ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy wrestling team (1-5, 0-1) dropped its opening EIWA matchup in the 103rd meeting with its longtime rival, 19th-ranked Lehigh (6-7, 3-2), 21-16 on Saturday at Alumni Hall. Navy claimed victories at 133, 157, 165 and 285-pounds but a tech fall and major decision win by Lehigh late in the dual allowed them to pull away from Navy.
 
The dual began with the 141-pound bout and Navy fell behind 6-0 after the first two matches. Josh Koderhandt (141-pounds) met Malyke Hines for the second straight season in the Navy-Lehigh dual but like last year, Hines got the best of Koderhandt and won by a 10-5 decision. Manzona Bryant gave the Mountain Hawks their second victory of the dual with a 6-2 decision over Kaemen Smith (149-pounds) to take a 6-0 lead after two bouts.
 
Needing a win to stay in the match, Navy looked to Andrew Cerniglia (157-pounds) who returned to the mat for the first time since Dec. 29. Despite not competing for almost a month, Cerniglia pulled off an upset over 26th-ranked Max Brignola by a 4-1 decision to get Navy on the board. Brignola normally wrestles at 149-pounds but was bumped up due to Josh Humphreys not being available. Navy tied the dual up at 6-6 thanks to a victory by Val Park (165-pounds), who shutout Luca Frinzi 6-0 to win by decision to win his 50th career match. ,
 
Navy looked to Sammy Starr (174-pounds) to give them the lead in the next match versus Jake Logan, which became the most exciting match of the dual. Logan took a 2-0 lead in the first period on a takedown but Starr got a point on an escape with just three seconds left in the period to cut the deficit to 2-1. Starr tied the match at 2-2 with an escape six seconds into the third period but Logan took the lead back with a takedown with 1:06 to go. Starr fought back and tied the match up again with an escape and optional escape but Logan managed to score a takedown with just three seconds remaining in the match to win by a 6-4 decision and give Lehigh a 9-6 lead.
 
The Mids fell behind 17-6 after dropping the 184 and 197-pound bouts. David Key (184-pounds) suffered his first dual loss of the season to 19th-ranked Tate Samuelson by an 8-2 decision to put Lehigh ahead again by six. The Mountain Hawks' top-ranked wrestler, third-ranked Michael Beard then scored five points with a 21-6 (6:33) tech fall win over Jacob Koser (197-pounds) to put Navy in an 11-point hole.
 
Grady Griess (285-pounds) gave the Mids hope of a comeback with a win in the battle of the heavyweights. Griess got on the board with a takedown with four seconds left in the first period and then went ahead 3-1 with an escape eight seconds into period three. Later on, Griess scored another takedown and earned four points for a near fall to pull ahead 9-1 and win by major decision to get Navy back within seven.
 
Grant Treaster (125-pounds) had a great start in his match with Carter Bailey. Treaster took a 3-0 lead on an escape and takedown in the first period but Bailey did the same in the second to set up a 3-3 tie heading into the final period of the match. Bailey managed to pull away with three near falls in the third  to win by a 16-3 major decision and officially win Lehigh the match. Lehigh opted to forfeit the 133-pound bout, giving a forfeit win to Navy's Brendan Ferretti.
 
Griess won his fourth dual contest of the season and now holds a 23-4 record overall. Park claimed his second dual win of the year, while Cerniglia won his first dual match of the season and first match since the Navy Classic back on Nov. 19.
 
Up Next
The Mids compete in Annapolis twice next week for their final home competitions of the season. Navy battles Hofstra on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1:00 p.m. at Dahlgren Hall and is right back in action on Sunday versus Binghamton at 2:00 p.m. at Alumni Hall. Navy will honor its seniors prior to its dual versus Binghamton. Sunday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Navy vs. Lehigh Dual Results
141 | Malyke Hines dec #31 Josh Koderhandt (Navy), 10-5 // Navy 0, Lehigh 3
149 | Manzona Bryant dec Kaemen Smith (Navy), 6-2 // Navy 0, Lehigh 6
157 | Andrew Cerniglia (Navy) dec #26 Max Brignola, 4-1 // Navy 3, Lehigh 6
165 | Val Park (Navy) dec Luca Frinzi, 6-0 // Navy 6, Lehigh 6
174 | Jake Logan dec Sammy Starr (Navy), 6-4 // Navy 6, Lehigh 9
184 | #19 Tate Samuelson dec #33 David Key (Navy), 8-2 // Navy 6, Lehigh 12
197 | #3 Michael Beard tech fall #30 Jacob Koser, 21-6 (6:33) // Navy 6, Lehigh 17
285 | #20 Grady Griess major #31 Nathan Taylor, 9-1 // Navy 10, Lehigh 17
125 | Carter Bailey major Grant Treaster (Navy), 16-3 // Navy 10, Lehigh 21
133 | Brendan Ferretti (Navy) forfeit, --- // Navy 16, Lehigh 21