PRINCETON, NJ - The Princeton wrestling captured its first EIWA win of the season this Friday evening against the Columbia Lions at Jadwin Gymnasium. The Tigers walked away with their first conference win in a 26-7 victory.

The Tigers (3-3, 1-1 EIWA) won eight of the 10 bouts and took their third win of the 2023-24 season. 

Princeton picked up two wins by major decision in tonight's dual from Blaine Bergey and Aidan Conner. Conner got his win at heavyweight, he had previously wrestled at 197 this year and secured a 7th place finish at the Midlands Championships in that weight class.

Princeton began the night with a four bout winning streak that spanned from Drew Heethuis at 125 to Eligh Rivera at 149. All four Tigers won their matches by decision with the largest point differential coming from an 8-3 win by Eligh Rivera over Richard Fedalen. Tyler Vazquez at 141 finished his match with a 10-9 win and fought for a seven point sequence in the first period off of a takedown and four point nearfall that gave him the significant advantage throughout the bout. Drew Heethuis, after an official review, took the win off of a last second escape while Sean Pierson engeged in a back and forth bout that he won in the third period with an escape followed by a takedown.

Blaine Bergey picked up a big win to uphold the Tiger's momentum. Despite giving up the first takedown, Bergey managed to grab 8 points with the time left in the first period to give him the upper hand the rest of the match.

The night ended with three straight wins in a row for the Tigers with Nate Dugan earning his 14th win of the season and Stout taking his 16th. Dugan and Stout lead the team in most wins on the mat this season. Aidan Conner capped off the night with a major decision to seal the dual victory.


Scoring Breakdown

125: Drew Heethuis (PRI) DEC over Nick Babin (COL), 1-0; Tigers lead 3-0
133: Sean Pierson (PRI) DEC over Sulayman Bah (COL), 12-8; Tigers lead 6-0
141: Tyler Vazquez (PRI) DEC over Kai Owen (COL), 10-9; Tigers lead 9-0
149: #26 Eligh Rivera (PRI) DEC over Richard Fedalen (COL), 8-3; Tigers lead 12-0
157: David Berkovich (COL) DEC over Rocco Camillaci (PRI), 7-6; Tigers lead 12-3
165: Blaine Bergey (PRI) MD over Kyle Mosher (COL), 12-3; Tigers lead 16-3
174: Lennox Wolak (COL) MD over Mikey Squires (PRI), 21-11; Tigers lead 16-7
184: #20 Nate Dugan (PRI) DEC over #30 Aaron Ayzerov, 8-5; Tigers lead 19-7
197: #10 Luke Stout (PRI) DEC over #27 Jack Wehmeyer, 8-1; Tigers lead 22-7
285: Aidan Conner (PRI) MD over Vincent Mueller (COL), 10-0; Tigers WIN 26-7

Dubuque's Debrief
 

"I? was really proud of the way our guys stepped onto the mat, performed, and carried our brand the way that we talk about"

Hear from head coach Joe Dubuque after the first Ivy win of the season!#LetsGetWild pic.twitter.com/QZEIy72hyO

— Princeton Wrestling (@tigerwrestling) January 27, 2024

Up Next 

The Princeton wrestling squad will travel to Harvard on February 3rd for a match at 12:00 P.M.