ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Bonus points were frequent for the Navy wrestling team (4-3, 3-0) as it rolled through Harvard (1-1) 32-9 on Saturday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md.
The Midshipmen won five of their seven matches by bonus points with a pair of falls, tech falls and a major decision.
"My concern coming into tonight after the big win over Lehigh were if we would let ourselves down mentally, but we didn't do that. There was good poise and patience from the guys. It was solid wrestling," said head coach Cary Kolat.
The Crimson got the dual started winning the first two bouts at 125 and 133 pounds to gain an early 6-0 lead.
Senior team captain No. 7 Josh Koderhandt got the Mids on the board at 141 pounds defeating Dante Frinzi by fall in the second period. Koderhandt built a big lead 13-1 lead in the first period with a pair of takedowns and a total of seven back points. The Belleville, Ill., native started the second stanza on top where he quickly flipped Frinzi for his fifth fall victory this season.
Junior Kaemen Smith recorded his second dual victory of the season in a low scoring 4-2 battle against Jaden Pepe. Smith's first period takedown proved to be the difference maker in the match.
Sophomore Jonathan Ley registered his first career victory by fall at the 3:13 mark over Jimmy Harrington at 157 pounds. After a scoreless opening period, Ley began the second stanza in the top position, a Harrington jump over attempt proved to be costly as he landed on his back for Ley to pick up the pin. The Miami, Fla., native has nine victories this season, tying his freshman season win total.
"This was a good weekend for Ley, he had quality guys to go up against which would hopefully put him in the rankings," said Kolat on Ley's 2-0 weekend performance.
Dylan Elmore (165) continued the impressive start to his career as he improved to 3-0 in dual competition with a 16-2 major over Cael Berg. Elmore executed four takedowns and amassed over three and half minutes of riding time while only allowing points from two escapes. The Osawatomie, Kan., native sits at six wins this season with four coming by major decisions.
Fourteenth-ranked Danny Wask (174) added on to Navy's bonus points run with a dominant 22-7 tech fall victory over Hayden Bottiglieri. Wask opened the first stanza with 13 points with a pair of takedowns, six total near fall points and an escape. The Wantage, N.J., native secured a full set of back points in the third period with 2:44 of riding time for his third tech fall this season. Wask's 22 total points were the most he scored in a match this season.
Harvard would halt the Mids' five match winning streak taking the bout at 184 pounds.
The Midshipmen ended the dual on a high note winning the final two matches at 197 and 285 pounds.
Payton Thomas snapped his three dual losing skid with a 4-0 decision over Hudson Skove. Thomas' first period takedown was enough to walk away with the victory.
Sophomore Ben Farabaugh gave Navy its first victory in the 285 pound weight class and his first career dual victory with a 17-1 tech fall over Logan Marissal. Farabaugh registered a take down 32 seconds into the match and rode Marissal for the remaining 2:28 in the first period. In the second period Farabaugh was rewarded two stalling penalty points and tallied his second takedown. In the final two minutes, the Media, Pa., native was gifted two points for the fourth stalling penalty. His dominance continued with a pair of takedowns and had nearly three minutes of riding time.
"I'm really happy for Ben [Farabaugh]. He been in the room everyday and he got a chance with his name in the lineup and he looked good today. They always say heavyweights get the love and he got a lot of love there at the end," remarked Kolat on Farabaugh.
The Mids will take a short break from dual competition when they travel to Lock Haven, Pa., to compete in the Mat Town II tournament on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Navy 32, Harvard 9
125 | #21 Diego Sotelo dec Nick Treaster (NAVY), 5-2 SV-1 // Harvard 3, Navy 0
133 | Logan Brzozowski dec Brendan Ferretti (NAVY), 7-6 // Harvard 6, Navy 0
141 | #7 Josh Koderhandt (NAVY) fall Dante Frinzi, 3:16 // Harvard 6, Navy 6
149 | Kaemen Smith (NAVY) dec Jaden Pepe, 4-2 // Navy 9, Harvard 6
157 | Jonathan Ley (NAVY) fall Jimmy Harrington, 3:13 // Navy 15, Harvard 6
165 | Dylan Elmore (NAVY) major Cael Berg, 16-2 // Navy 19, Harvard 6
174 | #14 Danny Wask (NAVY) tech fall Hayden Bottiglieri, 22-7 // Navy 24, Harvard 6
184 | Luke Rada dec Daniel Williams (NAVY), 4-1 SV-1 // Navy 24, Harvard 9
197 | Payton Thomas (NAVY) dec Hudson Skove, 4-0 // Navy 27, Harvard 9
285 |Ben Farabaugh (NAVY) tech fall Logan Marissal, 17-1 // Navy 32, Harvard 9
Attendance - 435
