimed decisions, 11-6 and 7-1, respectively, to close out the night with an exclamation point.
Attendance: 400
*165 | #30 Cody Walsh def. Donovan Smith (LIU), Dec. 11-5; Drexel 3-0
174 | Jack Janda def. James Johnston (LIU), MD 9-0; Drexel 7-0
184 | Anthony D'Alesio (LIU) def. Ethan Wilson, MD 17-6; Drexel 7-4
197 | Ibrahim Ameer def. John Dusza (LIU), Dec. 12-8; Drexel 10-4
285 | Santino Morina def. Aeden Begue (LIU), Dec. 4-1; Drexel 13-4
125 | Desmond Pleasant def. Robbie Sagaris (LIU), Fall 3:47; Drexel 19-4
133 | John Hildebrandt def. Kaelen Francois (LIU), MD 13-2; Drexel 23-4
141 | Jordan Soriano def. Bo DiJulius (LIU), TF 23-6 (6:31); Drexel 28-4
149 | Dom Findora def. Drew Witham (LIU), Dec. 11-6; Drexel 31-4
157 | Tyler Williams def. Rhise Royster (LIU), Dec. 7-1; Drexel 34-4
Up Next
Drexel continues its weekend slate against EIWA rivals, tomorrow at 6 pm against Franklin & Marshall. Saturday's match will be youth night, featuring post game autographs by the Drexel Wrestling Team.
#30 Cody Walsh started the night for the Dragons at 165lbs. The redshirt junior scored three back points and two takedowns for his tenth dual victory. Next up for Drexel was Jack Janda who came out firing. He took down James Johnston in the third period to go up 3-0. In the final frame, Janda escaped and then took the Shark down to the mat to clinch the major decision, 9-0. LIU was victorious at 184 but Drexel took a 7-4 advantage at the first media intermission.
Ibrahim Ameer scored six points in the first three minutes as he won by decision, 12-8. At 285lbs, Santino Morina entered the third period down 1-0 against Aeden Begue. The redshirt senior battled for an escape point and took down LIU with 45 seconds left in the match. Morina earned his sixth dual win. The Dragons extended their lead to nine points at the second break.
At 125, Desmond Pleasant faced Robert Sagaris. Pleasant went up 5-2 after a takedown and then a reversal by each wrestler. The Piscataway, N.J. native started the next period on top and after an LIU escape, Pleasant was able to put Sagaris on his back for the pin and brought the DAC to its feet.
Desmond Pleasant on his Second Period Fall - "I was just out there having fun, the opportunity was there so I saw it and took it".125 | The DAC IS ROCKING! Desmond Pleasant with the Fall! #BringTheHEAT
— DREXEL WRESTLING (@DrexelWrestling) February 17, 2024
Drexel 19, LIU 4 pic.twitter.com/2UCWkjtK5s
At 133lbs, John Hildebrant wasted no time in the first period as he picked up three near-fall points and two takedowns for a commanding 9-1 lead. Hildebrandt cruised to a 13-2 major decision victory. Jordan Soriano was dominant as he captured his fourth technical fall victory of the season, 23-6 in 6:31. The Dragons put the dual out of reach for LIU as they led 28-4, with two matches to go. Dom Findora and Tyler Williams each claimed decisions, 11-6 and 7-1, respectively, to close out the night with an exclamation point.
Drexel 34, LIU 4
Attendance: 400
*165 | #30 Cody Walsh def. Donovan Smith (LIU), Dec. 11-5; Drexel 3-0
174 | Jack Janda def. James Johnston (LIU), MD 9-0; Drexel 7-0
184 | Anthony D'Alesio (LIU) def. Ethan Wilson, MD 17-6; Drexel 7-4
197 | Ibrahim Ameer def. John Dusza (LIU), Dec. 12-8; Drexel 10-4
285 | Santino Morina def. Aeden Begue (LIU), Dec. 4-1; Drexel 13-4
125 | Desmond Pleasant def. Robbie Sagaris (LIU), Fall 3:47; Drexel 19-4
133 | John Hildebrandt def. Kaelen Francois (LIU), MD 13-2; Drexel 23-4
141 | Jordan Soriano def. Bo DiJulius (LIU), TF 23-6 (6:31); Drexel 28-4
149 | Dom Findora def. Drew Witham (LIU), Dec. 11-6; Drexel 31-4
157 | Tyler Williams def. Rhise Royster (LIU), Dec. 7-1; Drexel 34-4
Up Next
Drexel continues its weekend slate against EIWA rivals, tomorrow at 6 pm against Franklin & Marshall. Saturday's match will be youth night, featuring post game autographs by the Drexel Wrestling Team.
